Montana still all-time greatest quarterback, but Manning close
The difficulty in trying to compare athletes from different eras is circumstances change. Integration. Training methods. Rules. The game itself (how many three-receiver sets did Otto Graham use?)
So yes, trying to rank the all-time top 10 quarterbacks is a set up for debate. But with the Super Bowl next week, there is little question that Peyton Manning has a chance to leap to the top, or at least near it. He has led Indianapolis into the title game for the second time. His team – hardly the NFL’s most talented – might be 18-0 if it didn’t use the final two weeks of the regular season for nap time.
Quarterbacks can’t be measured just on statistics, or for that matter just on titles. It comes down to this: Who would you want to have the ball with the game on the line?
For me, the answer is simple: Joe Montana. But if the Colts beat the Saints next week, Manning will jump to No. 2 on my list.
What made Montana so special? Former teammate Randy Cross said, “Some people lead vocally. Others lead with their presence and by example. That was Joe. At times it seemed like we had an unfair advantage, and we weren’t the only ones who felt that way. You looked across the line and saw it in the other teams’ eyes. We knew we were going to score, and they knew we were going to score.”
With that, here’s the top 10:
Johnny Unitas threw touchdowns in 47 straight games.
1. Joe Montana: As athletic specimens go, he looked more like a tall kicker than a legendary quarterback. But his leadership abilities and his cool under fire were unparalleled. Former Cincinnati wide receiver Cris Collinsworth put it best: “He’s not God but he’s definitely not human. He’s somewhere in between.” The big numbers: 4 Super Bowls, two MVPs.
2. Johnny Unitas: His first career pass as a rookie was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The following year he led the league in yards and touchdowns and won the MVP award. The year after that, he won his first of three league titles, beating the New York Giants, 23-17, in what has been called the “greatest game ever played.” He also holds a record that may never be broken: 47 straight games with a touchdown pass.
3. Otto Graham: He led Cleveland to 10 straight league championship games, winning seven (four AAFC, three NFL). In the final game of his career, he threw for two TDs, ran for two more and led Cleveland past Los Angeles for the 1955 championship. So nobody could accuse him of hanging on too long. As a side note: Graham had to delay his career to serve in the military. His coach at the Coast Guard/Naval Academy: Bear Bryant.
Tom Brady has held this trophy three times (and counting).
4. Tom Brady: He replaced Drew Bledsoe (internal bleeding) in 2001, and four months later was leading New England to the first of three Super Bowls. Several obvious parallels with Montana, including skill set, demeanor, modest draft status and unlikely first championships. Not a ton of glossy numbers, but here’s two: most touchdowns in a regular season (50) and highest-ever completion percentage in a game (92.9 on 26-of-28 passing).
5. Dan Marino: No championships. So should we put Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson ahead of Marino? His numbers are just sick. He threw for over 61,000 yards and 420 touchdowns in 17 seasons. He owned almost every passing record when he retired. He went 147-93 (.612) as a starter, despite the fact his team never had a running game or a great defense. Key stat here: Holds the all-time record with 36 comeback wins. He made it to one Super Bowl – and lost to quarterback No. 1 on this list.
6. Peyton Manning: He always had talent. Now he’s also smarter than everybody else. He won his first Super Bowl three years ago, but those Colts had Marvin Harrison and were stronger on both sides of the ball. This Colts team? Average in so many ways, and they can’t run the ball. This season has been all about Manning’s intelligence and leadership.
Super Bowl No. 2 moves Peyton Manning to No. 2 on this list.
7. John Elway: Elway excelled under pressure, particularly in the final minutes of games. Ask the Cleveland Browns. He led 47 game-winning or game-tying scoring drives at Denver. His 34 comeback wins – second to Marino and tied with Unitas and Manning. Unlike Marino, he won two Super Bowls but only after running back Terrell Davis got there. Elway gets the nod over Brett Favre for upsetting Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII.
8. Brett Favre: Prima donna tendencies aside, he just had the greatest season of his career: 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions. He’s won one Super Bowl but might’ve won more if not for moments like last week (late-game bad decision and interception at New Orleans). But to debate his greatness is just stupid. He’s won a title and three MVPs. He owns every major passing record, and this one: 285 consecutive starts (plus 20 playoffs). No quarterback ever has been tougher.
