Franchise Quarterbacks

[The Big Cat]

Here are the NFL's top 37 quarterbacks by TD'S. I keep hearing that Fitz is no franchise QB, but aside from the ones I've highlighted below, who else is? I count 9 quarterbacks who have proven, definitely, that they can carry the load for their team for at least the next three years. 9 out of 37. If so few of the teams in the NFL are competitive without one, why are people SO dead set on a QB with our top 3 pick next year when we clearly have bigger shoes to fill and more than serviceable talent at the position already?

 

1 Philip Rivers SDG 29 9 0 215 329 65.3 2944 19 5.8 8 2.4 59 8.9 9.0 13.7 327.1 102.9 22

2 Drew Brees NOR 31 9 0 261 374 69.8 2587 18 4.8 12 3.2 80 6.9 6.4 9.9 287.4 91.7 14

3 Eli Manning NYG 29 8 0 178 271 65.7 2075 17 6.3 11 4.1 54 7.7 7.1 11.7 259.4 92.7 12

4 Peyton Manning IND 34 8 0 228 351 65.0 2478 16 4.6 4 1.1 73 7.1 7.5 10.9 309.8 96.1 10

5 Aaron Rodgers GNB 27 9 0 192 303 63.4 2300 15 5.0 9 3.0 86 7.6 7.2 12.0 255.6 90.6 17

6 Tom Brady NWE 33 8 0 166 261 63.6 1826 14 5.4 4 1.5 65 7.0 7.4 11.0 228.3 95.7 13

7 David Garrard JAX 32 7 0 101 149 67.8 1098 13 8.7 7 4.7 42 7.4 7.0 10.9 156.9 98.8 15

8 Ryan Fitzpatrick BUF 28 6 0 136 227 59.9 1499 13 5.7 7 3.1 45 6.6 6.4 11.0 249.8 85.8 12

9 Matt Ryan ATL 25 8 0 180 288 62.5 1949 13 4.5 5 1.7 46 6.8 6.9 10.8 243.6 90.2 13

10 Matt Cassel KAN 28 8 0 125 214 58.4 1412 12 5.6 4 1.9 53 6.6 6.9 11.3 176.5 89.2 11

11 Joe Flacco BAL 25 8 0 160 263 60.8 1917 12 4.6 6 2.3 58 7.3 7.2 12.0 239.6 88.9 14

12 Carson Palmer CIN 31 7 0 168 282 59.6 1855 12 4.3 7 2.5 78 6.6 6.3 11.0 265.0 83.0 10

13 Kyle Orton DEN 28 8 0 195 316 61.7 2509 12 3.8 5 1.6 71 7.9 8.0 12.9 313.6 92.7 21

14 Tony Romo DAL 30 6 0 148 213 69.5 1605 11 5.2 7 3.3 69 7.5 7.1 10.8 267.5 94.9 7

15 Sam Bradford STL 23 8 0 171 292 58.6 1674 11 3.8 8 2.7 49 5.7 5.3 9.8 209.3 75.9 17

16 Josh Freeman TAM 22 8 0 146 246 59.3 1722 10 4.1 5 2.0 58 7.0 6.9 11.8 215.3 85.8 15

17 Mark Sanchez NYJ 24 8 0 136 254 53.5 1679 10 3.9 5 2.0 74 6.6 6.5 12.3 209.9 79.2 12

18 Matt Schaub HOU 29 8 0 170 267 63.7 2005 10 3.7 7 2.6 50 7.5 7.1 11.8 250.6 88.0 21

19 Vince Young TEN 27 7 0 72 122 59.0 998 9 7.4 2 1.6 71 8.2 8.9 13.9 142.6 103.1 10

20 Shaun Hill DET 30 7 0 127 208 61.1 1309 9 4.3 7 3.4 75 6.3 5.6 10.3 187.0 79.6 8

21 Jay Cutler CHI 27 7 0 128 211 60.7 1671 9 4.3 7 3.3 89 7.9 7.3 13.1 238.7 86.0 28

22 Alex Smith SFO 26 7 0 143 242 59.1 1554 9 3.7 9 3.7 53 6.4 5.5 10.9 222.0 75.0 13

23 Brett Favre MIN 41 8 0 162 258 62.8 1896 9 3.5 13 5.0 37 7.3 5.8 11.7 237.0 75.7 17

24 Chad Henne MIA 25 8 0 176 277 63.5 1900 8 2.9 10 3.6 46 6.9 5.8 10.8 237.5 78.2 12

25 Michael Vick PHI 30 5 0 76 125 60.8 1017 7 5.6 0 0.0 61 8.1 9.3 13.4 203.4 105.3 14

26 Jason Campbell OAK 29 7 0 97 171 56.7 1252 7 4.1 5 2.9 69 7.3 6.8 12.9 178.9 81.3 19

27 Donovan McNabb WAS 34 8 0 159 277 57.4 1971 7 2.5 8 2.9 62 7.1 6.3 12.4 246.4 76.0 22

28 Matthew Stafford DET 22 3 0 57 96 59.4 535 6 6.3 1 1.0 36 5.6 6.4 9.4 178.3 91.3 4

