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Who are the top five QBs of all time?


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In my lifetime I've never seen a QB better than Steve Young. Not Montana, not Marino, not Elway. Now, it can be argued that he didn't have the longevity those guys had because he sat on the bench for years but when he got a chance to play he was better than any of those guys.

 

Young was just as good as Montana at breaking down D's and quickly finding the right WR to throw to but he had a better arm, threw deep more often and added 4k career yards on the ground yet wasn't a guy who looked to run first. Young averaged a half a yard more per attempt than Montana and had a higher completion percentage - all while running the same offense. That's a significant amount and goes to show you who was more accurate all the while taking more chances by pushing the ball down field.

 

His running ability especially made me fear him more than Montana.

 

Otto graham

Sammy Baugh

Joe Montana

Tom Brady

Peyton manning

 

Manning and Brady are too close to call, so I list the xalphabetically.

 

You've got a strange alphabet.

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1 - Otto Graham

2 - Johnny Unitas

3 - Joe Montana

4 - Dan Marino

5 - Sammy Baugh

6 - Payton Manning

7 - Roger Staubach

8 - Tom Brady

9 - John Elway

10 - Archie Manning

 

Archie Manning was the best qb I ever saw on consistently horrible teams. Every play was a mad dash of 3 or 4 guys chasing him.

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One person who deserves an honorable mention is Warren Moon. He spent 6 seasons in the CFL prior to joining the NFL where he threw for 21,000 yards, won the Grey Cup 5 times and the MOP twice. Then went on to join the NFL at age 28 and still threw for a tad under 50,000 yards. Yes he never won a super bowl, but he was a 9 time pro-bowler. Had he been given the opportunity to play in the NFL his whole career, his stats would have been off the charts and him, not Marino, would have all of the passing records (that have all since been broken). The guy's career touched into 4 decades.

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Archie Manning was the best qb I ever saw on consistently horrible teams. Every play was a mad dash of 3 or 4 guys chasing him.

I nevefr saw Graham or Baugh live, but I think I'd have to rate Peyton as a quarterback over Archie, although Archie was a very good qb. Actually I'd probably rate Eli closer to Archie than Peyton. The case can be made, regrettably, for Brady over Peyton, but I'm not going to make it because I hate the Patriots.

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I always said Elway was the best, and maybe he was. I always argued "he has the strongest arm, he's a great runner, a great leader (see The Drive), what else could you want?"

 

But, then I recently became aware that Montana's stats in the 4 Super Bowls are 16 touchdowns, zero interceptions. Holy crap - could he be any more clutch.

 

And, started thinking that the reason I would pick Elway out is because I really didn't watch a ton of any of these guys. Having season tickets for going on 30 years, I would be spending half the season at the Bills game and after game festivities. And, Sunday night is actually a good night for my business to be on the phone.

 

So, if you're only seeing Elway and Montana for limited time (some playoff games, etc.), you're (or I) would be like holy cow - look at that arm. I remember being blown away the first time I saw him throw a bullet..............Montana takes a little more time to understand what he understands. His coolness, knowledge of the game.............He's not going to jump off the screen like Elway did with feats of athleticism.

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Hah, so Bill Simmons weighed in on this very topic in his mailbag today:

 

And you can’t have the “Best QB” conversation without these five guys being involved: Brady, Manning, Montana, Elway and Unitas. (Every other candidate comes with a “But … ,” whether it’s Marino, Favre, Young, Bradshaw, Luckman, Graham, Baugh or whomever.) Year after year, those five guys gave you the best chance to contend — of anyone — as long as you surrounded them with a half-decent team. I don’t think someone like Aaron Rodgers cares about being remembered as the GOAT; he just wants to win some titles, make some money, stay healthy and turn that list from five to six.

 

http://grantland.com/features/that-championship-mailbag-2/

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Brady - this guy does more with less year after year. Makes me want to throw up to say that.

Elway - he would never give up. Probably the biggest gamer of all time. Never say die attitude was the best way to describe it.

Montana - this is just a no brainer when it comes to a top 5 QB thread.

McMahon - he was known to be mouthy, but what a warrior attitude. The guy would not quit. He would have multiple rings if not for the injury.

Brees - would improve the bleakest teams situation no matter what kind of talent surrounds him. Doesn't choke, and never is off his game.

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My top 5:

 

1. Montana - Most amazing QB I have ever seen, he made plays happen i never thought were possible back then.

 

2. Brady/Mannin -- not doing the debate so tied for 2, def 2 the best ever.

 

4. Marino --- Guy had the fastest release I have ever seen.

 

5. Kelly --- He was snake bit by facinf some of the best D the league ever seen, and he started the hurry up that almost every team uses

Boomer was the first to use the hurry up all game. Kelly just perfected it. Edited by JaxBills
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I know the question was top 5, but it's more of who were the best dueling QB's matchups?

 

My favorites given a homer was Marino vs. Kelly or Elway vs. Kelly. Those were fun days and good battles.

 

I'm sure you guys can think of many more like Montana vs. Simms. Staubach vs. Bradshaw.

 

before my time but Dawson vs. Griese.

 

Anyone else you guys loved watching go at it. I know people are sick of Brady / Manning, but I'm not. How can you not get excited for tomorrow.

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I know the question was top 5, but it's more of who were the best dueling QB's matchups?

 

My favorites given a homer was Marino vs. Kelly or Elway vs. Kelly. Those were fun days and good battles.

 

I'm sure you guys can think of many more like Montana vs. Simms. Staubach vs. Bradshaw.