9. Terry Bradshaw: Only Montana matches Bradshaw’s four Super Bowls. It helped that Bradshaw had a great defense. His career numbers aren’t great: 212 TDs, 210 interceptions. But he wasn’t exactly devoid of skills, and he could lead. Someboydy had to throw those TD passes to Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
10. Roger Staubach: Because of his military commitment, he didn’t begin his career until the age of 27. Then he won two Super Bowls (playing in four) and an MVP. Most memorable game: After missing most of the 1972 season with a separated shoulder, he replaced Craig Morton in a playoff game against San Francisco and threw two TD passes in the last 90 seconds to win the game, 30-28. Tom Landry called him, “possibly the best combination of a passer, an athlete and a leader to ever play in the NFL.”
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147 comments Add your comment
KJ
January 30th, 2010
6:53 am
“Any top ten list that includes Dan Marino is immediately dismissed in my eyes.”
LOL
Super Bowl rings are being highly overrated in this article.
Rex
January 30th, 2010
7:31 am
on my list:
NO BONUS for winning SB.
NO DEMERITS for playing with a REALLY GREAT or REALLY CRAPPY team.
Just BEST PURE QB: you are picking sides or Drafting from hindsight:
I say Marino is best “pure QB” EVER
Manning is #2 & will pass him before it is all over.
3 OTTO GRAHAM
4 UNITAS
5 ELWAY
6 MONTANA
7 TARKENTON
8 BRADY
9 FAVRE
10 STAUBACH
Cowboy Hater
January 30th, 2010
7:37 am
Sammy Baugh definitely belongs on the list. Top three are Unitas, P. Manning, and Montana. If Tarkenton is not in the top 10, he should be 10b. Move Marino, Staubach, and Bradshaw out of the top 10. Aikman, just average without Emmit and Michael. And Shultz, who are you to call anybody a prima-donna? Favre is the second toughest QB of all behind Unitas who did not have the protection rules when he played, man did he take some shots?
Smittie
January 30th, 2010
7:48 am
How could you not mention Snake Stabler? Even though he was sentenced to play in Oakland, he made them a winner. He was a master of the 2 minute offense and won a ton of games in the last seconds.
Rex
January 30th, 2010
7:51 am
ok maybe Warner should be considered too:
At least Honorable Mention
3 SBs & 1 Win and at least 2 MVPs
Didn’t Start until he was 28
A damn productive 10 seasons as a Starter
No player in NFL history reached 10,000 yards passing in less games
and he tied Marino as fastest to reach 30,000.
He has the top three passing performances in Super Bowl history. His 1,156 yards passing in the 2008 playoffs broke the NFL record of 1,063 he set with St. Louis in 1999.
John
January 30th, 2010
8:45 am
Good list. Hard to argue with any of the guys on it – or their order of inclusion. But is reflects the “How many championships did he win?” bias that prevails in the way the NFL determines greatness among its players.
Tom Brady’s name is an inevitability anytime anybody compiles one of these all-time great QB list. Good to see him no higher than fourth on this one.
Seems Brady is a bit overrated. I know, I know, four championship games, three championships won. There were 44 other guys on those teams, right? And to my recollection, particularly early on, Toothsome Tom was the set up man for Adam Venetiri. He’s the guy who provided the clutch points – not Brady. Hell, Tom just got ‘em field goal range so Adam could get the winning points.
raymond
January 30th, 2010
8:59 am
Wish Staubach would have gone straight to the NFL instead of Naval duty, would have like to see where he stacked up then. Would take any of them, that’s 10 good ones.
John
January 30th, 2010
9:16 am
raymond,
To me, Staubach’s history makes him a hero among his Hall of Fame peers. Kinda like Ted Williams. What would his numbers have been if he hadn’t been serving his country – during war time to boot? Of course, Roger was in the rear with the gear. The Splinter was flying combat sorties as a fighter pilot.
But either way, when you look at their numbers or beyond them, you still see an all-time great.
GreggJ
January 30th, 2010
9:28 am
Schultz I never agree with you dumbfounded opinions! I guess that is why you are here to stir people up! How can you rate Manning above Brady until he gets ties Bradys superbowl wins??? NO sense here and Manning has a TREMENDOUS offensive line to work behind!
who dat ?
January 30th, 2010
9:37 am
Enter your comments here
Nativebird
January 30th, 2010
9:39 am
You’re spot on about Montana…and to slam dunk the Tebow “translate” debate that all (opposing SEC fans) and NFL network “experts” are hysterical about: Despite his performances on the field at Notre Dame, Montana was not rated highly by most scouts. At one combine, Montana rated out as six-and-a-half overall (on 1 to 10, 10 being highest), with a six in arm strength. By comparison, Jack Thompson of Washington State University rated an eight, the highest grade amongst quarterbacks that year.