29 Kevin Kolb PHI 26 5 0 97 153 63.4 1035 6 3.9 4 2.6 83 6.8 6.4 10.7 207.0 85.3 10

30 Matt Hasselbeck SEA 35 7 0 135 236 57.2 1411 6 2.5 7 3.0 52 6.0 5.2 10.5 201.6 70.8 22

31 Ben Roethlisberger PIT 28 3 0 52 82 63.4 754 5 6.1 2 2.4 53 9.2 9.3 14.5 251.3 103.4 6

32 Kerry Collins TEN 38 4 0 53 87 60.9 587 5 5.7 3 3.4 80 6.7 6.3 11.1 146.8 85.8 5

33 Matt Moore CAR 26 6 0 79 143 55.2 857 5 3.5 10 7.0 39 6.0 3.5 10.8 142.8 55.6 13

34 Derek Anderson ARI 27 8 0 98 181 54.1 1159 5 2.8 7 3.9 37 6.4 5.2 11.8 144.9 67.0 16

35 Seneca Wallace CLE 30 5 0 63 100 63.0 693 4 4.0 2 2.0 65 6.9 6.8 11.0 138.6 88.5 6

36 Bruce Gradkowski OAK 27 4 0 53 101 52.5 709 4 4.0 4 4.0 70 7.0 6.0 13.4 177.3 71.8 7

37 Jon Kitna DAL 38 3 0 69 112 61.6 749 4 3.6 6 5.4 41 6.7 5.0 10.9 249.7 70.9 9

[Zulu Cthulhu]

No Schaub or Flacco?

 

Anyway I don't think everyone is as dead set on QB in rd. 1 next year as you may think, especially if Luck stays in college. But the man in charge does seem dead set on getting a QB next year, so I guess we all should come around to the idea. He's the one signing the checks after all.

[Bronc24]

I would absolutely add Schaub, Freeman, Flacco, Young and Bradford to the list of QBs I would take in a heartbeat over what we have.

 

It's not all about TDs.....it's also about not turning the ball over in key moments.

[BuffaloWings]

Here are the NFL's top 37 quarterbacks by TD'S. I keep hearing that Fitz is no franchise QB, but aside from the ones I've highlighted below, who else is? I count 9 quarterbacks who have proven, definitely, that they can carry the load for their team for at least the next three years. 9 out of 37. If so few of the teams in the NFL are competitive without one, why are people SO dead set on a QB with our top 3 pick next year when we clearly have bigger shoes to fill and more than serviceable talent at the position already?

Because when you're picking in the top 5, you take the best possible player available for any possible need that you have. If the next Peyton Manning is coming in this draft, would you pass him up for a decent (not great) pass-rushing DL/LB to which you'd have to pay top dollar?

 

The QB is a need on this team, like it or not. Yes, Fitzpatrick has been serviceable, but if you have a chance to get a QB who everyone thinks will be GREAT, you do not pass this up.

 

DISCLAIMER: I hate the phrase "The next so-and-so", but it applies here.

[The Big Cat]

No Schaub or Flacco?

 

Anyway I don't think everyone is as dead set on QB in rd. 1 next year as you may think, especially if Luck stays in college. But the man in charge does seem dead set on getting a QB next year, so I guess we all should come around to the idea. He's the one signing the checks after all.

 

Meh, I think the jury's still out on Flacco, and Schaub doesn't seem like the "winner" peeps want Fitz to be.

 

I would absolutely add Schaub, Freeman, Flacco, Young and Bradford to the list of QBs I would take in a heartbeat over what we have.

 

It's not all about TDs.....it's also about not turning the ball over in key moments.

