The Greatest Ever

When you talk about NFL quarterbacks, specifically, the best quarterbacks of the modern era, there's a pretty short list.  Comparing them to pre-merger QBs such as Unitas, Starr, or Otto Graham isn't fair because the game has changed significantly since the merger.  But on the subject of great modern quarterbacks, I don't think anyone could reasonably argue if you mentioned Montana, Elway, Young, Marino, Bradshaw, Manning, and Favre.  But within those ranks, you'll encounter much argument over who was better than whom.  Allow me to settle it for you right now.

There should be a Mount Rushmore of Passers - Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, and John Elway.

Bradshaw, Montana, Troy Aikman, and Tom Brady have each won four and three Super Bowl rings, respectively.  Don't even talk to me about Aikman and Brady.  The former couldn't even manage 180 games, barely managed 30,000 yards, and had a nearly 1:1 TD to INT ratio.  The latter hasn't even played 7 full seasons, and his numbers are nothing to cum in your pants about.  Come back in and talk to us in a few more years, young Tom.

The two worth mentioning - Bradshaw and Montana - are quite noteworthy, but somewhat tainted.  Bradshaw completed only 52% of his passes on less than 4000 attempts, and his TD to Interception ratio was 1-to-1.  The four rings are great - but the numbers blow.  We're talking about great passers.

Montana had a shitload of rings and was statistically quite good.  He didn't have the toughness and longevity of Brett or Dan, having played far fewer games (192 total), and passed significantly less (5400 attempts), but he was a great leader, and got four rings.

Peyton Manning?  Yeah, he puts up great numbers.  If he can stay healthy - and that's a big IF - he can own all the passing records, and likely add another Super Bowl ring or two to the one he has now.  But it's still too early in his career to start chiseling his visage on the side of a mountain.   I'm gonna play the waiting game on him, too.

John Elway was a pretty great quarterback.  He (eventually) managed two Lombardi Trophies - but it took him five tries, and when it finally happened, it was largely on the back of the greatest running game ever and one seriously serious defense.  His stats, on the other hand, are good, but with a few downfalls - he had a decent TD-INT ratio and played a lot of games, but passed significantly less than Marino and Favre, and threw fewer touchdowns per attempt than the two TD gods.  The comeback thing is notable, but the stats don't set my world on fire.

Then there's Dan Marino.  The big dig on him is the lack of a Lombardi Trophy.  He owned virtually every passing record in the books - until Brett came along.  Longevity - yep.  Touchdowns - by the bushel basket.  Yardage - you better have a Cray Supercomputer to figure out how much.  Statistically, he had it all going on - but not the luck to have the well-rounded team that would help deliver a Super Bowl ring.  Sorry Dan, as great as you were, there's just something significant about having that ring.

So that leaves Brett.  He's got it all - absolutely insane stats, toughness, and a Super Bowl ring.  The man is insanely fun to watch on Sunday, leads by his incredibly competitive example, and he's a regular guy.  There's the matter of the interception record, but in terms of INTs per Attempt, he's right up there with the greats - certainly far better than Blanda (277 INTs in 4007 attempts) - and has only attained it by virtue of his incredible toughness and longevity (275 INTs in 8393 attempts).  Sure, Cal Ripken Jr. played 2,632 games - but he didn't do it getting tackled by 300+ pound men every week.  240+ consecutive starts by a quarterback is a record you will never see fall.  Ever.

If you ask me, Brett's face should be the first one on the NFL's version of Mount Rushmore, but I may be biased.  I'm a Packers stockholder, bleed green, and will stab you in the face with a soldering iron if you mention the name "Tony Mandarich".  Try me.  But the numbers - they don't lie.