The 49ers selected Montana in the third (3rd) round with the 82nd overall pick.
TommyP
January 30th, 2010
9:45 am
If you’re judging QBs on winning Super Bowls, you’re dismissed. That’s just plain idiotic.
Let’s see….Marino didn’t win a Super Bowl so we’ll say Trent Dilfer, Mark Rypien, Doug Williams, Brad Johnson, and Jeff Hostetler were better than him. Yeah, real smart.
If Peyton isn’t in your top 3 right now, you’re dismissed from the conversation.
The guy is incredible. This coming from a Bulldog fan but what he’s done is simply amazing.
This Colts team is NOT very talented. As someone said earlier, take Brady away and what happened? Pats won 10 games. Take Montana away and Steve Young kept on winning with the 49ers.
Take Peyton away and what happens? Colts lose. And it’s not even close. This team would be lucky to be a 5 win team without Peyton.
Which QB has won more games in a decade than any other QB? Peyton.
My dad grew up watching Johnny U and when you ask him who is the greatest, he says, “It’s pretty hard to argue against Manning. He’s unbelievable.”
dave
January 30th, 2010
9:45 am
As a Falcons fan, I had a hard time admitting I liked Joe Montana, but dangit, I did. Montana-to-Rice was the best QB/WR pairing ever, IMHO. There is no other QB I’d want leading my team.
dave
Lanny
January 30th, 2010
9:47 am
1. I don’t see how anyone can compile a Top 10 list without Bart Starr. Top post season QB rating ever. How many championships? Incredible 10 to 11 year run.
2. Football as it was played before, say, 1980, really cannot be compared to football played after. The rules changed and the game went from focusing on the run to focusing on the pass. Thus, I would have two top ten lists: “Pre-air” and “Post-air.”
3. Most great quarterbacks are, to some degree, beneficiaries of the system their team uses. As great as Montana was, he was also the perfect West Coast Offense quarterback. I doubt Montana would have done very well, for example, in Dan Reeves’ system at Denver or any “vertically” oriented game.
4. I didn’t see enough “Pre-air” football to rank them with any precision, but the list would include: Unitas, Starr, Graham, Baugh, Bradshaw, Staubach, Tarkenton, Stabler, Griese. Cases could be made for Dawson, Jurgensen and Namath.
5. The truth is that there have been a lot of great quarterbacks in the modern “Post-air” era. I would rank them something like this, but I think you could probably juggle the list a lot of different ways:
1. Montana
2. Elway (did an awful lot with a really ill-conceived offense for most of his career)
3. Brady (Super Bowls count)
4. Aikman (ditto)
5. Manning (could end up higher)
6. Favre
7. Marino (great, but never won the big one)
8. Warner
9. Young
10. Kelly
robertussen
January 30th, 2010
9:47 am
dan marino and steve young should be ahead of montana, id take young over montana. and peyton manning is probably the best EVER and keeps getting better. he’ll be a coach one day and a damn good one.
robertussen
January 30th, 2010
9:51 am
maybe jerry rice is the best wr ever. young to rice has better numbers than montana to rice. so wouldnt that knock him down your list according to your logic jeff?
athensdawg
January 30th, 2010
10:01 am
jeff, I am shocked, just shocked that matthew stafford didn’t make this list.
athensdawg
January 30th, 2010
10:02 am
oh yeah, and we all know why you didnt put mike vick on here….because he is the second greatest
(behind stafford.)
hop
January 30th, 2010
10:02 am
there have been many great ones,but here is my ten.
1.peyton manning
2.john unitas
3.john elway
4.joe montana
5.fran tarkenton
6.tom brady
7.roger stauback
8.marino
9.curt warner
10 terry bradshaw
lee
January 30th, 2010
10:24 am
jeff, how about otto graham? 10 years with the cleveland browns, 4 in the all american football conference, 6 in the nfl and he took the browns to the championship game every year. if championships are the measuring stick then he has to be in the conversation.
Jack P
January 30th, 2010
10:47 am
Joe Montana #1 all time! You got that right.
