The Great QB's

Brutal · Jan 20, 2011

There is no doubt that the size/speed of the players today is totally different than from back in the day. This isn't about could those oldies but goodies play in todays game. I doubt they could or at least not like they did. I do believe Jimmy Brown who did have the size/speed could play (not as dominant) and there is no doubt Bullet Bob Hayes is still blowing by defenders. His 10.05 is still...zooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmm. So with that said here are my top 10 QB's based on how they did vs their era.
 
1.Joe Montana
2.Brett Favre
3.Peyton Manning
4.Tom Brady
5.John Elway
6.Dan Marino
7.Otto Graham
8.Johnny Unitas
9.Steve Young
10.?....well?

satfix · Jan 20, 2011

Bart Starr? He was a hero when I was a kid

gretriever · Jan 20, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by satfix <a href="/forum/thread/72249/the-great-qb-s#post_1978135"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a> 
Bart Starr? He was a hero when I was a kid</div>
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I was born in Green Bay. Being a schoolkid in the Lombardi era, we got to see those guys all over town.
 
If I could remember the title, I recently got a book from my wife on Lombardi's first year as the head coach, and how he was trying to figure out who would be the best QB for his system among the three on the roster. By season's end, he made the right decision. A pretty good read.

rnrlowe · Jan 20, 2011

ESPN did a survey on something like this about two months ago. I can't remember the commentator, but his list was very much like yours with a few exceptions. He did not rate Brett Farve in the top five. I believe his first pick was Otto Graham with Unitas as second. Also in the top five were Montana, Young, and Starr. Farve, I believe, was ranked 7th after Len Dawson. Interesting.

Brutal · Jan 20, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by satfix <a href="/forum/thread/72249/the-great-qb-s#post_1978135"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> 
Bart Starr? He was a hero when I was a kid</div>
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 Not out to knock heros....honest! Starr was a winner but did he not play on a great team? How many Hall of Famers did we see on those Lombardi Packer teams? Ok I'll tell you....Starr, Taylor, Hornung ,Gregg, Davis, Nitzcke, Wood and Adderly...wow! If we look at his stats they pale in comparision to Fran Tarkenton. So...sorry.

Brutal · Jan 20, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by rnrlowe <a href="/forum/thread/72249/the-great-qb-s#post_1978154"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> ESPN did a survey on something like this about two months ago. I can't remember the commentator, but his list was very much like yours with a few exceptions. He did not rate Brett Farve in the top five. I believe his first pick was Otto Graham with Unitas as second. Also in the top five were Montana, Young, and Starr. Farve, I believe, was ranked 7th after Len Dawson. Interesting.
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Otto Graham was a winner. 10 Championship games in his 10 seasons. Doesn't get any better than that. However as a passer....he never had a 3,0000 yard season, he never completed 200 passes in a season and never threw for over 25 tds in a season. Stat wise he simply doesn't measure up. Yes they did play in less games in his era......hmm? Graham played half his career in the old All-American League. What were the defenses like over there? While he has to be among the best...........number one???????

rnrlowe · Jan 20, 2011

My mistake I just checked with Bleechers.com and this is their list for the top 25 based upon the listed criteria.
 
MVP awards= 10 points 
Super Bowl wins= 5 points 
Super Bowl losses= -2 points 
Pro Bowl selections = 2 points 
Total Career Yards= 1 point for every 1000 yards rounded to the closest whole number 
Career Yards per Attempt= 1 point per yard rounded to closest whole number 
Career Touchdowns= 1 point for every 10 touchdowns 
Career interceptions= - 1 point for every interception 
Total career wins= 1 point every 10 wins rounded 
Winning Seasons= 2 points every winning season played 
Losing Seasons= -1 point per losing season
 
 
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:164px;" width="164"><tbody><tr><td style="white-space:nowrap;width:164px;height:19px;">
Brett Favre 227.2
</td>
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Payton Manning 191.5
</td>
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Joe Montana
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Johnny Unitas
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Dan Marino
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John Elway
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Steve Young
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Tom Brady 129.7
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Terry Bradshaw
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Fran Tarkenton
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Warren Moon
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Otto Graham
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Len Dawson
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Kurt Warner
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Troy Aikman
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Drew Bledsoe
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Dan Fouts
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Ken "The Snake" Stabler
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19.Bart Starr
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Bob Griese
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Roman Gabriel
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Donovan McNabb
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Phil Simms
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Boomer Esiason
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Roger Staubach 89.7
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gumbee · Jan 20, 2011

Terry Bradshaw?

coachie · Jan 20, 2011

Roger Staubach should probably be on there.
 
