Transparent Christian Magazine

Vince Young and Matt Leinart are both first round NFL draft picks in 2006 and were paid millions of dollars as “franchise” quarterbacks. Both of them are now sitting on the bench as “back up” quarterbacks to Kerry Collins and Kurt Warner. Both Young and Leinart were stars at USC and the University of Texas and played against each other in the 2005 NCAA National Championship game. What happened?

Kurt Warner was making $5.50 per hour in a grocery store and became the quarterback for the St. Louis Rams. He led the Rams to victory in a Super Bowl and was awarded the MVP trophy.

Warner “lost his touch” and was traded and became “back up” quarterback for several years, and some questioned his remaining in the NFL. Kurt is now the starter for the Arizona Cardinals and played a major role in the Cardinals being 7-3 and a NFC play-off contender.

Kerry Collins played at Penn State and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He was elected to the NFL Pro Bowl in 1996. In 1997 he admitted to a serious addiction to alcohol and went through an addiction recover program. In 2000 he led the Giants to Super Bowl XXV.

Like Warner, Kerry also “lost his touch” and was traded to several teams as the “back up” quarterback. In 2006 he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans. In his first three games he threw one touchdown pass and had six interceptions. He was benched again and replaced by Vince Young.

Kerry is now the starter and has led the Titans to an unprecedented 10-1 record!

Vince Young and Matt Leinart have only experienced the “peaks” and never had to persevere through the valleys. Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins have been in the “penthouse” and the “outhouse” and know that life has its ups and downs. The key to thriving is perseverance.

There is a great lesson for all of us from ‘Coach Paul’ who said, “We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:3-5) The Message

Dad used to tell me, “When you are at the end of the rope, tie a knot and hang on!”

P.S. If you are in the “outhouse”, you may want to listen to this song. (Even if I Fall)…

Editor’s Note- Mike Cowart Jr. (pictured above) wrote and performs this song. Among his many talents is a thriving photography business. You can check out his photography here, and his music here.