The general impression of Warner is that he burned out early, but really he may have just started late. Warner was two years older than Romo is, and in football years, even older than that, with two years in the Arena League and another year in NFL Europe. Warner's success in the NFL was a continuation of what he had been doing at a lower level. If Warner had started his NFL career 3 years earlier, then he would have gradually built up to his best years (99-01) instead of taking the league by storm.
Warner's sudden success made it seem like he'd made a deal with the devil or something, but it was all very real. He was just a good QB in the perfect situation at the perfect time. Although it seemed like his skills had suddenly vanished, it was probably just a case of his late start and the wear and tear catching up with him. Warner went to his last Pro Bowl just 5 months younger than Aikman was when he went to his.
OTOH, Romo is doing this after 3 years out of competitive play, and with just about all his tread still left on the tires.
