I missed seeing Otto Graham, but have seen every other “great” QB since. While there’s no right answer and some QBs excel in certain systems compared to others, I’d have to say, for me,
but was too young to really appreciate him then. However, he remains one of the best of all time.
And I never saw Sammy Baugh who might be the best ever, all things considered.
Leadership ability is a huge part of being a pro QB, and that goes well beyond just being able to execute the throws. You also have to factor in ability to do other things like kick or run with the ball which were a whole lot more important in the old days when rosters were a lot smaller than they are now. And it's still about winning more than anything else, especially winning championships.
There are quite a few that I'd have to consider. Some names that haven't come up yet include Roger Staubach, Y.A. Tittle (for more than his GIANTS years), George Blanda, Warren Moon (combine what he did in the CFL and the NFL and he re-writes the record books), and Bart Starr.
I don't have a conclusion on this right now.
Been watching and following football for over 3 decades. Â
he was simply amazing to watch --- those of you who weren't alive or cognizant for that missed something special
When the Giants finally beat and broke him in the Championship when they were going for the 3-Peat -- and then went on to win the Super Bowl - it was one of the most amazing and emotional games I'd ever seen.
I don't think Brady is, ever was, better than Montana was to watch --- Brady doesn't move around the way Joe Montana did -- and Montana did things with much more pizzazz. Also QBs were not as protected by the rules then as they are now. Brady may not have lasted as long as he has playing under the same conditions.
after his loss vs. the Broncos in the AFC Champ game a few years back. I’ve never seen a better pass rush than what the Broncos had going that day. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware just dominating, those are probably the best and 2nd best passrush 3-4 OLBs since LT and they were making Brady’s life a living hell that day. Brady got hit more times than Eli did in San Fran in '11.
Brady comes back after being hit 30 times and leads a vintage 4th quarter drive at the end. They lose because they don't get the 2pt conversion at the end, but the drive itself was one of the most impressive things I’ve seen from a QB.
Also his comeback vs. Atlanta in the Super Bowl was ridiculous, he hit several ridiculous throws in that comeback. Just a legend.
I think I'd take Rodgers or Montana over him for a game because of their mobility, but I don't trust their durability nearly as much so it's not too hard for me to choose Brady overall.
would be Brady. And it's not really even close anymore. Way better arm than Montana, and just as much, if not more magic -- and WITHOUT a Rice, Taylor, and Clarke. Much more important wins than Payton.
. You can give Bill credit all you want for creating a culture of excellence but the guy is a machine and won Super Bowls throwing to the likes of Troy Brown Deion Branch and Shane Vereen.
You could easily believe that without BB, Tom Brady won't have been anyone big.. without Steelers talent Bradshaw would have been average QB, without Walsh and the whole west coast offense Montana would've been just above average.. however Peyton was going to be good no matter who was the coach and what team drafted him.. Colts are a horrible franchise.. he took them to SB victory and took them to another one.. He went to SB with 4 separate coaches.. none of them are great coaches.. He was awesome at Ten in college.. Hence he is the only one during my timeframe that I can ensure regardless of conditions around him.. he would've been great..
If you imagine all QBs being available in a draft class and Bill Walsh is picking, whom would he take?
I think Elway.
I saw Elway's home games his last year in college. The student section would do the "we are not worthy" bow about once a game.
It's funny that people say Elway and yet ELI has passed him in every statistical category and has the same number of rings. I just find that comical that people debate Eli as a HOF.
I find it comical when people are incapable of contextualizing eras.
Even without looking at much footage to corroborate this Â
I'd still have to go with Montana. It seemed like he had a 360 degree range of vision and processed everything transpiring on the field. In an era where it was likely more difficult to truly anticipate a receiver freeing himself from the DB, his timing was pretty damned impressive.
I remember how fluidly and quickly he'd cover a crazy amount of yardage in his drops. It was like he would place himself out of harm's way and into the perfect spot to survey all the action in the time an average QB would only have performed one or two steps back.
