Who do you consider the greatest quarterback of all-time?

[SabresRule]

In football, it is easy to ask who's the greatest wide-reciever of all-time- Jerry Rice.

OTOH, asking who is the greatest QB of all-time is a tossup.

I think it would make for an interesting debate, since we all remember QB's from different eras.

Bill has been watching football for decades, so he's old enough to remember most of the legends- from Montana to Brady, from Fouts to Favre, Staubach to Elway, and so on.

Who do YOU consider the best QB ever?

IMO, it's John Elway.

When you combine everything, it adds up nicely:

His longevity and loyalty to his original team (16 years with ONE team- Mr. Favre could have learned a lesson from him)

His numbers (Over 50,000 passing yards, 300 TD's)

A HUGE passing arm

A knack for comebacks (He was Mr. Fourth Quarter for a long time)

Championships (I know he lost in multiple Super Bowls early on, but he did eventually win back-to-back titles- any QB who does that is great, and when you accomplished the same thing as the likes of Starr, Bradshaw, Montana, Aikman, and Brady- THAT is elite company).

 

[BillD1984]

These are just the guys that I saw. Keep in mind......... I never saw Johnny U play.


1. Joe Montana
2. Tom Brady
3. Peyton Manning
4. Dan Marino
5. John Elway

Dan Fouts just misses my top 5.

 

[Rey]

These are just the guys that I saw. Keep in mind......... I never saw Johnny U play.


1. Joe Montana
2. Tom Brady
3. Peyton Manning
4. Dan Marino
5. John Elway

Those are my top 5 too Bill. :up Dan Fouts had that quick release too.

 

[Jimbo]

In football, it is easy to ask who's the greatest wide-reciever of all-time- Jerry Rice.

OTOH, asking who is the greatest QB of all-time is a tossup.

I think it would make for an interesting debate, since we all remember QB's from different eras.

Bill has been watching football for decades, so he's old enough to remember most of the legends- from Montana to Brady, from Fouts to Favre, Staubach to Elway, and so on.

Who do YOU consider the best QB ever?

IMO, it's John Elway.

When you combine everything, it adds up nicely:

His longevity and loyalty to his original team (16 years with ONE team- Mr. Favre could have learned a lesson from him)

His numbers (Over 50,000 passing yards, 300 TD's)

A HUGE passing arm

A knack for comebacks (He was Mr. Fourth Quarter for a long time)

Championships (I know he lost in multiple Super Bowls early on, but he did eventually win back-to-back titles- any QB who does that is great, and when you accomplished the same thing as the likes of Starr, Bradshaw, Montana, Aikman, and Brady- THAT is elite company).

Gee Sabre's, the ones you mentioned are all in the last 15 -20 years, Starr a little longer.
Elway was NOT Loyal to his team, he was not drafted by the Bronco's, so thats not loyalty.

You also don't need a HUGE arm to be a great QB.
Montana didn't have a huge arm, but he was ACCURATE.

You mention and give credit to Elway for being in a lot of SB's even thou he lost most, I don't see Jim Kelly's name mentioned, he was in the Marino class and went to what 4 of them, he had to be pretty good to do that.

btw, I have nothing against Elway, I like him, just wanted to give you a counter point.

Jimbo

 

[Jimbo]

I would have to agree with your top 5 guy's :up

I would put Starr and Fouts in the group.

Jimbo

 

[SabresRule]

I don't see Jim Kelly's name mentioned, he was in the Marino class and went to what 4 of them, he had to be pretty good to do that.

Guy broke my heart too many times, and his numbers were dwarfed by other QB's.

 

[SabresRule]

Elway was NOT Loyal to his team, he was not drafted by the Bronco's, so thats not loyalty

I don't blame him for dissing the Colts; they weren't going anywhere, and they would have sucked with him.

Besides, Denver wasn't great either; it's not like he went from a bad team to a great team. At the time, the Broncos were also bad.

You could say it's like going from one type of horse poop to another.