 

Sorting by TD's was strictly arbitrary. I fully understand that no one stat makes a player. However, I keep hearing this about "key moments" when a game is FULL of key moments. Key third down conversions, key plays to end the half (like last week's TD). Why do we constantly overlook these key moments where Fitz has clearly shined of late and then decide to foot all the blame on him when he can't drive us 99 yards in less than a minute with no timeouts?

 

Other key moments that were just as costly, if not MORE costly than Fitz's game ending-interception were Jackson's fumble, a dropped pass by Roscoe (diving, sure, but he had it), a dropped pass by Evans, and, of course, the missed PAT. Key moments don't just happen in the last two minutes of the game.

 

Because when you're picking in the top 5, you take the best possible player available for any possible need that you have. If the next Peyton Manning is coming in this draft, would you pass him up for a decent (not great) pass-rushing DL/LB to which you'd have to pay top dollar?

 

The QB is a need on this team, like it or not. Yes, Fitzpatrick has been serviceable, but if you have a chance to get a QB who everyone thinks will be GREAT, you do not pass this up.

 

DISCLAIMER: I hate the phrase "The next so-and-so", but it applies here.

 

I also hate that phrase, and I hate the idea that a.) everyone thinks Luck is that guy, but more so that b.) everyone is operating under the assumption that Luck will even declare. If he doesn't, there isn't a quarterback worth the top five pick we'll have, end of story.

[QB Bills]

How about you look at this way: Of the 9 you listed, do you think it's just a coincidence that at least 7 of them are going to the playoffs? Maybe all 9 by the end of it. There's only 12 playoff spots available, so that's a pretty good ratio.

 

I wasn't one of those "you have to get a QB at all costs" kind of fan before, but if you think about it logically, in this day and age with so much player turnover and free agency, having a franchise QB lets you get away with lesser skilled players at some other positions and handling roster changes while still fielding a competitive team.

[BillsVet]

A necessity for consistent winning in the NFL of 2010.

[1B4IDie]

Check my signature.

[T master]

According to our coach which is a proven offensive coach & has done some good things not only with our offense but others too .If you watch his interview on BB.com he says that Fitz has a GREAT understanding of defenses & that he is the one putting our guys in the right places.

 

Even the media says the guy is doing good things with what he has to work with . If the D was a bit stouter here and there i think the team would have a much better record . but that's for another reply !!

 

I think with Chan & Fitz this team doesn't need to make a knee jerk decision as far as picking up a QB in the draft , but if good ole Ralph has his say instead of letting the people he hired to do a job do there job, he'll do the same thing as Eric Moulds believes (in so many words) he did when it came to the Johnson over Flutie choise in the play off game after Flutie won 9 or 10 after num nuts lost the first three (breath that's right) which still pisses me off & Moulds too !!

 

(Which if you read "One on One with Moulds" Buffalo sports daily you'll here the logical way of building a team )

 

Back to what i was saying the Bills are in a lot better spot than many fans here think , they are being the typical Bills 2010 fan they want instant gratification and if they can't get it then " EVERYBODY ON THE STAFF IS A JERK AND WE NEED TO FIRE EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM & START A NEW " (same as it ever was ) but most can't see the forest for the trees !!

 

So i'll continue to be the glass half full guy and listen to most of the rest of the fans on this sight complain & complain & complain !!

Edited November 8, 2010 by T master

[Albany,n.y.]

Here are the NFL's top 37 quarterbacks by TD'S. I keep hearing that Fitz is no franchise QB, but aside from the ones I've highlighted below, who else is? I count 9 quarterbacks who have proven, definitely, that they can carry the load for their team for at least the next three years. 9 out of 37. If so few of the teams in the NFL are competitive without one, why are people SO dead set on a QB with our top 3 pick next year when we clearly have bigger shoes to fill and more than serviceable talent at the position already?

 