Ever play a Madden game where the CPU goes into "you're going to break your controller" mode and simply can't be stopped? I felt like he was like that more often than anyone else.
Elisha Archibald Manning III. Look at old films of him at Ole Miss. Guy had every single tool...he could throw, he could run.
In 1969 he played Alabama, coached by the legend Bear Bryan. Archie threw for 36 yards and three touchdowns, also rushing for 104 yards, in a 33–32 loss. He scored 14 touchdowns in 1969. In both 1969 and 1970, he was named to the All-SEC team and his No. 18 jersey was retired by Ole Miss.
In 1972, he led the league in pass attempts and completions and led the National Football Conference in passing yards, though the team's record was only 2–11–1. During his time with the Saints, though, that team was beyond awful. His offensive line was no better that what we had last year, maybe worst. He was sacked 337 times during his Saints career.
Put him with the Steelers, and he would have had 6 rings or more. Best pure talent I ever saw coming out of college.
1. Peyton Manning - Guy was unreal between the ears. Could dissect a defense pre-snap better than anyone I’ve ever seen. So much so they had to put it in the Madden games. Even when he was bluffing calls you could
See linebackers getting nervous and wanting to change the defense because they think they’ve been figured out. He could throw it to anyone and make them looks 10x better than they probably were. Fundamentals were as crisp as it gets. Guy was everything I thought a QB should be.
2. Brett Favre - much of what I said about Manning would be the opposite for Favre. But Favre always appealed to the football player in me. He was a “By any means” kind of QB. He took the tough big play over the easy checkdown and would complete some of the most ill advised throws I’ve ever seen. You could tell his teammates would take a bullet for him and that every man on the roster believe in him in crunch time.
3. Aaron Rodgers - He makes QBing in the NFL look like the easiest thing. You’d think the difficulty of the game was turned down the way he consistently avoids defenders and fires 30+ yard bombs. He’s being wasted in Green Bay but that guys can carry an entire offense on his arm like very few.
but was too young to really appreciate him then. However, he remains one of the best of all time.
And I never saw Sammy Baugh who might be the best ever, all things considered.
Leadership ability is a huge part of being a pro QB, and that goes well beyond just being able to execute the throws. You also have to factor in ability to do other things like kick or run with the ball which were a whole lot more important in the old days when rosters were a lot smaller than they are now. And it's still about winning more than anything else, especially winning championships.
There are quite a few that I'd have to consider. Some names that haven't come up yet include Roger Staubach, Y.A. Tittle (for more than his GIANTS years), George Blanda, Warren Moon (combine what he did in the CFL and the NFL and he re-writes the record books), and Bart Starr.
I don't have a conclusion on this right now.
Saw Graham many times on TV when living & collegeing in southern Maine. Those Browns were great to watch but I was too immature to form a useful opinion.
Not sure for a career, probably defer to Unitas largely because of things I heard my dad say about him because I only remember the second half of his career which wasn't his best years.
Every bit as good as anyone and better than many above. But I mean, it’s not like there’s any outlandish takes here. No one mentioned Steve Young, he could run as well as anyone I’ve seen, including Vick and he could make all throws and make all the reads and he was a leader on and off the field.
Don't think I'm really adding anything, but the order might be interesting to some: Brady, Unitas, Montana/Aikman and Graham (Otto, not Kent or Billy).
And would have elevated any team during any era was John elway. There have been others that won more, passed for more and had more prolific careers but there’s a reason why guys like tom Brady or Montana or Bradshaw had “better” careers. They were just in the right place at the right time and to their credit, they took advantage of those situations. But in my opinion, elway goes to 5 Super Bowls no matter who who played for. I’m not sure Brady is Brady he was drafted by the falcons or jets.
Most prolific ? That’s a layup— it’s brady. Dig deeper, it’s elway or even marino. Thing is I cant shake the no super bowl titles thing even if it’s unfair.
Namath. Brady's great, but not that great. And the Ds have been so constrained now that "pressure on the QB" doesn't mean what it did in Namath's day, when you had a very real chance of getting killed.
