ESPiN Ranks Top All Time QBs

[chickennob2]

And they have Elway 6th. Here's their list:

1. Unitas
2. Montana
3. Brady
4. Marino
5. Manning
6. Elway
7. Bradshaw
8. Favre
9. Graham
10. Fouts

I personally find this ridiculous. Manning, who thrives in an era of passing rules that were created to suit him carries his one ring to the 5th spot ahead of Elway, who took his team to five superbowls and won two of them.

And I realize Unitas was ahead of his time, and the first glimpse that most people had of what the NFL passing game would become. But I will never understand the obsession with him. Being the first doesn't make you the best.


Your thoughts?

[Killericon]

Elway should be higher, Young should be on the list instead of Bradshaw.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by chickennob2

I personally find this ridiculous. Manning, who thrives in an era of passing rules that were created to suit him carries his one ring to the 5th spot ahead of Elway, who took his team to four superbowls and won two of them.

+1

And Brady at #3?

What kind of dirt weed is this dink smoking?

[backup qb]

My list(for what its worth):
1. Elway
2. Montana
3. Favre
4. Marino
5. Brady
6. Unitas
7. S Young

[backup qb]

8. Peyton

[2KBack]

Originally Posted by chickennob2

And they have Elway 6th. Here's their list:

1. Unitas
2. Montana
3. Brady
4. Marino
5. Manning
6. Elway
7. Bradshaw
8. Favre
9. Graham
10. Fouts

I personally find this ridiculous. Manning, who thrives in an era of passing rules that were created to suit him carries his one ring to the 5th spot ahead of Elway, who took his team to four superbowls and won two of them.

And I realize Unitas was ahead of his time, and the first glimpse that most people had of what the NFL passing game would become. But I will never understand the obsession with him. Being the first doesn't make you the best.


Your thoughts?

There's a lot of personal opinion that goes into these. I'd say swap Elway and Brady, and Marino and Manning, and it's a pretty good list. Manning has one a superbowl AND has the stats, he at least has earned being ahead of Marino. None of those guys carried sub par teams (or just offenses) the way Elway did though. Especially Brady.

[broncogary]

Elway led Denver to 5 Super Bowl appearances.

[alkemical]

Originally Posted by killericon

Elway should be higher, Young should be on the list instead of Bradshaw.

I don't know about that. Bradshaw was the QB for quite a few SB's.

[Killericon]

Originally Posted by claviculasolomonis

I don't know about that. Bradshaw was the QB for quite a few SB's.

Yeah, but when you think of those Steelers squads, you don't think of their passing attack, now do you?

[alkemical]

Originally Posted by killericon

Yeah, but when you think of those Steelers squads, you don't think of their passing attack, now do you?

Actually, yeah. Maybe it's different being in PA. But trust me i hear all about Bradshaw & Swann.

[Atwater His Ass]

I'm not taking the bait.

[oubronco]

Originally Posted by chickennob2

Manning, who thrives in an era of passing rules that were created to suit him

DUDE they were created FOR him

[Beej]

How in the heck can they put Marino ahead of Elway? Ridiculous.

And I'd put Jim Kelly on the list instead of Fouts.

[Gcver2ver3]

i don't believe any unbiased experts would form that ranking...


show me the link...

[vancejohnson82]

tough to compare different eras

but Elway had to deal with his recievers being manhandled

[Needa Pass Rush]

Marino in front of Favre stands out like a sore thumb. All Marino had was records and now Favre has most of those and the rings to boot.

[dbfan21]

Originally Posted by Beej

How in the heck can they put Marino ahead of Elway? Ridiculous.

And I'd put Jim Kelly on the list instead of Fouts.

Totally agree. Elway did more with less than all of the QB's on the list.

[lex]

Denvers always going to get shafted when it comes to stuff like this from E!SPN. Half the people that work at E!SPN are from the northeast, many of which are from Mass. and you dont think any of them are bitter about the fact that New England didnt beat the Broncos form 1980-2000...you dont think any of them are bitter that Denver is 5-1 against them in the Bradichick era?

Also, I like how he puts Bradshaw so high when the argument for Bradshaw is rings, yet Starr isnt even on there. This is piss poor.