1 Philip Rivers SDG 29 9 0 215 329 65.3 2944 19 5.8 8 2.4 59 8.9 9.0 13.7 327.1 102.9 22

2 Drew Brees NOR 31 9 0 261 374 69.8 2587 18 4.8 12 3.2 80 6.9 6.4 9.9 287.4 91.7 14

3 Eli Manning NYG 29 8 0 178 271 65.7 2075 17 6.3 11 4.1 54 7.7 7.1 11.7 259.4 92.7 12

4 Peyton Manning IND 34 8 0 228 351 65.0 2478 16 4.6 4 1.1 73 7.1 7.5 10.9 309.8 96.1 10

5 Aaron Rodgers GNB 27 9 0 192 303 63.4 2300 15 5.0 9 3.0 86 7.6 7.2 12.0 255.6 90.6 17

6 Tom Brady NWE 33 8 0 166 261 63.6 1826 14 5.4 4 1.5 65 7.0 7.4 11.0 228.3 95.7 13

7 David Garrard JAX 32 7 0 101 149 67.8 1098 13 8.7 7 4.7 42 7.4 7.0 10.9 156.9 98.8 15

8 Ryan Fitzpatrick BUF 28 6 0 136 227 59.9 1499 13 5.7 7 3.1 45 6.6 6.4 11.0 249.8 85.8 12

9 Matt Ryan ATL 25 8 0 180 288 62.5 1949 13 4.5 5 1.7 46 6.8 6.9 10.8 243.6 90.2 13

10 Matt Cassel KAN 28 8 0 125 214 58.4 1412 12 5.6 4 1.9 53 6.6 6.9 11.3 176.5 89.2 11

11 Joe Flacco BAL 25 8 0 160 263 60.8 1917 12 4.6 6 2.3 58 7.3 7.2 12.0 239.6 88.9 14

12 Carson Palmer CIN 31 7 0 168 282 59.6 1855 12 4.3 7 2.5 78 6.6 6.3 11.0 265.0 83.0 10

13 Kyle Orton DEN 28 8 0 195 316 61.7 2509 12 3.8 5 1.6 71 7.9 8.0 12.9 313.6 92.7 21

14 Tony Romo DAL 30 6 0 148 213 69.5 1605 11 5.2 7 3.3 69 7.5 7.1 10.8 267.5 94.9 7

15 Sam Bradford STL 23 8 0 171 292 58.6 1674 11 3.8 8 2.7 49 5.7 5.3 9.8 209.3 75.9 17

16 Josh Freeman TAM 22 8 0 146 246 59.3 1722 10 4.1 5 2.0 58 7.0 6.9 11.8 215.3 85.8 15

17 Mark Sanchez NYJ 24 8 0 136 254 53.5 1679 10 3.9 5 2.0 74 6.6 6.5 12.3 209.9 79.2 12

18 Matt Schaub HOU 29 8 0 170 267 63.7 2005 10 3.7 7 2.6 50 7.5 7.1 11.8 250.6 88.0 21

19 Vince Young TEN 27 7 0 72 122 59.0 998 9 7.4 2 1.6 71 8.2 8.9 13.9 142.6 103.1 10

20 Shaun Hill DET 30 7 0 127 208 61.1 1309 9 4.3 7 3.4 75 6.3 5.6 10.3 187.0 79.6 8

21 Jay Cutler CHI 27 7 0 128 211 60.7 1671 9 4.3 7 3.3 89 7.9 7.3 13.1 238.7 86.0 28

22 Alex Smith SFO 26 7 0 143 242 59.1 1554 9 3.7 9 3.7 53 6.4 5.5 10.9 222.0 75.0 13

23 Brett Favre MIN 41 8 0 162 258 62.8 1896 9 3.5 13 5.0 37 7.3 5.8 11.7 237.0 75.7 17

24 Chad Henne MIA 25 8 0 176 277 63.5 1900 8 2.9 10 3.6 46 6.9 5.8 10.8 237.5 78.2 12

25 Michael Vick PHI 30 5 0 76 125 60.8 1017 7 5.6 0 0.0 61 8.1 9.3 13.4 203.4 105.3 14

26 Jason Campbell OAK 29 7 0 97 171 56.7 1252 7 4.1 5 2.9 69 7.3 6.8 12.9 178.9 81.3 19

27 Donovan McNabb WAS 34 8 0 159 277 57.4 1971 7 2.5 8 2.9 62 7.1 6.3 12.4 246.4 76.0 22

28 Matthew Stafford DET 22 3 0 57 96 59.4 535 6 6.3 1 1.0 36 5.6 6.4 9.4 178.3 91.3 4

29 Kevin Kolb PHI 26 5 0 97 153 63.4 1035 6 3.9 4 2.6 83 6.8 6.4 10.7 207.0 85.3 10

30 Matt Hasselbeck SEA 35 7 0 135 236 57.2 1411 6 2.5 7 3.0 52 6.0 5.2 10.5 201.6 70.8 22

31 Ben Roethlisberger PIT 28 3 0 52 82 63.4 754 5 6.1 2 2.4 53 9.2 9.3 14.5 251.3 103.4 6

32 Kerry Collins TEN 38 4 0 53 87 60.9 587 5 5.7 3 3.4 80 6.7 6.3 11.1 146.8 85.8 5

33 Matt Moore CAR 26 6 0 79 143 55.2 857 5 3.5 10 7.0 39 6.0 3.5 10.8 142.8 55.6 13

34 Derek Anderson ARI 27 8 0 98 181 54.1 1159 5 2.8 7 3.9 37 6.4 5.2 11.8 144.9 67.0 16

35 Seneca Wallace CLE 30 5 0 63 100 63.0 693 4 4.0 2 2.0 65 6.9 6.8 11.0 138.6 88.5 6

36 Bruce Gradkowski OAK 27 4 0 53 101 52.5 709 4 4.0 4 4.0 70 7.0 6.0 13.4 177.3 71.8 7

37 Jon Kitna DAL 38 3 0 69 112 61.6 749 4 3.6 6 5.4 41 6.7 5.0 10.9 249.7 70.9 9

You've answered your own question by bolding 9 QBs. In this century 5 of those 9 bolded QBs have won 8 of the 10 Super Bowls. The reason others & me are SO dead set on a QB, if his name is Andrew Luck, with our top pick instead of another positional player is we want the Bills to win the Super Bowl.