Gen Neyland
January 30th, 2010
10:49 am
All the QB’s listed in your Top 10 had QBing styles that were synonymous or extraordinary to the others. Manning doesn’t have the legs of Montana and Staubach didn’t have the thick skull of a Bradshaw but they all had something most in common. Receivers. I say Manning has 4 go-to guys and that is a number of receivers the rest didn’t have, IMHO. I’d say Montana and Manning are by far the best field generals on the list. But where does Tittle and Van Brocklin fall in..? or fall out.
dan
January 30th, 2010
10:51 am
Elway at number 7? Asinine sir!
Elway was the greatest NFL QB ever! Montana ,while very good, was part of the Bill Walsh San Francisco machine and had the greatest WR to ever play the game in Jerry Rice catching balls from him. When Montana got injured, Steve Young stepped in and the team didn’t miss a beat. Montana had a lot of winning intangibles, but he never carried that team. It’s the same with Tom Brady. When he went down last year, Matt Cassell was able to step in and have a good season. When that happens, it’s the organization that is great not the players.
Elway had a great arm and could make all the throws. He carried a Denver team that was mediocre in talent to 3 Super Bowls in the 80’s. And unlike Favre and Marino ,who’s egos got in the way of their teams success; Elway was able to play within Mike Shannahan’s system late in his career which allowed him to win back to back Super Bowls his last 2 years in the league. Elway was able to prove that he could withstand adversity and finish a winner. He had the talent to carry a team but could also be a team player. He could do it all, and that makes him the greatest of all time.
The Dogfighter Returns
January 30th, 2010
10:53 am
I’ll take John Elway any day of the week over any of these bums. The guy had average stats but he was a leader and a winner. John Elway could carry a team by himself. He did at stanford and in the pros.
I would take Jim Kelly over Montana.
Jeff why don’t you have slingin Sammy up there? OMG. Sammy was a beast when he played.
rockford
January 30th, 2010
11:02 am
All the above are great. Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr (Lanny has it right), Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, Steve Young (how can you leave him out?), Stabler, Bradshaw, Elway, Jim Kelly, Namath. See jimmy above. Y.A. Tittle, Jurgensen, Unitas, Montana, Len Dawson.
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:05 am
Knew BugKiller was pretty much a space cowboy (way out there in orbit); but his lack of knowledge regarding the quality of the defenses that Bradshaw (and I can’t believe I’m defending him) faced between 72-80 is just sad. The Dolphins, Raiders, Oilers, Colts, Chiefs, and Broncos defenses were not just good during that period, they were downright wicked! Without a doubt, the most vicious football game I ever witnessed on any level was that one where Swann was carried out on a stretcher in Oakland in 1977. They stopped the Steelers offense cold. Those teams put up numbers that still boggle the mind. There was reason that Stabler only won one title and that Fouts, Jones, Anderson, and Griese never sniffed a Super Bowl in the mid to late 70’s.
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:16 am
The best QB-to-WR combo was Hadl to Alworth followed by Van Brocklin to Hirsch and then Montana to Rice.
Cecil34
January 30th, 2010
11:16 am
Lanny’s referral to pre-air, post air is definately the division point between discussion of great QB’s. Super Bowls have very little to do with the judging process.
No question in my mind Starr is in the top 10 – I saw him play, and while he was playing on a juggernaut of a team, he did what it took and knew Vince’s offense as good as Vince did. The premier QB of the 60’s and I would rank Unitas slightly behind him because Baltimore just did not have the success in the 60’s that Green Bay had.
Staubach was one of a kind due to the fact that he quite frankly played on some Dallas teams that while dominant on defense, were a little short on talent offensively. Believe me when I say that, because his running game was basically by committee until Dorsett showed up in 77.
Calvin Hill, Dwane Thomas, Walt Garrison, Doug Dennison, Robert Newhouse – all good running backs, but not the consistent type that dominates a game. So Staubach had to do a lot himself – i.e. running and passing.
And he really only had Drew Pearson and Billy Joe Dupree – they went through so many other wide receivers it is crazy.
He was the man you wanted to lead you to a score with a minute left. You always had confidence he would get it done.
Like Montana.
And he did not have benefit of playing in his early twenties like the others.
If Staubach had what the Steelers had offensively his stats would be way up there.
I would agree though that I think by the time it is all over for Peyton, he will be considered the best of all time – and should be.
He should coach when he is done playing – this guy is smart and knows football more than any other QB in the league at this time.
