Tuesday, February 06, 2007
If only Neil Lomax hadn't injured his hip ...
Since the Super Bowl ended, pretty much all the talk has been about Peyton Manning and his place in football history. I long ago gave up trying to quantify how good Otto Graham, Sammy Baugh, John Unitas, etc., were, but I can evaluate the quarterbacks I’ve seen. So, with no further adieu, here are the 10 best QBs I’ve ever seen:
1. Joe Montana; 2. Dan Marino; 3. John Elway; 4. Peyton Manning; 5. Brett Favre; 6. Tom Brady; 7. Troy Aikman; 8. Jim Kelly; 9. Steve Young; 10. Warren Moon.
The tough calls here were between Marino and Elway for No. 2, and the Nos. 4-6 on Manning, Brady and Favre. I feel like I should go with Elway for the two Super Bowl rings, but I just remember Marino so well. The guy was unreal—the quick release, the balls he threw on a line—and he never did have much of a running game or a defense.
As to the others: I went with Manning at No. 4 because of his two MVPs and the fact that he’ll hold every record when he’s done—and how often is it that a total team player also sets the records? Favre was amazing for a six-year stretch, winning three MVPs and a Super Bowl. But all the INTs he’s thrown over the years definitely hurt him and, I think, when it’s all said and done, I’ll probably have Brady ahead of him. Brady at No. 6 is largely the result of him only being a full-time starter for five years. Given, he’s won three Super Bowls, which is why he got to No. 6, but I think he needs to sustain his level for a few more years to rise higher. Getting him a few receivers would help.
Thoughts? Did I leave anyone obvious out (Ken O’Brien perhaps, maybe Bubby Brister)?
1. Joe Montana; 2. Dan Marino; 3. John Elway; 4. Peyton Manning; 5. Brett Favre; 6. Tom Brady; 7. Troy Aikman; 8. Jim Kelly; 9. Steve Young; 10. Warren Moon.
The tough calls here were between Marino and Elway for No. 2, and the Nos. 4-6 on Manning, Brady and Favre. I feel like I should go with Elway for the two Super Bowl rings, but I just remember Marino so well. The guy was unreal—the quick release, the balls he threw on a line—and he never did have much of a running game or a defense.
As to the others: I went with Manning at No. 4 because of his two MVPs and the fact that he’ll hold every record when he’s done—and how often is it that a total team player also sets the records? Favre was amazing for a six-year stretch, winning three MVPs and a Super Bowl. But all the INTs he’s thrown over the years definitely hurt him and, I think, when it’s all said and done, I’ll probably have Brady ahead of him. Brady at No. 6 is largely the result of him only being a full-time starter for five years. Given, he’s won three Super Bowls, which is why he got to No. 6, but I think he needs to sustain his level for a few more years to rise higher. Getting him a few receivers would help.
Thoughts? Did I leave anyone obvious out (Ken O’Brien perhaps, maybe Bubby Brister)?
# posted by EJ @ 2:09 PM 
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I might have put Young ahead of Kelly, and I suppose Dan Fouts deserves some consideration, though he's on the cusp of what I actually remember seeing and what I know only from NFL Films.
By the by, did you realize that Vinny and Bledsoe are numbers 6 and 7, respectively, on the alltime passing yards list? I threw up a little in my mouth when I read that.
By the by, did you realize that Vinny and Bledsoe are numbers 6 and 7, respectively, on the alltime passing yards list? I threw up a little in my mouth when I read that.
I thought about Fouts but I don't remember him playing at all, so I left him off the list. And Vinny and Bledsoe are a testament to a) more pass-happy attacks in the modern NFL and b) playing for a long-ass time.
By the way, where does Vinny rank on INTs thrown? How bout Bledsoe and sacks taken? They have to be way up there.
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By the way, where does Vinny rank on INTs thrown? How bout Bledsoe and sacks taken? They have to be way up there.
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