BobDigital
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2013
- Messages
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Figure nothing else is going on. Do another top 10 list. This list will not feature QBs who did not play the modern era (AKA SB era) as the game is so different that they should have their own category... That list would have names like Baugh, Graham, Luckman, ect... You need to play at least some part of your career in the SB era to qualify for this list.
#10 Kurt Warner – A bit of a surprise to some I am sure. However it should not be. This guy was really good. Not only did he put up the numbers in the regular season his 31 TDs to 14 Ints in the playoffs with a 9-4 record speak well. He went to 3 SBs and really should have won 2… that Pitt lose was very fluky ala some of the loses Brady has had. What is interesting about his career is his injuries. He had 3 reasonably healthy years at the beginning and 3 reasonably healthy years at the end and took his team to the SB half the time when this was the case with 2 different franchises. What could have been if he did not have basically 5 years wasted. Still what he accomplished was very impressive in the time and he showed more in just those 6 healthy years then the vast majority of starting QBs have in entire careers. However health and longevity matter so those can and should be held against him.
#9 Dan Marino – Marino; the best to never win. However when you look at him he was not so bad in the playoffs honestly. Yes he did not do great much of the time but he does lack many of the legendary vomit inducing performances that Peyton Manning has. The 4 worst happened at the tail end of his career and I don’t think that is coincidence. By the time the hard cap came into play he was past his best days and it was too late. The truth is if he had to play Grossman and Manning had to play Montana I think we know who would have a ring. His loses in his prime were to Seattle 83 (rookie year), SF 85 (simply a power house), Patriots 86 (better team), Bills 87 (put up 34 points.. that one is on the D), Bills 92 (much better team but the worst lose of his prime years with only 10 points). SD 95 (had a very good game and run that year). Then he helps score 22 vs the Bills next year in a “meh” game but falls off hard after. He was not clutch by any means but I think performances at the end hurts his case for what were some very decent games in his prime years and he never lost a game in his prime years he shouldn’t have IMO.
#8 John Elway – I know this one might get me hate one way or another. However, what he did with the team he had; (to get them to the SB 3 times) was very impressive but it was clear how overmatched his team was. He also did win 2 and was a very large part of the 2nd one throwing for 336 yards. Did he get carried a little? Yep. Did he do some carrying of his on in those runs he won? You bet. His stats are not impressive but he is a man where the stats do not tell the whole story. Not to mention he did improve as time passed with his passing and that is a big reason why he was able to get over the hump.
#7 Aaron Rodgers - This might be too high too early to some. He has started for 7 years and in this time he has been more impressive than many others QBs I could put over him. Not only does he win he has the best stats of his era and a ring too. The way he has played in the playoffs though is key here. He gets a bit of this choker label but I am not sure that is fair. 23 TDs 7 Ints and 101 QB rating in the playoffs looks good on paper. I am not for excuse making but looking at the games the only 2 loses in the playoffs I really put on him are the past 2 years (SF and SEA) and you can argue the injury was a big reasons he lost last year though I think he was probably being a bit of a baby. The other 3 loses his team gave up 51, 37 and 45 points. I will cut him some slack for those. I am putting him here assuming another ring is coming. If not I might reevaluate.
#6 Bart Starr - This one is usually hard to defend but it really shouldn't be. Yes he had a great coach and great team. Still does not change the fact he was 9-1 in the playoffs and had 2 SB (5 overall) championships. His QB rating in the playoffs speaks for itself in such an era. The guy knew how to win and though he often didn't need to he could and would take over games if need be like he did vs Dallas on route to their 1st SB. He knew that the first key to winning is not losing and how easy it can be to beat yourself. One of the best ever.
#5 Steve Young - What could have been. Steve Young did not get a chance to start till he was 30. I don't care how healthy you are 30 is 30. No amount of practice can make you ready for the NFL. You just need to go out there and play. He had to learn how to be a starter in the NFL while also on the verge of his physical decline starting which matters so much for a QB that likes to run. I believe if he got to start when he was 22 or 23 and go the more normal route he would have gotten more than 1 ring. However his play in his prime and in that overall 8 year span of starting is enough to put him on this list. We barely got to see his best but it was very good.
#4 Johnny Unitas - Basically invented the modern QB position and is still one of the best at it. I will not say too much as I have not seen enough of his tape to go into detail but it is clear to me he deserves this spot but is not in my "holy trinity".
#3 Roger Staubach - Roger the Dodger. This is the most underrated great player of all time in any sport. He went to 4 SBs and won 2. He was up against the most loaded era in all of football. The Steelers dynasty which was just so ridiculously over talented all around. The Dolphins in the early 70s which went undefeated and nearly did so the next year. No other QB on this list had to go against such monstrous teams. I do believe if him and Montana swap eras Montana might be 2 out of 4 and Staubach 4 out of 4. However looking at the play of each Montana seems to be just a little better.
#2 Joe Montana - Some will call him the best. Some will bring up his D and talent around him and argue he is a bit overrated. I think his play speaks for itself. He is the cog which made the offense go and though his team was stacked he had to beat other stacked teams on his way to 4 championships. He was still the best till about 4 months ago. And solidly holds the 2nd place spot that is not getting taken away anytime soon
#1 Tom Brady - Though I could understand Montana being #1 Brady to me has been better. Regardless of what others might say not only is he one of the most clutch QBs of all time he is the best regular season QB to boot. His winning % is the highest of any QB with even comparable sample size and he is so consistent. Last year getting his 4th ring and the way he got it is the kicker to me. Best ever.