Now if Luck doesn't come out, or if we don't have the #1 pick, I'm not dead set on drafting just any QB. But to pass on a special QB because you like Fitzpatrick's stats is just nuts. If Buddy ever passed on Luck a lot of Bills fans would revolt (ie stop going to games etc). I'd be very tempted to join them if they chose Fitzpatrick over Luck.

 

Edit: I just looked and 38 of the 44 Super Bowls have been won by franchise QBs. It makes me even more dead set on getting the franchise QB because you don't draft for next season only when you're picking a QB, you're drafting the QB for the next decade.

Edited November 9, 2010 by Albany,n.y.

[The Big Cat]

You've answered your own question by bolding 9 QBs. In this century 5 of those 9 bolded QBs have won 8 of the 10 Super Bowls. The reason others & me are SO dead set on a QB, if his name is Andrew Luck, with our top pick instead of another positional player is we want the Bills to win the Super Bowl.

Now if Luck doesn't come out, or if we don't have the #1 pick, I'm not dead set on drafting just any QB. But to pass on a special QB because you like Fitzpatrick's stats is just nuts. If Buddy ever passed on Luck a lot of Bills fans would revolt (ie stop going to games etc). I'd be very tempted to join them if they chose Fitzpatrick over Luck.

 

Edit: I just looked and 38 of the 44 Super Bowls have been won by franchise QBs. It makes me even more dead set on getting the franchise QB because you don't draft for next season only when you're picking a QB, you're drafting the QB for the next decade.

 

Picture me saying "Super Bowl?" in my best Jim Mora voice.

 

I don't think you're wrong, but I think our resources would be better used building the blocks of this team (trenches/big nasties on D) then shooting the moon to get a Super Bowl win in the next five years...

[NaPolian8693]

You've answered your own question by bolding 9 QBs. In this century 5 of those 9 bolded QBs have won 8 of the 10 Super Bowls. The reason others & me are SO dead set on a QB, if his name is Andrew Luck, with our top pick instead of another positional player is we want the Bills to win the Super Bowl.

Now if Luck doesn't come out, or if we don't have the #1 pick, I'm not dead set on drafting just any QB. But to pass on a special QB because you like Fitzpatrick's stats is just nuts. If Buddy ever passed on Luck a lot of Bills fans would revolt (ie stop going to games etc). I'd be very tempted to join them if they chose Fitzpatrick over Luck.

 

Edit: I just looked and 38 of the 44 Super Bowls have been won by franchise QBs. It makes me even more dead set on getting the franchise QB because you don't draft for next season only when you're picking a QB, you're drafting the QB for the next decade.

 

Nice post, you owned OP hard.

[bowery4]

I am not totally sure that Fitz wouldn't be a franchise guy with a good line and a better D. That being said, the Bills would crazy not to take a "next" player at the number one pick if they get it. One reason being that list of 38 out of 44. The other reason would have to be because the "greats (HOF players)" make you way better than you are, as a team.

 

Proof of this is Fitz (who I like a lot and have since last year BTW). He is playing quite well and look where it has helped the team compared to when Trent was in there. I understand we are still 0-8 but for a large part that isn't just on Fitz. If he is the next Kurt Warner, well then great (but we still don't know that either). We have been very competitive in games he has played this year. Things take time to gel, improve etc...... and we have crap players and new systems which don't fit some of the talent.

