Nick's Top 10 Quarterbacks

The NFL released a list of the top 100 players ever here http://top100.nfl.com/?module=HP_cp2 I agree with some picks and of course disagree with others. Here I will list the top 10 Quarterbacks that I have seen play. I didn’t see Unitas or Bart Star so, hence they will not be on my list. I will count down from 10-1.

10. Ken Stabler – Everyone is allowed to put one guy on their list that they pick with their heart instead of their head. Stabler played parts in 15 seasons and wound up throwing 28 more picks then touchdowns. I don’t care, I saw the guy play and trust me with two minutes left in a game there is no one you would rather have had. The Raiders never had great running backs and Stabler was always throwing, and was he fun to watch. He was MVP in 1974 and led the Raiders to a Superbowl in 76.

9. Steve Young – Young had the ability to make plays with his legs and wasn’t the classic pocket passer, however few through a better ball. Young had the privilege of throwing to some great receivers and always had a good running game to help him so, he is not as high on my list as on others. Young was a very cerebral player who could beat you a number of ways. Statically there were few better.

8. Fran Tarkenton – I didn’t really see him in his prime and was pretty young when I did catch his antics. But, the little I saw impressed me. He could scramble and make plays with his legs like no one else. He was on some horrific teams early in his career but always put up the numbers. When he retired he was the leader in almost every passing category there was.

7. Dan Fouts – I am a Raider fan so in the 80’s this guy would just kill me, but damn if he wasn’t good. The offense he ran in San Diego in the early 80’s if you didn’t see it you missed out. He could put up points on you in a hurry with virtually no running game. It is a testament to how bad this team’s defense was that Fouts never got to a superbowl.

6. Rodger Staubach – I am not a Cowboys fan. But, I don’t loathe them like so many do. Even if you are a Cowboy hater how could you not admire Staubach? He was one of the best field generals I ever saw. And while he didn’t always put up the flashiest numbers in crunch time with the game on the line few performed as well.

5. Joe Montana – I know a lot of people will have him ranked higher and I get that. He was without question the winningest quarterback of his era. But, I always felt you could have put anyone on my list below with the talent that he had and they would have won as well. I am not trying to devalue what Montana did because he was great. I just think the four below him were better.

4. Dan Marino – I know, he never won a superbowl. And I am here to tell you, that wasn’t entirely his fault. He played 13 seasons before he ever had a running back with over 1,000 yards. He only played with a top 10 defense twice in his life. What he did do was something we had never seen before. He made Mark Clayton and Mark Duper superstars. He threw at the time an unheard of 48 TD passes in one season. He retired 57 games over .500 in his career as a starter. So, save me the he wasn’t a winner crap.

3. Tom Brady – A lot of people dismiss Brady and I am here to tell you, that is a mistake. As soon as he was put in as the starter he took a very average team and won a superbowl. He then went on to win two more and led a team to a 16-0 regular season putting up one of the most amazing seasons from the position ever. Another guy who really has never had a stud running back to play with and when they gave him Moss all he did was throw 50 touchdowns while only tossing 8 picks. The guy is one of the best of all time.

2. John Elway – So many ways this guy could beat you. Everyone talks about the whippings he took early in his career in the superbowl. The fact that he got those teams there is in itself a minor miracle. Without Elway those are six win teams talent wise. When he at long last got a running game in Terrell Davis all he did was win back to back championships. No lead was safe as long as number 7 was on the other sideline. He had a rocket arm and could run like a horse. He could do it all.

1. Peyton Manning – I truly don’t get all the hate this guy gets. If you are a sports fan you should truly appreciate what Peyton is doing. The wins and numbers he puts up are phenomenal. The measure of a great athlete to me is does he make those around him better and Manning has unquestionably done that. I know he has only one championship to his credit, but, he is still playing. No one puts in the work like Peyton and no one leads a team like him. I have never seen anyone play the position better and when he is on, there truly is no one in his league.