 

before my time but Dawson vs. Griese.

 

Anyone else you guys loved watching go at it. I know people are sick of Brady / Manning, but I'm not. How can you not get excited for tomorrow.

 

That is really where I was going with my question. Trying to find out if this rivalry is the best ever. If it's two of the top five, I'd say it has to be.

 

This one isn't like the summit we'll have tomorrow, but you brought up Dawson, and when I was a kid, whose 2nd favorite team was the Chiefs, and all my friends 2nd favorite team was the Raiders - there was nothing better than Dawson vs. Lamonica.

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4. Marino --- Guy had the fastest release I have ever seen.

 

5. Kelly --- He was snake bit by facinf some of the best D the league ever seen, and he started the hurry up that almost every team uses

 

Marino was an excellent passer, but never really won anything. Kelly was a great leader but still couldn't win the big one (hurts me to type that but its true).

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My top 5:

 

1. Montana - Most amazing QB I have ever seen, he made plays happen i never thought were possible back then.

 

2. Brady/Mannin -- not doing the debate so tied for 2, def 2 the best ever.

 

4. Marino --- Guy had the fastest release I have ever seen.

 

5. Kelly --- He was snake bit by facinf some of the best D the league ever seen, and he started the hurry up that almost every team uses

 

I believe the "started the hurry up" is wrong multiple times.

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I won't put them in order because they have/had different strengths.

 

Brady

Marino

Unitas

Stabler

P Manning

 

But 5 is so arbitrary, I could swap out these guys too

 

Favre

Staubach

Aikman

Griese

Kelly

Tarkington

YA Tittle

 

wnysteel, Kelly would have won the big one had his defense held up in 1990.

 

Sorry, forgot Montana and Young

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Most games played by QBs:

Brett Favre 302

Earl Morrall 255

Fran Tarkenton 246

Dan Marino 242

Peyton Manning 240

John Elway 234

Vinny Testaverde 233

John Hadl 224

Sonny Jurgensen 218

Dave Krieg 213

Johnny Unitas 211

Len Dawson 211

Warren Moon 208

Steve DeBerg 206

Y. A. Tittle 203

Craig Morton 203

John Brodie 201

Jim Hart 201

 

One of the names that came to mind as I went through the threads was George Blanda. His name wasn't on your list, so went to look at his stats at NFL.com. It appears he would have way more games than any of the others on your list although the don't have a specific Games Played column. So where did your numbers come from?

 

Archie Manning was the best qb I ever saw on consistently horrible teams. Every play was a mad dash of 3 or 4 guys chasing him.

 

It is interesting to see how everyone evaluates this. Archie was probably the greatest QB that ever had to play with the least. If he had any support he would have made the top 5 of half the posters here.

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One of the names that came to mind as I went through the threads was George Blanda. His name wasn't on your list, so went to look at his stats at NFL.com. It appears he would have way more games than any of the others on your list although the don't have a specific Games Played column. So where did your numbers come from?

 

 

 

It is interesting to see how everyone evaluates this. Archie was probably the greatest QB that ever had to play with the least. If he had any support he would have made the top 5 of half the posters here.

Damn. I'm trying to find the site and I can't. I'll keep trying. But yes ... I sorted on Games Started because I was really interested in the Kelly vs. Young head-to-head stats (Young's are better, IMO, especially with the jewelry), and I didn't want his backup games counted.

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We thread should really be renamed "The top five QBs of my recent memory."

 

Here are my top four, based on film study:

 

Graham

Unitas

Baugh

Montana

 

I could switch Baugh and Unitas without too much argument, but Unitas has a slight edge.

 

I would probably put Brady or Manning at five, but I have a general rule that I do not put careers into historical perspective until the careers are complete.

 

There is no question that Graham is the greatest of all time. Went 29 straight games without a defeat. That is starting in one season losing only one game. Winning the championship game that season. Going undefeated the following season and winning the championship. Then going into the following season, only losing one game, then winning the championship. Ten straight championship game appearances in a ten year career, winning seven championships. Nobody in history even comes close. You watch him play and you see a true field general. Never looked fazed. Even when he was down, you knew that he would come back and win it. And for those who disparage the AAFC and say it was a "minor league, therefore those four years don't count" know nothing about the league. I have probably watched more film of that league than most people and comparing it to the film of the NFL at the time, there is no question that the AAFC was just as good, if not better, than the NFL. If you don't believe me, I have interviewed a lot of players who played in both leagues. ALL have said that the AAFC was just as strong, if not stronger, than the NFL. None said that the NFL was better. Again, these are players who played in BOTH leagues, not just players who played in one league.

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That is really where I was going with my question. Trying to find out if this rivalry is the best ever. If it's two of the top five, I'd say it has to be.

 

This one isn't like the summit we'll have tomorrow, but you brought up Dawson, and when I was a kid, whose 2nd favorite team was the Chiefs, and all my friends 2nd favorite team was the Raiders - there was nothing better than Dawson vs. Lamonica.

 

Cool. I like this question more, and I forgot about Dawson v. lamonica. I wish the posters would read your latest comment as I'd love their feedback. For example, I can't think of any great rivalry QB to Brees or Rothlesberger. For example, who was the big QB rival to Steve Young?

 

That's why it's so special today with Brady and Manning. I'm pulling for Manning. I'd love for that team to win it all so it will put to bed Manning is probably the best if all time. I guarantee if he wins this year and next like Elway at the end of his career, he'll seal it. He'll probably break all of the rest of Marino's records.

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