#10 Kurt Warner – A bit of a surprise to some I am sure. However it should not be. This guy was really good. Not only did he put up the numbers in the regular season his 31 TDs to 14 Ints in the playoffs with a 9-4 record speak well. He went to 3 SBs and really should have won 2… that Pitt lose was very fluky ala some of the loses Brady has had. What is interesting about his career is his injuries. He had 3 reasonably healthy years at the beginning and 3 reasonably healthy years at the end and took his team to the SB half the time when this was the case with 2 different franchises. What could have been if he did not have basically 5 years wasted. Still what he accomplished was very impressive in the time and he showed more in just those 6 healthy years then the vast majority of starting QBs have in entire careers. However health and longevity matter so those can and should be held against him.
#9 Dan Marino – Marino; the best to never win. However when you look at him he was not so bad in the playoffs honestly. Yes he did not do great much of the time but he does lack many of the legendary vomit inducing performances that Peyton Manning has. The 4 worst happened at the tail end of his career and I don’t think that is coincidence. By the time the hard cap came into play he was past his best days and it was too late. The truth is if he had to play Grossman and Manning had to play Montana I think we know who would have a ring. His loses in his prime were to Seattle 83 (rookie year), SF 85 (simply a power house), Patriots 86 (better team), Bills 87 (put up 34 points.. that one is on the D), Bills 92 (much better team but the worst lose of his prime years with only 10 points). SD 95 (had a very good game and run that year). Then he helps score 22 vs the Bills next year in a “meh” game but falls off hard after. He was not clutch by any means but I think performances at the end hurts his case for what were some very decent games in his prime years and he never lost a game in his prime years he shouldn’t have IMO.
#8 John Elway – I know this one might get me hate one way or another. However, what he did with the team he had; (to get them to the SB 3 times) was very impressive but it was clear how overmatched his team was. He also did win 2 and was a very large part of the 2nd one throwing for 336 yards. Did he get carried a little? Yep. Did he do some carrying of his on in those runs he won? You bet. His stats are not impressive but he is a man where the stats do not tell the whole story. Not to mention he did improve as time passed with his passing and that is a big reason why he was able to get over the hump.
#7 Aaron Rodgers - This might be too high too early to some. He has started for 7 years and in this time he has been more impressive than many others QBs I could put over him. Not only does he win he has the best stats of his era and a ring too. The way he has played in the playoffs though is key here. He gets a bit of this choker label but I am not sure that is fair. 23 TDs 7 Ints and 101 QB rating in the playoffs looks good on paper. I am not for excuse making but looking at the games the only 2 loses in the playoffs I really put on him are the past 2 years (SF and SEA) and you can argue the injury was a big reasons he lost last year though I think he was probably being a bit of a baby. The other 3 loses his team gave up 51, 37 and 45 points. I will cut him some slack for those. I am putting him here assuming another ring is coming. If not I might reevaluate.
#6 Bart Starr - This one is usually hard to defend but it really shouldn't be. Yes he had a great coach and great team. Still does not change the fact he was 9-1 in the playoffs and had 2 SB (5 overall) championships. His QB rating in the playoffs speaks for itself in such an era. The guy knew how to win and though he often didn't need to he could and would take over games if need be like he did vs Dallas on route to their 1st SB. He knew that the first key to winning is not losing and how easy it can be to beat yourself. One of the best ever.
#5 Steve Young - What could have been. Steve Young did not get a chance to start till he was 30. I don't care how healthy you are 30 is 30. No amount of practice can make you ready for the NFL. You just need to go out there and play. He had to learn how to be a starter in the NFL while also on the verge of his physical decline starting which matters so much for a QB that likes to run. I believe if he got to start when he was 22 or 23 and go the more normal route he would have gotten more than 1 ring. However his play in his prime and in that overall 8 year span of starting is enough to put him on this list. We barely got to see his best but it was very good.
#4 Johnny Unitas - Basically invented the modern QB position and is still one of the best at it. I will not say too much as I have not seen enough of his tape to go into detail but it is clear to me he deserves this spot but is not in my "holy trinity".
#3 Roger Staubach - Roger the Dodger. This is the most underrated great player of all time in any sport. He went to 4 SBs and won 2. He was up against the most loaded era in all of football. The Steelers dynasty which was just so ridiculously over talented all around. The Dolphins in the early 70s which went undefeated and nearly did so the next year. No other QB on this list had to go against such monstrous teams. I do believe if him and Montana swap eras Montana might be 2 out of 4 and Staubach 4 out of 4. However looking at the play of each Montana seems to be just a little better.
#2 Joe Montana - Some will call him the best. Some will bring up his D and talent around him and argue he is a bit overrated. I think his play speaks for itself. He is the cog which made the offense go and though his team was stacked he had to beat other stacked teams on his way to 4 championships. He was still the best till about 4 months ago. And solidly holds the 2nd place spot that is not getting taken away anytime soon
#1 Tom Brady - Though I could understand Montana being #1 Brady to me has been better. Regardless of what others might say not only is he one of the most clutch QBs of all time he is the best regular season QB to boot. His winning % is the highest of any QB with even comparable sample size and he is so consistent. Last year getting his 4th ring and the way he got it is the kicker to me. Best ever.
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