And
Bristol Palin 2012
January 30th, 2010
11:22 am
Johnny Unitas
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:27 am
Tom Landry always got in his own way when it came to offensive football. If he’d left Staubach and D-u-a-n-e Thomas and Lance Rentzel (or Alworth when he arrived) alone, they would have competed better in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl! That 1971 Colts-Cowboy snore fest is still the stuff of legend! He spent way too much time trying to break players will… That is the reason we subjected to some of the great coke heads and deviants in football history (see Rentzel, Golden Richards and Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson!
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 30th, 2010
11:30 am
I am quite put off that Billy Joe Tolliver was left off this list I do not know if I will ever recover.
rockford
January 30th, 2010
11:31 am
Can you imagine if Peyton had a Drew Pearson or a Billy Joe Dupree? Calvin Hill, Dwayne Thomas, Walt Garrison and Robert Newhouse – those were the days!
Navigator
January 30th, 2010
11:39 am
Jeff, it’s either too late or too early to be drinking. You’re all over the place with your picks, especially Marino, who by any definition was a passer, not a quarterback. The old saying that he never won anything really applies to him, both in college (blew a chance to play for National Championship), and the only trip to the super bowl, where his mistakes were as much of the outcome as his passing. Let’s not forget that two year before that Miami team went to the superbowl with a QB that didn’t complete 52% of his passes. However, your choice of Joe Montana was right on, maybe the most cerebral QB that ever played the game. He had the knack of always knowing when to run out of the pocket, and not one second too soon. All the others were “you pick em” selections.
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:39 am
Dan…
Montana carried the 81-82 Niners! He was throwing to Freddie Solomon, Dwight Clark, Charlie Young, and Earl Freakin Cooper, and the running back was BILL RING!!!
Again, BILL RING!!!
rockford
January 30th, 2010
11:50 am
D u a n e Thomas sorry about that
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:54 am
Smitie…
Stabler made Oakland a winner? I guess Lamonica and Blanda were just chopped liver? My goodness!!!
JSS
January 30th, 2010
12:04 pm
Marino had the misfortune of playing for a coach who once coached two of the greatest stable of running backs in the history of football 69 Colts and 72 Dolphins. Then suddenly he thought you could pickup a running game at the local 7-11 at the bargain clearance bin! Marino was rarely the problem in Miami. By the way, the Wood-Stock Super Bowl team was as big of a fluke as the 85 Patroits! That was David Woodley and Don Strock for you youngsters!
Cecil34
January 30th, 2010
12:10 pm
JSS-
You are so right about Landry – remember he coached the defense and Lombardi coached the offense on the Giants of the 50’s…
If Tom had not tried to outfox the opposing defenses with all the shifting and false looks, and just built the offense into power football, a la Lombardi, he would have dominated the 70’s and quite possibly could have beaten the Steelers in at least one of the two super bowls they faced against them.
That Colts – Cowboys game was painful to watch, but don’t forget that a fumble the Cowboys recovered at the one yard line of the Colts was given to the Colts. That changed the whole compexion of the game after that.
I think this one game (along with the Cowboys 5 to 0 playoff victory against the Lions) was the impetus for Rozelle ultimately changing the game of pro football from a run dominated game to a passing one.
But you are right, I shook my head many a time with Landry’s offensive play calling – if he had just let Roger call the plays, we would be talking about how the Cowboys had won 4 or 5 super bowls in the 70’s….
John Tucker
January 30th, 2010
12:25 pm
Jeff:
You have either forgotten, or are to young to have seen, Bobby Lane, Jack Kemp, Roger Staubach,Dan Marino, Archie Manning, Charlie Connery, or Otto Graham play QB..
It’s simplistic and totally subjective to compare 2 currnet All-Star QB’s as the greatest ever, without a more detailed analysis and comparison with past stars who played shorter seasons, fewer games and often played hurt (in order to get paid).
Even with regard to recent greats, Brett Fav re and Jim Kelly would rival Peyton Manning and Joe Montana (whose deep threat are was nonexistent).
For any single big game, give me Roger Staubach under center.
m5691
January 30th, 2010
12:28 pm
Quick name great players off the early denver bronco,s team.
John elway took 3 or 4 very average teams to superbowls.
no other quaterback listed could have done that.
hate to say it being a Raider fan but elway was the man.
JSS
January 30th, 2010
12:40 pm
John…
Bobby Layne and Charlie Connerly…
The Dallas Cowboys were too good to have put themselves in the position that they put themselves in Super Bowl V, Landry was as bad that day as Bobby Cox was in Game 6 of the 1991 WS…
I know that is great affection in these parts in Archie Manning around here; but is a top 25 QB, not a top 10 one by no means…. For all of his greatness, Staubach had his hat handed to him on number of occasions in big games especially in the playoffs.