Montana was poetry playing the position. Fluid, poised, smart and one of the great long ball throwers ever. Obviously not a big arm, but it seemed he always hit Rice, Taylor, Clark, etc perfectly in stride.
One of the great clutch players the game has ever seen. His numbers in that era - where football was still football - are brilliant.
Marino was the best thrower of the ball I had ever seen...until Rodgers arrived. There is nothing Rodgers can't do. He is the perfect blend of every attribute you want in a QB. And he delivers with great production and in big moments. So I submit Rodgers.
I concur 100%. Rodgers is the most talented passer to ever walk this earth.
Steve Young went to my high school long after my time there. Greenwich High School in Connecticut. Greenwich also had a successful head coach, Sam Rutigliano. He went on to coach the Cleveland Browns.
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
its like asking if Tim Duncan is Tim Duncan without Pop and the Spurs.
Payton for me but never saw Johnny U (who my dad swears by) Â
Random statement but for pure tools and fear before his inaccuracy became well known Michael Vick was downright frightening. That game in Green Bay is one of the best performances i have ever seen. I feel like with the dog stuff and more mobile qbs people forget what a shock he was to the league.
One guy not mentioned that even though I disliked him he had an arm Â
Another QB I always felt history has under appreciated is Roger Staubach. And one of my favorites also Fran Tarkenton I think held some of the passing records when he retired.
I wish I could have seen Otto Graham and Sid Luckman play and impossible to compare those guys with today's players because the game is so very different.
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
What situation was Brady placed in? He makes it the situation...
RE: RE: RE: Oh my, if you aren't saying Tom Brady Â
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
What situation was Brady placed in? He makes it the situation...
The team, coach, he played with and era he plays in is what I was referring to.
Marino relative to his peers, was playing at a different level. By that measure, because it’s hard to compare across eras, Marino was the best ever.
Manning in this era of passing and great QBs is/was the best of the bunch but not by as much as Marino was in his time. Manning, though, checks all the boxes (including 2 rings) and revolutionized the position in his own way. He was an OC/QB in one. Computer for a brain and the talent to put the ball where he knew he had to. He also holds basically all meaningful records.
Manning is probably the safe choice. Though Marino may be the right one.
RE: RE: RE: RE: Oh my, if you aren't saying Tom Brady Â
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
What situation was Brady placed in? He makes it the situation...
The team, coach, he played with and era he plays in is what I was referring to.
Not sure what was so superior about his team or how the era makes a difference since this should be about wins/championships not stats. BB is a clearly great but lots of great Coach/QB combinations.
Lord, he would have 7 rings if it not for clutch Eli. Brady is the man...and its indisputable.
a QB played in comes into the discussion when comparing NFL QBs we probably will never see eye to eye and probably best to agree to disagree.
And I think it's reasonable to argue Brady is the most successful QB of all time, and while he is very accomplished IMO he isn't the "best" or most gifted I have seen play the position. And really most of these current crop of great QB's all acknowledge it's unfair for any one QB be considered the best when also considering the greats of other era's, but to each his own.
And I never saw Sammy Baugh who might be the best ever, all things considered.
Leadership ability is a huge part of being a pro QB, and that goes well beyond just being able to execute the throws. You also have to factor in ability to do other things like kick or run with the ball which were a whole lot more important in the old days when rosters were a lot smaller than they are now. And it's still about winning more than anything else, especially winning championships.
There are quite a few that I'd have to consider. Some names that haven't come up yet include Roger Staubach, Y.A. Tittle (for more than his GIANTS years), George Blanda, Warren Moon (combine what he did in the CFL and the NFL and he re-writes the record books), and Bart Starr.
I don't have a conclusion on this right now.
This is a good question...
bw in dc : 3:12 pm : link : reply
by a very ordinary poster - BB'56.
😂😂😂
I would grade him as high as Saquon Barkley.
it was excruciating to watch Manning outcoach Perry Fewell.
