At the beginning of this month, we were treated to another Super Bowl blowout, this one, a 43-8 drubbing of the Denver Broncos by Seattle. One of the larger subplots leading up to the Big Game was the legacy of Peyton Manning, and how his place among the best ever would be raised or lowered depending on the outcome.
I don't really think he moved too far down on my list on Monday, February 3rd. But it made me start thinking about a personal top 10 list of signal callers.
This thought was bolstered by two events this morning. First, my wife Elizabeth asked me who my Mount Rushmore of football would be. Let's see - Halas, Unitas, Jim Brown and Lombardi. But it still needs a defender -- oh, how I hate this exercise!
Secondly, today, the NFL Network is showing a 24 -hour run of Top Ten lists. I have yet to see the one on quarterbacks, so allow me to post this list. Agree or disagree???
1) Joe Montana - 4 Super Bowl wins, 40,551 passing yards, 117-47 record as starter, plus 17-6 in playoffs. And who else can claim to have thrown "The Catch?"
2) Johnny Unitas - reinvented the position. Also passed for over 40,000 yards (first to do so), and held most QB records at the time of his retirement, including TD passes (290). Won the greatest game ever, 23-17 in the 1958 NFL championship.
3) Otto Graham - played for the NFL championship in each of his ten seasons (1946-55), and won seven! His team, the Browns, went 114-20-4, including 9-3 in the playoffs during Graham's time on Lake Erie. Highest winning percentage for a QB ever.
4) Tom Brady - my feeling is that Manning and he would have switched places if the Broncos had won two weeks ago, but Brady holds his place for now. Three championships, and some gaudy passing numbers (359 TD's vs. 134 picks). Career record of 148-43 and 18-7 in the playoffs is best winning percentage since Graham.
5) John Elway - known as a great talent who couldn't win the "Big One" early in his career, Elway won the championship in his final two years to end up with two rings out of five tries. Finished his career with 51,475 passing yards and 300 TD's.
6) Peyton Manning - absent from a second championship, keeps Manning down a bit. But his final numbers will rival for the best ever. Currently, number 18 sits at 64,964 yards and 491 TD passes -- never mind having arguably the greatest passing season ever in 2013. 55 TD passes? Enough said.
7) Brett Favre - in spite of a lot of interceptions and only one ring, Favre has to be in the mix. His 71,838 throwing yards will hold for at least ten more years if Manning doesn't pass the standard and he holds the TD record with 508.
8) Dan Marino - if only he had won a ring or two. But, Marino was the best pure passer of his generation and held the season TD record of 48 for almost thirty years.
9) Fran Tarkenton - the maniacal Vikings (and Giants)QB was a threat with his arm and feet. A living human highlight reel who could turn a 60 yard dash into a two yard gain.
10) Bart Starr - As a rule, I automatically ruled out any QB with more career interceptions than TD's, which amazingly eliminates Ken Stabler, Joe Namath, Sammy Baugh, and almost Terry Bradshaw, who threw for 212 scores against 210 interceptions. Starr ended up with 152 TD's and 138 INT's, but he won more championships than the others, even Bradshaw, so he gets the edge here.
Honorable mention - Warren Moon, Sonny Jurgensen, Drew Brees, Baugh and Bradshaw. Ah heck, I'll add Staubach to the list too.
I don't really think he moved too far down on my list on Monday, February 3rd. But it made me start thinking about a personal top 10 list of signal callers.
This thought was bolstered by two events this morning. First, my wife Elizabeth asked me who my Mount Rushmore of football would be. Let's see - Halas, Unitas, Jim Brown and Lombardi. But it still needs a defender -- oh, how I hate this exercise!
Secondly, today, the NFL Network is showing a 24 -hour run of Top Ten lists. I have yet to see the one on quarterbacks, so allow me to post this list. Agree or disagree???
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| Joe Montana - the best QB ever? |
1) Joe Montana - 4 Super Bowl wins, 40,551 passing yards, 117-47 record as starter, plus 17-6 in playoffs. And who else can claim to have thrown "The Catch?"
2) Johnny Unitas - reinvented the position. Also passed for over 40,000 yards (first to do so), and held most QB records at the time of his retirement, including TD passes (290). Won the greatest game ever, 23-17 in the 1958 NFL championship.
3) Otto Graham - played for the NFL championship in each of his ten seasons (1946-55), and won seven! His team, the Browns, went 114-20-4, including 9-3 in the playoffs during Graham's time on Lake Erie. Highest winning percentage for a QB ever.
4) Tom Brady - my feeling is that Manning and he would have switched places if the Broncos had won two weeks ago, but Brady holds his place for now. Three championships, and some gaudy passing numbers (359 TD's vs. 134 picks). Career record of 148-43 and 18-7 in the playoffs is best winning percentage since Graham.
5) John Elway - known as a great talent who couldn't win the "Big One" early in his career, Elway won the championship in his final two years to end up with two rings out of five tries. Finished his career with 51,475 passing yards and 300 TD's.
6) Peyton Manning - absent from a second championship, keeps Manning down a bit. But his final numbers will rival for the best ever. Currently, number 18 sits at 64,964 yards and 491 TD passes -- never mind having arguably the greatest passing season ever in 2013. 55 TD passes? Enough said.
7) Brett Favre - in spite of a lot of interceptions and only one ring, Favre has to be in the mix. His 71,838 throwing yards will hold for at least ten more years if Manning doesn't pass the standard and he holds the TD record with 508.
8) Dan Marino - if only he had won a ring or two. But, Marino was the best pure passer of his generation and held the season TD record of 48 for almost thirty years.
9) Fran Tarkenton - the maniacal Vikings (and Giants)QB was a threat with his arm and feet. A living human highlight reel who could turn a 60 yard dash into a two yard gain.
10) Bart Starr - As a rule, I automatically ruled out any QB with more career interceptions than TD's, which amazingly eliminates Ken Stabler, Joe Namath, Sammy Baugh, and almost Terry Bradshaw, who threw for 212 scores against 210 interceptions. Starr ended up with 152 TD's and 138 INT's, but he won more championships than the others, even Bradshaw, so he gets the edge here.
Honorable mention - Warren Moon, Sonny Jurgensen, Drew Brees, Baugh and Bradshaw. Ah heck, I'll add Staubach to the list too.
Really amazing post! thanks for sharing. will back again.
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