SuperB
January 30th, 2010
12:54 pm
Good article. I generally don’t like rating athletes from different eras (say Bobby Jones vs. Nicklaus or Tiger,) but having covered sports for the past 42 years, couldn’t agree with you more on Joe Montana. I met Joe and he was a great athlete who didn’t let his ego prevent him from being a better person.
Jeff, say what?
January 30th, 2010
12:59 pm
Ben — I wouldn’t argue over Aikman as a top 10. But what’s he without Irvin, Emmitt and that OL?
Jeff, are you serious? Where would Montana had been without Rice, Taylor, Craig, and his OL? Or Manning without Harrison, Wayne and his OL? Or Bradshaw without Swann, Harris, Bleier, Cunningham, Stallworth, and his OL? Unitas without Berry, Mackey, etc….you can ‘what if’ this to death. My point is this, any great quarterback who put up great numbers had great receivers and a great line, and usually a great running game. The notable exception is Marino, who without a running game never won a Super Bowl, and no, I’m not a Dolphin or Marino fan. So let’s agree, no one has, or ever will, make a ‘greatest qb’ list without having had great players around them. Same with coaches, not one ever amounted to anything without great players.
As for my list, I”d include Young right after Unitas, who was the greatest, then Montana right behind Young. Young was statistically the most accurate passer in NFL history, and had athleticism that no other quarterback on the list not named Elway or Staubach had. I’d also have Manning and Marino ahead of Brady, based solely on regular season stats and not necessarily SB stats. I’m more of a ‘whole season’ guy instead of a one game guy. But hey, that’s what makes it sport. It is all just opinion and it really doesn’t matter unless you’re a degenerate gambler…you’re not, are you, Jeff?
Jeff, say what?
January 30th, 2010
1:03 pm
Almost forgot, did you mean to exclude Roman Gabriel and Bob ‘the General’ Lee from the list? What about Jumpin’ Joe Kapp? Double Pump Bruce Lemmerman? Kim McQuilken? Bob Berry? How about Steve Grogan or Billy ‘wobbleball’ Kilmer? Heath Shuler would also be a nice choice. And, of course, the greatest of them all, Bobby Douglass. Just sayin’.
Chris
January 30th, 2010
1:05 pm
Montana is the greatest ever. No question.
A word about Bradshaw and the quarterbacks his era. The secondary could get away with a lot more interference back in the day. Their numbers would have been better if they played under current rules.
Hmmmm
January 30th, 2010
1:05 pm
Chris, you are right, if Bradshaw and the gang played with today’s rules, their numbers would have been greatly inflated over what they are. The whole ‘Montana is the greatest’ thought? Not so much. Top five, certainly, but not the greatest. IMO
Ath Dog
January 30th, 2010
1:10 pm
The three quarterbacks who are at the top are, without a doubt, David Greene, DJ Shockely and Andy Johnson. By the way, did I mention 31-24 and 8 of 9? And, the last time I looked, Ealey and Caleb were still running up and down the field. OH! LOOK! BeyBey just got another case of ‘alligator arms’ because he heard Reshad coming up behind him!!! Worst team at UGA in 5 years 31, ACC Champs 24
Ted Striker
January 30th, 2010
1:17 pm
Great list. That said, I’d omit Favre. Here’s why. Every other player in the list would be a guy I’d trust at QB with my team down by six with two minutes remaining. Favre may be as capable of pulling out a win as the other 9 QBs, but he’s also the guy who first comes to mind as being most likely to end a comeback by forcing the ball on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down. I replace Favre with Steve Young, stats and awards be darned.
p.s. You should write a book on the Niners one of these days. You’ll make millions!
Jaydawg
January 30th, 2010
1:23 pm
What about Billy Joe Tolliver?The Falcons even let Brett Favre go in order to retain his services!
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 30th, 2010
1:31 pm
I’d have to give honorable mention to Bart Starr and Ken Stabler. In their day, quarterbacks called their own plays and that was where Starr excelled. He always had the defense off balance. It make not take a ton of skill to execute a draw play but it takes skill to know when to call it and how to disguise it. Stabler was a fairly average quarterback for 58 minutes. He took it to another level in the last 2 and was about as cool under pressure as anybody I’ve seen.