One guy that gets overlooked, ALOT, is Jim Kelly. The Bills were unstoppable for a long time, and he made 4 straight super bowls, even if they did lose them all.
 
Also as a Chargers fan I gotta throw some love to Dan Fouts.
 
I'd rate Manning ahead of Favre, and Marino ahead of Elway.

jcumming · Jan 20, 2011

Comparing QBs from the days of Otto Graham to the ones of the more recent era probably doesn't make much sense even if it is fun. It's not the same game.
 
Even the 60's of Bart Starr were quite different. Bart Starr was a winner, pure and simple. That day on the tundra on the one yard line against Dallas there is no one on the planet you'd rather have taking the snap.
 
Who cares if you throw for 5,000 yards and go 8-8?.....Warren Moon does I guess.
 
On the other hand I don't subscribe to the theory that if you never won a Superbowl then you are no good.
 
I've been watching football for 50 years and the one I always had the most confidence in to do the job at all points in the game from all parts of the field would be Joe Montana.
 
....waaay out on a limb for me eh? <img alt="icon_cheers.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" style="width:24px;height:24px;">

tigger · Jan 20, 2011

Moon would rank higher if he had played his entire career in the NFL. If you add his CFL championships, passing yards, rushing yards, etc to his NFL stats I think he'd come out quite a bit higher.
 
All of those guys had their great moments. That's what made them stick out so much from the also rans. There's something important about consistency and longevity as well as a high level of play. Who played the longest at that high level of success?
 
A good part of the success of these guys was their supporting players. Great QB's need great offensive lines, great receivers, and great running backs in order to stand out as great QB's. Would Bradshaw even be considered if he had not played with Harris and Blier and Swan and ......???
 
How much time would a QB have on the field without a great defence and what would that do to his rating?
 
I like all those guys but my favourite was probably Don Meridith because of his attitude and who he played for. Those early Dallas teams didn't have the talent of the later ones, yet they managed to be successful in many ways, thanks to DM. I don't think he was always in Landry's good graces a lot either.

jcumming · Jan 21, 2011

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I like all those guys but my favourite was probably Don Meridith because of his attitude and who he played for. Those early Dallas teams didn't have the talent of the later ones, yet they managed to be successful in many ways, thanks to DM. I don't think he was always in Landry's good graces a lot either.
 
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I'm trying to think when I started hating the Dullass Cowpersons.
 
Oh yeah, it was when they started proclaiming themselves America's Team...long after Dandy Don.

Brutal · Jan 22, 2011

How about the best by team? Will mention a true great who didn't make it.
 
Dolphins..Dan Marino (Griese)
Pats...Tom Brady
Jets...Joe Namath
Bills...Jim Kelly
 
Steelers...Big Ben (Bradshaw)
Ravens....hmmm?
Browns...Otto Graham
Bengals...Boomer Esaison
 
Colts...Peyton Manning (Unitas)
Titans...Hmmm?
Jags...Hmmmmm?
Texans...Hmmmmmm?
 
Raiders...Ken Stabler
Cheifs...Len Dawson
Broncos...John Elway
Chargers...Dan Fouts (Rivers)
 
Old Oilers...Warren Moon
 
Niners...Joe Montana (Young & Y.A. Tittle)
Rams...Kurt Warner
Cards...Jim Hart
Seahawks...Dave Kreig
 
Packers...Brett Favre (Starr & Rodgers)
Bears...Jim McMahan
Lions...Bobby Layne
Vikings...Fran Tarkenton
 
Saints...Drew Brees
Falcons...Steve Bartkowski
Panthers...hmmmm?
Buc's...Doug Williams
 
Cowboys...Troy Aikman (Staubach & Meredith)
Redskins...Sonny Jurgenson (Theisman)
Eagles...Randall Cunnigham
Giants....Phil Simms
 
 
Where did I goof?

jcumming · Jan 22, 2011

I can't believe you'd pick Tom Brady over Drew Bledsoe. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;">
 
I think your hmmmmmmm???? were all good choices, particularly Panthers and Jags

The Great QB's

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