When the Giants finally beat and broke him in the Championship when they were going for the 3-Peat -- and then went on to win the Super Bowl - it was one of the most amazing and emotional games I'd ever seen.
I don't think Brady is, ever was, better than Montana was to watch --- Brady doesn't move around the way Joe Montana did -- and Montana did things with much more pizzazz. Also QBs were not as protected by the rules then as they are now. Brady may not have lasted as long as he has playing under the same conditions.
Brady comes back after being hit 30 times and leads a vintage 4th quarter drive at the end. They lose because they don't get the 2pt conversion at the end, but the drive itself was one of the most impressive things I’ve seen from a QB.
Also his comeback vs. Atlanta in the Super Bowl was ridiculous, he hit several ridiculous throws in that comeback. Just a legend.
I think I'd take Rodgers or Montana over him for a game because of their mobility, but I don't trust their durability nearly as much so it's not too hard for me to choose Brady overall.
Best passer is still Marino.
Quote:
If you imagine all QBs being available in a draft class and Bill Walsh is picking, whom would he take?
I think Elway.
I saw Elway's home games his last year in college. The student section would do the "we are not worthy" bow about once a game.
It's funny that people say Elway and yet ELI has passed him in every statistical category and has the same number of rings. I just find that comical that people debate Eli as a HOF.
I find it comical when people are incapable of contextualizing eras.
I remember how fluidly and quickly he'd cover a crazy amount of yardage in his drops. It was like he would place himself out of harm's way and into the perfect spot to survey all the action in the time an average QB would only have performed one or two steps back.
Ever play a Madden game where the CPU goes into "you're going to break your controller" mode and simply can't be stopped? I felt like he was like that more often than anyone else.
In 1969 he played Alabama, coached by the legend Bear Bryan. Archie threw for 36 yards and three touchdowns, also rushing for 104 yards, in a 33–32 loss. He scored 14 touchdowns in 1969. In both 1969 and 1970, he was named to the All-SEC team and his No. 18 jersey was retired by Ole Miss.
In 1972, he led the league in pass attempts and completions and led the National Football Conference in passing yards, though the team's record was only 2–11–1. During his time with the Saints, though, that team was beyond awful. His offensive line was no better that what we had last year, maybe worst. He was sacked 337 times during his Saints career.
Put him with the Steelers, and he would have had 6 rings or more. Best pure talent I ever saw coming out of college.
Link to Archie Manning's Ole Miss highlight (facebook) - ( New Window )
See linebackers getting nervous and wanting to change the defense because they think they’ve been figured out. He could throw it to anyone and make them looks 10x better than they probably were. Fundamentals were as crisp as it gets. Guy was everything I thought a QB should be.
2. Brett Favre - much of what I said about Manning would be the opposite for Favre. But Favre always appealed to the football player in me. He was a “By any means” kind of QB. He took the tough big play over the easy checkdown and would complete some of the most ill advised throws I’ve ever seen. You could tell his teammates would take a bullet for him and that every man on the roster believe in him in crunch time.
3. Aaron Rodgers - He makes QBing in the NFL look like the easiest thing. You’d think the difficulty of the game was turned down the way he consistently avoids defenders and fires 30+ yard bombs. He’s being wasted in Green Bay but that guys can carry an entire offense on his arm like very few.
And I never saw Sammy Baugh who might be the best ever, all things considered.
Leadership ability is a huge part of being a pro QB, and that goes well beyond just being able to execute the throws. You also have to factor in ability to do other things like kick or run with the ball which were a whole lot more important in the old days when rosters were a lot smaller than they are now. And it's still about winning more than anything else, especially winning championships.
There are quite a few that I'd have to consider. Some names that haven't come up yet include Roger Staubach, Y.A. Tittle (for more than his GIANTS years), George Blanda, Warren Moon (combine what he did in the CFL and the NFL and he re-writes the record books), and Bart Starr.
I don't have a conclusion on this right now.
