"Top 5 QB's Of All Time" Final 2

Okie dokie...here we go. Sure to create more anger and hostility come my top two picks for my Top Five QB’s of all time. If you happen to have the memory of a South American fire ant (like I do) and cant remember my 5,4, and 3 picks...well just go to my previous blog. :)

2. John Elway: Believe me this gets harder the closer we get to Number One. I have watched his entire career. Became a fan for life in January of 1987(I was 12)...the AFC Championship game against the Cleveland Browns. They call it "The Drive." Down by 7 points in a championship game, five and a half minutes or so left in the fourth quarter, 98 yards away from the end zone, a stout Cleveland defense in the way, and a rabid Cleveland crowd in his ears. This guy takes his team over those 98 yards in five minutes and two seconds, converting a 3rd and 18 along the way, and then fires a five yard laser beam to Mark Jackson for a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the game. And with the extra point the game was tied and the Broncos went on to win on OT. From that moment I was a huge Elway fan (except for 2 weeks later when they played the Giants in the Super Bowl and were subsequently destroyed by Phil Simms of all people). Not necessarily a Broncos fan but a John Elway fan. And you know the crazy thing? He made a career out of making 4th quarter comebacks not unlike the one I just described. It was always fun to watch Elway play..he was a gun slinger. There was a time that I wondered like everyone else..if this guy was ever going to get that elusive SB championship. He had been to three SB’s in the 80's and had subsequently been blown out of all three of them. Then Mike Shannahan shows up in Denver in the mid 90's and does what blockhead Don Shula never did for Dan Marino...took pressure off of John Elway by developing a lethal running attack. The result? Two Super Bowl Championships for Elway and the Broncos. Elway was the SB MVP in the 98 SB against Atlanta. The previous Super Bowl against Green Bay was one of the best of all time. Statistically not one of Elway’s best games but nobody wanted it more than he did. Facing a critical first down conversion in the second half..Elway ended up scrambling around the right side and with the end zone pylon in sight dove head first into two Green Bay defenders, getting spun like a helicopter. Short of the end zone but got the first down. Knew they were going to win that game based on that play alone. His career is loaded with similar plays, throws, and game winning drives which is why he is my Number 2 QB of all time. So there..suck on that. :)

1. Joe Montana. You know you can probably make plenty of statistical arguments as to why he should not be Number One..and they would be valid. But if any of you are old enough to remember him playing in his prime with the Niners... you know this is the right choice. The only QB who had more 4th quarter comebacks than Joe Montana (who had 31) is John Elway (with a staggering 47). Here are a few reasons why Joe Cool is at the top of the list: Was the starting QB in four Super Bowls and won them all. Is the only 3 time Super Bowl MVP ever. 2 time league MVP. Led the NFC five times in passer rating (naturally a result of the West Coast offense to a degree but whatever it helps my case). A beautiful 92 yard game winning drive in the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals (1989). 1986 NFL Comeback Player of the Year after returning from a severe back injury. One of his best talents was never getting rattled under pressure...no matter what the situation. Remarkably cool. Reminds me of another QB who plays for a New England based football team, who is one SB championship and one SB MVP award away from tying Montana on both of those fronts. Oh... and this New England based QB’s name rhymes with Blom Drady. But um ahem... back to the point. Joe did it all over his career..consummate professional, champion and all around great player and teammate. Which is why he is my pick for No.1 QB of all time....as of now.

Now for all of you in the mid west that are screaming about Peyton Manning and/or Bret Favre.. I can hear you. I have super powers...its quite impressive. Look here is the deal..Peyton first. Peyton popped out of the womb throwing a football...probably hit the Nurse right between the....um...numbers we will say. Has always been a good to great quarterback at whatever level of organized football he has ever played. But in college at Tennessee had a knack for losing big games. And up until 2 years ago, when the Colts won one of the ugliest SB’s I have ever seen, he had that label in the NFL. Now everyone wants to give him the mantle of best of all time. Forget that. I am not totally certain he is the best QB playing today. In yesterdays post I mentioned that Tom Brady for the first time this past season had receivers that were on par with what Peyton has had for the past 7 years and what did Brady do? Broke Peyton’s single season touchdown pass record and threw for just under 5,000 yards and so on. Until Peyton starts winning more SB’s and not stinking it up in big games more often than not, than I don’t want to hear about how great he is. And when he starts winning more championships then he gets in the top 5. Brett Favre... here is the deal..everybody is in a love fest with him right now bc he retired and that’s cute. And yes he is a great player... 7 million consecutive games started.. One SB championship, leader for passing yards and td’s ( a result of playing football since George Halas founded the league). Those are all valid points to be discussed. But what I remember the most about Brett Favre is how many times he killed his team with boneheaded interceptions. Case in point: the last pass he ever threw was an interception right into the hands of a waiting NY Giants corner...in OT of the NFC championship game. Are you kidding me? Giants took the ball..moved it a few yards kicked a field goal to win and then went on to AZ to ruin my dream of seeing a perfect season. But I am not bitter. His career is filled with moments like that. 288 career interceptions. That’s a lot...and while it could be worse given the number of years he played..it’s the crucial backbreaking interceptions he threw. So while he was a great player..he was flawed as well and that’s why he is not in my top 5. Top ten maybe..same as Peyton for now.
So that’s it folks. Leave a comment or an e-mail with your agreement, disgust, disdain or whatever you feel. Just leave my mom out of your insults..she doesn’t watch football and would have no idea where all the bad karma came from. :)