I think that Tony Romo is a perfect example of this conundrum. He was a franchise QB for Dallas, without a doubt. His work ethic was tremendous, he was a leader on and off the field. He was a consummate professional and was the "leader of men." Interestingly, he made some bone-headed plays, and was never the guy who could put the game on his shoulders and take them all the way. And, he had some real talent around him at times.
During his time in Dallas, the team was always competitive, and even in the down years, they were always in the national spotlight. This defines the term franchise QB. But, he's probably not a HOF guy, and certainly not a first ballot HOF guy. That said, I would take a Tony Romo all day long. Not the most talented, but a true franchise guy.