Saw Graham many times on TV when living & collegeing in southern Maine. Those Browns were great to watch but I was too immature to form a useful opinion.
Joe Montana
Tom Brady
Bert Jones
Brett Farve
Quote:
Bert Jones had more raw talent than anyone I have seen play.
Ernie, is that you???
Can't believe I missed this. LOL - Greg.
Johnny Unitas
Joe Montana
Tom Brady
Most prolific ? That’s a layup— it’s brady. Dig deeper, it’s elway or even marino. Thing is I cant shake the no super bowl titles thing even if it’s unfair.
Can’t really go wrong here but his postseason splits are hard to ignore.
Namath. Brady's great, but not that great. And the Ds have been so constrained now that "pressure on the QB" doesn't mean what it did in Namath's day, when you had a very real chance of getting killed.
Montana was poetry playing the position. Fluid, poised, smart and one of the great long ball throwers ever. Obviously not a big arm, but it seemed he always hit Rice, Taylor, Clark, etc perfectly in stride.
One of the great clutch players the game has ever seen. His numbers in that era - where football was still football - are brilliant.
Marino was the best thrower of the ball I had ever seen...until Rodgers arrived. There is nothing Rodgers can't do. He is the perfect blend of every attribute you want in a QB. And he delivers with great production and in big moments. So I submit Rodgers.
Y A Tittle
Steve Young
And my personal favorite Fran Tarkenton
Y A Tittle
Steve Young
And my personal favorite Fran Tarkenton
Steve Young went to my high school long after my time there. Greenwich High School in Connecticut. Greenwich also had a successful head coach, Sam Rutigliano. He went on to coach the Cleveland Browns.
What else does he need to prove?
What else does he need to prove?
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
Quote:
you have a screw loose.
What else does he need to prove?
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
Random statement but for pure tools and fear before his inaccuracy became well known Michael Vick was downright frightening. That game in Green Bay is one of the best performances i have ever seen. I feel like with the dog stuff and more mobile qbs people forget what a shock he was to the league.
Another QB I always felt history has under appreciated is Roger Staubach. And one of my favorites also Fran Tarkenton I think held some of the passing records when he retired.
I wish I could have seen Otto Graham and Sid Luckman play and impossible to compare those guys with today's players because the game is so very different.
Quote:
you have a screw loose.
What else does he need to prove?
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
What situation was Brady placed in? He makes it the situation...
Quote:
In comment 14218077 Jimmy Googs said:
Quote:
you have a screw loose.
What else does he need to prove?
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
What situation was Brady placed in? He makes it the situation...
The team, coach, he played with and era he plays in is what I was referring to.
Manning in this era of passing and great QBs is/was the best of the bunch but not by as much as Marino was in his time. Manning, though, checks all the boxes (including 2 rings) and revolutionized the position in his own way. He was an OC/QB in one. Computer for a brain and the talent to put the ball where he knew he had to. He also holds basically all meaningful records.
Manning is probably the safe choice. Though Marino may be the right one.
Quote:
In comment 14218084 steve in ky said:
Quote:
In comment 14218077 Jimmy Googs said:
Quote:
you have a screw loose.
What else does he need to prove?
Almost impossible to fairly compare QB's of different era's but my take on it is I believe there have been other QB's that could have accomplished what Brady has if placed in the same situation but I'm not convinced Brady could have done the same if that were to be reversed.
What situation was Brady placed in? He makes it the situation...
The team, coach, he played with and era he plays in is what I was referring to.
Not sure what was so superior about his team or how the era makes a difference since this should be about wins/championships not stats. BB is a clearly great but lots of great Coach/QB combinations.
Lord, he would have 7 rings if it not for clutch Eli. Brady is the man...and its indisputable.
And I think it's reasonable to argue Brady is the most successful QB of all time, and while he is very accomplished IMO he isn't the "best" or most gifted I have seen play the position. And really most of these current crop of great QB's all acknowledge it's unfair for any one QB be considered the best when also considering the greats of other era's, but to each his own.