[Houshyamama]

What a joke

[-Slap-]

Unitas and Elway are 1 and 1A. Who cares about the rest?

[snowtrx]

This list sucks ASS!

QB is about winning first, then everything else is a wonderful subjective debate. If a QB only has one championship or hasnt inspired his team to multiple SB's, then they are like the PGA tour, they are playing in a different tourny than the best.

Let me pick on Favre for a second. Favre is a great QB who has shown amazing longevity and toughness. But he doesnt belong in the 1st tier of this conversation! He went to two SB's with one team that was the best team in the NFL at the time. He has NEVER willed his team to overachieve even a SB appearance. He has so many more unsuccessful plays than succesfull plays in the 2nd season, that Payten Manning feels bad for the guy

Marino and Manning, great QB's (maybe best regular season QB's ever) but they are 2nd tier overall, just under the best. Elway, Montanna, and Brady have something special beyond physical abilities. MJ and Russel special! I'm 30, so to comment on if the older QB's belong or dont belong with these three would be ignorant.

[lex]

Originally Posted by snowtrx

This list sucks ASS!

QB is about winning first, then everything else is a wonderful subjective debate. If a QB only has one championship or hasnt inspired his team to multiple SB's, then they are like the PGA tour, they are playing in a different tourny than the best.

Let me pick on Favre for a second. Favre is a great QB who has shown amazing longevity and toughness. But he doesnt belong in the 1st tier of this conversation! He went to two SB's with one team that was the best team in the NFL at the time. He has NEVER willed his team to overachieve even a SB appearance. He has so many more unsuccessful plays than succesfull plays in the 2nd season, that Payten Manning feels bad for the guy

Marino and Manning, great QB's (maybe best regular season QB's ever) but they are 2nd tier overall, just under the best. Elway, Montanna, and Brady have something special beyond physical abilities. MJ and Russel special! I'm 30, so to comment on if the older QB's belong or dont belong with these three would be ignorant.

No, its not all about winning. Football is a team game. In a lot of cases the winning teams have better defenses and/or running games. But having said that, the guy should at least be consistent. If its about winning, put Starr and Graham on there. If its about passing, which is the main function of a QB, Marino should be higher.

[Williams]

You can rank the all-time QB's yourself if you like...

http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sport...Id=1&listId=82


Seems the fans have a bit more sense than the "experts". This list at least has Elway at #4.

[snowtrx]

Originally Posted by lex

No, its not all about winning. Football is a team game. In a lot of cases the winning teams have better defenses and/or running games. But having said that, the guy should at least be consistent. If its about winning, put Starr and Graham on there. If its about passing, which is the main function of a QB, Marino should be higher.

Thats my point though. In my oppinion the best should have the physical abilities AND the ability to inspire their teamates to overachieve or execute perfectly. Starr, Graham, Bradshaw, Stoughback (?), and Unitis (?) have every right to have an opportunity for first tier, but I don't know those decades. We all know football is a team game, lets not even dilute the point by going there because thats my point in proving Elways greatness! 2nd tier guys simply where different performers against elite opponents in the 2nd season. Elway overachieved because he willed his teamates to play above their abilities and executed more successful plays than unsuccessful plays when it mattered most. Marino, Farve, and Manning (incomplete) simply did not.

[lex]

Originally Posted by snowtrx

Thats my point though. In my oppinion the best should have the physical abilities AND the ability to inspire their teamates to overachieve or execute perfectly. Starr, Graham, Bradshaw, Stoughback (?), and Unitis (?) have every right to have an opportunity for first tier, but I don't know those decades. We all know football is a team game, lets not even dilute the point by going there because thats my point in proving Elways greatness! 2nd tier guys simply where different performers against elite opponents in the 2nd season. Elway overachieved because he willed his teamates to play above their abilities and executed more successful plays than unsuccessful plays when it mattered most. Marino, Farve, and Manning (incomplete) simply did not.

Youre whole angle is a lot of fluff though. You dismiss stat horse QBs because they play on bad teams and the QBs who play on good teams you attribute them being good because of some unquantifiable thing that may not exist.