Brenda Warner Is Benjamin Button

TAMPA, Fla. -- So there I was this morning at the Walter Payton Man of the Year press conference, where Vikings center Matt Birk, Eagles safety Brian Dawkins and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner were being honored for their stellar play on the field and good works in the community.

Warner couldn't attend because he had practice, but the media had been told that Kurt's wife, Brenda Warner, would be there in his place. Before the event began, I spotted Birk and Dawkins off to the side of the auditorium, chatting with an attractive, young blonde, but I couldn't find Brenda anywhere. And then they introduced Birk, Dawkins and Brenda Warner -- and the attractive, young blonde went up on stage with the two football players.

And I think I can speak for everyone in the room that I was thinking, That is Brenda Warner?

I remember Brenda Warner from 1999, when Kurt Warner went from stocking shelves at a grocery store to becoming the Most Valuable Player of both the NFL regular season and the Super Bowl. Kurt and Brenda had such a wonderful story. They had found strength in their faith and in each other and had persevered together, and the hard times they had gone through made them appreciate these good times even more. Every Rams game, Kurt would throw a touchdown pass and the TV cameras would go into the stands, where Brenda, in her feather boa and her gray crew cut, would be cheering her man.

The gray crew cut and the feather boa are gone, replaced by long blonde hair and a stylish dress. Brenda Warner looks 10 years younger than she did 10 years ago.

When I heard that Brenda Warner was going to be there in the media center, I thought I might ask her a question or two about how her visibility has changed her life and how she's managed to cope with being recognized at the mall or the restaurant. But once I saw her, I really couldn't ask that question: How can I ask her what it's like being recognized when I didn't recognize her myself?

Later, at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's press conference, I ended up sitting right behind Brenda. I didn't want her to catch me staring at her or anything, but I tried my best to get a mental image of the 1999 incarnation of Brenda and then take a good look at the 2009 incarnation, just to see if I could recognize any similarities. I could not.

Doing a little research, I see that I'm not the only one who has noticed this. A St. Louis-based blogger wrote that "The Phoenix desert seems to have melted away that Ice Queen look," and Deadspin described her as "kind of a babe."

Most stunning of all, the Arizona Republic reports that Brenda always wore her hair short because that's the way Kurt liked it, and only changed it recently because her pregnancy kept her from getting to the salon. Seriously, Kurt? You could have been married to the hottie I saw in the media center all this time, and you told her to wear her hair like my sixth-grade P.E. teacher?

Brenda also told the Arizona Republic that she can't believe anyone thinks about her hair: "How many people care about my hair?" she said. "I find it trivial. I am more than my hair."

Indeed, you are. You're the real, live Benjamin Button.

Super Bowl XLIII Images

Located only a few miles away from the excess of the Super Bowl, people line up for a free meal outside the Faith Cafe Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds fly over Raymond James Stadium during rehearsals for Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Arizona Cardinals in NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game on Sunday, Feb. 1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay, right, playfully attempts to pull the shoes off of linebacker Larry Foote (50) with the help of defensive teammates during warm ups for football practice at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (43) and cornerback Deshea Townsend (26) share a laugh while warming up for football practice at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior (51) plays around with cornerback William Gay (21) during warm ups for football practice at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau answers questions during a media availability before football practice at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, center, shares a laugh with defensive ends Aaron Smith, left, and Nick Eason (93) before football practice at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Cardinals' Matt Ware (22) and Adrian Wilson (2) watch linebackers in their drills during morning football practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, left, puts his helmet on as offensive coordinator Todd Haley gathers the offense during morning football practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)