 

I agree we need serious help with LBs, OTs, DT maybe even CBs and definitely a TE or two but if "the guy" is there at #1 you go for it. There are great oppertunties in FA to help the team this coming year. A strong draft and we could really build on something. Having 2 good QBs would be a great problem IMO. Of course the other positions need help as well but BPA at the most important position is really the way to go. I am thinking Luck or (at this point) Mallet would be there this year for us in this discussion. If they are not and we do end up with first, we have another kind of leverage and maybe could end up with more draft picks.

[BreezeMafia]

23!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What does that mean? Fitz has only 23 starts in his career. I can remember Flacco throwing picks late in the game with the game on the line. Vick as well. Bradford has his share of errors coming. Look at Sanchez last year. If the Jets didn't have the nasty D, they never make the playoffs. It took Brees two full seasons of starting and overcoming his share of mistakes before he became a dominant player. I think folks are looking for error free football by a young QB in the realm of Peyton Manning 1998 / 1999 and Matt Ryan 2008 / 2009. That very rarely happens.

[akm0404]

You don't become a team that consistently makes the playoffs year after year and compete for a championship without elite-level play from your quarterback.

 

Even in this so-called magical run for Spritzy, we haven't gotten that level of elite play.

 

The Bills will sieze their once-in-a-franchise chance to draft a franchise QB #1 overall. Will he have a chance to be a bust? Absolutely, same chance as any player we would take #1 overall would.

 

But, if you don't try to land that guy that'll make your team a contender for a decade, you are announcing your intention to rebuild your team back to 7-9. That would be an embarrassment.

[Another Point of View]

So whats the purpose of this thread, convince the Andrew Luck fans to settle for Fitzpatrick

 

Don't go there Dude, I am warning you!

[Dr. K]

People throw around the term "franchise quarterback" as if it were self-evident what that means. Aside from pointing at Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, I get the feeling to a lot of people here it means "Superman in cleats." We're going out and drafting a FQ, and then we will never lose a game. A franchise quarterback never throws a crucial interception. If you get him the ball on the one yard line with thirty seconds left in the game and no time-outs, he will be guaranteed to drive for the winning TD. He will turn around the franchise all by himself, and win all the games we are now losing.

 

This is one of the signs of how far the Bills have fallen, that there's all this magic thinking. The number of fans on this board who think Andrew Luck is God (a lot of whom thought Jake Locker was God before the season started)is scary.

[akm0404]

I get the feeling to a lot of people here it means "Superman in cleats." We're going out and drafting a FQ, and then we will never lose a game.

It isn't difficult to understand - the teams that get elite-level play from their quarterback (the "franchise quarterbacks", if you will), compete for championships year after year after year. They aren't "Supermen", the are just the best guys playing the literal most important in all of organized sports.

[The Big Cat]

It isn't difficult to understand - the teams that get elite-level play from their quarterback (the "franchise quarterbacks", if you will), compete for championships year after year after year. They aren't "Supermen", the are just the best guys playing the literal most important in all of organized sports.

 

But even Brady has fallen short since their defense has begun to tank. That Saints D last year was NO JOKE. The Super Bowl winning Colts faced a Bears team that had gone to the luck well one-too-many times. They were simply and inferior team. Big Ben threw less than 20 passes/game in his first Super Bowl bid, and the year they won it over the Cards was by the narrowest margins and included a defensive score right before half. The 08 Giants won on the backs of their D, and the 2002 Bucs were ALL D all the time.

 

Even the great ones have great supporting casts. So if we're going to talk Super Bowl, this team needs a WHOLE lot more help than just quarterback to make all the pieces go. And given the level of Fitz's play AND the unlikelihood that a Superman in cleats--the likes of whom could win when Fitz couldn't--probably doesn't exist right now, I maintain ADAMANTLY that we DON'T draft a quarterback in 2011 with our first pick.

Edited November 9, 2010 by The Big Cat

[Dr. K]

It isn't difficult to understand - the teams that get elite-level play from their quarterback (the "franchise quarterbacks", if you will), compete for championships year after year after year. They aren't "Supermen", the are just the best guys playing the literal most important in all of organized sports.

 

I'm not saying that some QB's aren't better than others, or that there is no such thing as great quarterbacking. But please define "elite-level play" in real terms, not hand waving.