Warner was brought in to compete w/ McCown in 2005 and won the starting job, while Leinart was still at USC. Warner was still the QB in 2006 when he was drafted until 4 games into the season when his fumblitis continued to haunt him.
The major differences are that Palmer is not in Warner's league and injury circumstances.
You are trying to compare a good QB to a HoFer. When you compare the most productive seasons for both, Warner averaged more TDs, more yards, more yards per attempt and fewer interceptions. And this is with both having two pro bowl receivers on their respective teams (Holt and Bruce - Ocho and Housh). Unless Palmer lights it up from this point forward on a consistent basis, he wont even be considered for the HoF. Not even in 40 years. Warner is a first or second ballot; easy.
As for injuries, the only major injury that Warner suffered was a torn tendon in his thumb (or something along those lines). Palmer had both major knee and Tommy John surgery; both of which carry lingering affects and have undoubtedly diminished his productiveness.
Dont get me wrong, he is a good QB and has the potential to do better in a dome atmosphere in an easier division, but he wont reach Warner's status. The only given is he is 4 times the QB Anderson is and ever was.
FWIW, Warner was (IMO) not a Hall of Famer were it not for the '08 and '09 seasons. Warner was the beneficiary of a great personal story and a revolutionary offense that Vermeil and Martz brought to the NFL. Warner also played indoors or in good weather for the vast majority of his game with St. Louis and with Arizona.
Take Warner and put him in the elements, and he looks like a much less extraordinary quarterback. Say, in the Meadowlands.
Palmer only had TO and Ochocinco for one season, when both were on the steep downsides of their careers. If you want to count Chad Johnson and Houshmanzadeh as pro-bowl caliber WRs, that's fine. But Warner was working with no fewer than three Hall of Famers in that St. Louis offense, and likely four if you count Orlando Pace at LT. Palmer has never had the talent around him (both on the field and on the sideline) as Warner has.
Comparisons between Warner and Palmer don't make a ton of sense to me--it's apples and oranges. What I think Palmer could be good at is providing production from the QB position while allowing the offense to transition to more of a pro style with an emphasis on the running attack (if that is indeed what we want to do--something I have doubts about).
I wonder if Warner changed his tune because Marc Bulger decided that he kind of likes being a backup and doesn't want to get hit anymore.