 

[Jimbo]

Guy broke my heart too many times, and his numbers were dwarfed by other QB's.

But part of your statement was about number of times making the SB, he's got to be included in that one

 

[Jimbo]

I don't blame him for dissing the Colts; they weren't going anywhere, and they would have sucked with him.

Besides, Denver wasn't great either; it's not like he went from a bad team to a great team. At the time, the Broncos were also bad.

You could say it's like going from one type of horse poop to another.

Same could be said about Eli Manning....

 

[SabresRule]

number of times making the SB, he's got to be included in that one

I AM including him among my all-time best, but I can't rank him ahead of guys who won a ring.

 

[Jimbo]

Terry Bradshaw is in the top 10 ....
He WON a few of his SB visits !


How about Aikman ?
He wouldn't be my top 5 but in the discussion.

Jimbo

 

[cosmo_kramer]

While he didn't win any titles, those of us old enough to remember would agree that Fran Tarkenton should be listed as well. He had over 47,000 passing yards, 342 TD over an 18 year career in an era when there were 14 game seasons and you could actually hit a QB....

 

[toto]

There's no answer to that. I did see Johnny U and Joe Willy and crazy men like Joe Kapp and Bobby Douglas. Fouts was great but he was in a system. Before them was Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield on the same team. my 5 -- George Blanda, Don Merideth, Johny Unitus, Joe Willie, the Snake.

 

[Rey]

jeff george

 

[mdonnelly]

Steve Young, Dan Fouts, Ken Stabler (the Snake), Darryl Lamonica, Joe Willie.

 

[HD MM]

Otto Graham

During an astounding career in which the Browns compiled a 105-17-4 record, at the time of his retirement Graham's 86.6 career pass rating (combined AAFC and NFL) served as one of the best of all time, tossing 188 touchdowns in ten seasons of play.

Graham played six seasons in the NFL and took the Cleveland Browns to the NFL Championship Game all six seasons, winning three NFL titles. Including four seasons in which his team captured four AAFC titles, Graham played ten total seasons of professional football and made the league championship game all ten seasons, winning seven league titles.

 

[yourbeliefs]

Elway belongs in the top 10, but to be #1 is rather pushing it. The #1 QB should be the guy that you want on your team with 2 minutes left on the clock down by more than 3 points. Sure, Elway does have some memorable comebacks, but Montana's Super Bowl comebacks are legendary, and let's not forget that Elway was on the losing end of the biggest Super Bowl blowout in history. You can't be the #1 QB of all time when you hold a record for being the worst at something, or for a "bad" record. That's also why I don't think that Favre deserves to be in the top 5 QBs of all time. Yes he's a great player and would play the full 60 minutes and put up great numbers, but you can't also hold the record for most interceptions of all time.

 

[Rey]

teams win championships. put montana on a average team through those years and i bet he wouldn't even be remembered. teams win superbowls not just any one player. great example of that is Trent Dilfer a not so good qb. You need Defense and a running game to get it done.

montana was one of the most intelligent players at his position i've ever seen. he always kept his calm and cool. brady reminds me of montana except that in my opinion brady has more arm than what montana did.

the 49ers were such a complete team for such a long time. you could've put neil odonnell in there and he would've won one championship. they oozed talent at every position.

 

[toto]

There's no answer to that. I did see Johnny U and Joe Willy and crazy men like Joe Kapp and Bobby Douglas. Fouts was great but he was in a system. Before them was Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield on the same team. my 5 -- George Blanda, Don Merideth, Johny Unitus, Joe Willie, the Snake.

Didn't finish, by 2 days--the great Louisiana Bunch in the 70s Bert Jones, Joe Fergusen, and Terry Bradshaw. Archie Manning was super on weak teams.

 

[toto]

jeff jorge

When he was an All-American at Indiana, they played Colorado his senior year. When Buffalo ball is played, bodies are carried off the field, it might be the other team it might be Colorado players. It is not a game for girls. Jeff pulled himself from the second half.