cracKer
Shawn Culcasi
With the recent passing of Otto Graham, we've seen quite a few list their top QBs ever. Most of them go like this...
Otto Graham: While Graham was guiding the Browns, Cleveland played in 10 straight title games and had four AAFC and three NFL championships. All-league in 9 of 10 seasons. 23584 passing yards, 174 TDs. Four-time AAFC passing leader, twice the NFL passing leader.
Sammy Baugh: Slingin' Sammy. By the time Baugh was through, the forward pass was a primary offensive weapon. 21,886 passing yards, 187 TDs, 45.1 punting average, 31 interceptions. In 1943, led the league in passing, punting and interceptions. Seven-time All-NFL, six time passing leader.
Johnny Unitas: Exceptional field leader, thrived on pressure. Ten-time Pro Bowler, Six-time All-pro, three-time NFL MVP. Led the Colts to NFL title in 58 & 59. His record of at least one touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games may stand forever. 40,239 passing yards, 290 TDs.
Joe Montana: "Montana Magic", nobody had more of "it" than the master of the come-from-behind victory. Eight-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-NFL. Led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories, named MVP of the game three times. Led NFL in passing twice. His six 300-yard passing performances in the post-season are an NFL record. He also owns the career playoff record for attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards gained passing. 40,551 passing yards, 273 TDs, 92.3 career rating.
John Elway: The first overall pick in 1983, Elway led the Broncos to five Super Bowls (victories in 97 & 98). "The Drive", four-time Pro Bowler, league MVP in 87, one of only two QBs with over 50,000 career passing yards (Marino 61,361). 51,475 passing yards, 300 TDs, 148 victories as a QB.
The name that seems to be left out more often than not is Brett Favre. Why is that? The fact that he's currently active? The state of the NFL?
Favre currently ranks fifth all-time with 45,646 passing yards and is within sight of Dan Marino's record 420 TD passes (Favre currently ranks #2 with 346).
Three-time NFL MVP, he led the Packers to Super Bowl victory in 1996.
With a career record of 115-58, holds the third-highest winning percentage (.665) among starting QBs who have begun their careers since the 1970 league merger (min. 100 starts)
Has started 173 consecutive games (190 including playoffs), which is an NFL record for a quarterback
Ranks fifth all-time in passer rating at 86.7; only the Rams' Kurt Warner (98.2) and a trio of 49er QBs - Steve Young (96.8), Joe Montana (92.3) and Jeff Garcia (89.9) - are listed ahead
Voted to his seventh Pro Bowl in 2002I could be wrong here, and Favre may be receiving the credit that he rightfully deserves, but in my eyes it comes down to two guys when talking about the best ever: Montana and Favre.
Otto Graham: While Graham was guiding the Browns, Cleveland played in 10 straight title games and had four AAFC and three NFL championships. All-league in 9 of 10 seasons. 23584 passing yards, 174 TDs. Four-time AAFC passing leader, twice the NFL passing leader.
Sammy Baugh: Slingin' Sammy. By the time Baugh was through, the forward pass was a primary offensive weapon. 21,886 passing yards, 187 TDs, 45.1 punting average, 31 interceptions. In 1943, led the league in passing, punting and interceptions. Seven-time All-NFL, six time passing leader.
Johnny Unitas: Exceptional field leader, thrived on pressure. Ten-time Pro Bowler, Six-time All-pro, three-time NFL MVP. Led the Colts to NFL title in 58 & 59. His record of at least one touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games may stand forever. 40,239 passing yards, 290 TDs.
Joe Montana: "Montana Magic", nobody had more of "it" than the master of the come-from-behind victory. Eight-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-NFL. Led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories, named MVP of the game three times. Led NFL in passing twice. His six 300-yard passing performances in the post-season are an NFL record. He also owns the career playoff record for attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards gained passing. 40,551 passing yards, 273 TDs, 92.3 career rating.
John Elway: The first overall pick in 1983, Elway led the Broncos to five Super Bowls (victories in 97 & 98). "The Drive", four-time Pro Bowler, league MVP in 87, one of only two QBs with over 50,000 career passing yards (Marino 61,361). 51,475 passing yards, 300 TDs, 148 victories as a QB.
The name that seems to be left out more often than not is Brett Favre. Why is that? The fact that he's currently active? The state of the NFL?
Favre currently ranks fifth all-time with 45,646 passing yards and is within sight of Dan Marino's record 420 TD passes (Favre currently ranks #2 with 346).
Three-time NFL MVP, he led the Packers to Super Bowl victory in 1996.
With a career record of 115-58, holds the third-highest winning percentage (.665) among starting QBs who have begun their careers since the 1970 league merger (min. 100 starts)
Has started 173 consecutive games (190 including playoffs), which is an NFL record for a quarterback
Ranks fifth all-time in passer rating at 86.7; only the Rams' Kurt Warner (98.2) and a trio of 49er QBs - Steve Young (96.8), Joe Montana (92.3) and Jeff Garcia (89.9) - are listed ahead
Voted to his seventh Pro Bowl in 2002I could be wrong here, and Favre may be receiving the credit that he rightfully deserves, but in my eyes it comes down to two guys when talking about the best ever: Montana and Favre.