So after long hard (two words you’ve gotta love in conjunction with one another) consideration, I’ve decided to rank my top 5 NFL QBs. And it goes a little something like this:

Number 5:

Eli Manning
Even though I’ve starting to have worries about the Giants after their last two performances, I think that Eli has started proving himself to be one of the better System QBs in the league. He’s proven himself in many situations, and his athleticism is impressive. He can break tackles, look good in the pocket, and move is team down field to pick up a necessary 7 to win the game when he needs to. On top of that, he’s already gotten his Ring, and looks as though he’s more than capable of getting another one before his career is over. Could he do this on another team? Probably not, but in the system that Coughlin has built around and for him, he is great.

Number 4:

Donovan McNabb
Personally, I think that Donovan is one of the best all around QBs in the league. Here’s a man that can run, throw, read defenses, take a hit and still make something happen. He doesn’t get rattled in the pocket no matter how many times he gets knocked down, and he has had to deal with a hostile fan organization and media city since the day he was drafted. Not to mention put up w/ T.O. bull and he’s been a constant gentleman through it all. The only thing keeping him out of my top 3 is the fact that he doesn’t have a ring yet. This, however, is not fully his fault. The Eagles simply refuse to give him any substantive help out there and this keeps him from the promise land. If Donovan would simply leave Philly as he should have a long time (the Bears wanted him awhile back and if he’d gone there’s no doubt in my mind he’d have one if not a couple rings by now) then he’d make it. Either way, he’s one of the best QBs in the league and people need to recognize that.

Number 3:

Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben is no doubt one of the better QBs in the league. He doesn’t have the best feet, but he’s got a cannon for an arm and when coupled with the receiving core he’s got, his accuracy is really good as well. The main criticism with Big Ben is that he holds on to the ball too long. He gets hit and sacked more often than any other QB on one of the top tier teams in the league. This isn’t due to a fault in is O-line, but simply to the fact that he holds onto the pigskin for 20 seconds longer than needed. However, even with that being said, these hit do not phase him, he’s strong enough to break tackles from time to time, and any loss he takes on a sack he’s more than capable of making up on the next down. He’s also really good as making something happen while a defender is riding his back and bringing him down. The fact is if you can’t tackle him and pin down his throwing arm, you might not get the sack at all. Not to mention how well he protects the ball while going down; you might get the sack, but don’t expect to get a fumble too. He’s got the rings to put him over the top, but until he learns to dump off in order to make it a loss of a down and not a loss of a down and long yardage, he’s relegated to number 3 on my list.

Number 2:

Tom Brady
Ok, my number 2 and 1 picks shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone (honestly neither should the order I put them in lol,) however, the reasoning is sound so hear me out. The Golden Boy is a great QB, but I think his greatness is directly contributed to Bill “Cheating, Score-Running” Belichick. While Brady looks a lot better than most System QBs, (both physically and in performance, God that’s a good looking man!) he still strikes me as a System QB. While I believe that McNabb, Roethlisberger, and Manning (Peyton not Eli) can win on any team, I think that the Rams are still winless even with Brady at the helm. On top of that, Brady has become the Kobe Bryant of the league. Not that he’s as selfish or show-boaty, but he looks for roughing calls before simply trying to make a play. The way he lobs the ball and then looks back at the Ref because he was touched, or almost touched as the case may be, and demands the flag thrown is not the mannerisms of a great QB. Make the play first, then worry about the whistle, not the other way around. That being said, Tom Brady is certainly a premier QB and he’s got the rings to prove it. Plus he’s just so ridiculously good-looking how could you not love him?

Number 1:

Peyton Manning
Surprise surprise right? But can you deny it? Manning is an amazing and complete QB. He doesn’t have the best feet out there, but don’t assume he can’t pick up key yardage on his own when the big play isn’t there for him. A cannon for an arm coupled with pin-point accuracy and receivers that keeping him looking amazing make him look formidable. The fact that he can march his team down field and put up a much needed 7 to win the game and do so in 35 seconds makes him the best. What other great QBs can do in 3 minutes, Peyton can do in 1/4 of that time. Also, there’s no one better out there at making a team pay for stupid mistakes. Give the Colts a turn over in good to moderate field position and you’re basically handing them a quick 7 points. Yes a QB is often only good as his receivers, and Peyton’s been lucky enough to have some of the best, but I believe that Peyton Manning can easily be the difference between a team like the Bucs being shut out, and that same team having 3 or 4 wins. Can he take a team to the promise land on his own? No, because no one can. But is he a major difference maker? Of course he is! Smart, controlled, accurate, great field vision, the ability to hit the open man in double coverage, reading defenses, calling audibles in response to what he sees, an O-line that simply will not allow him to be touched, and a wide number of overly effective weapons he can go to… I ask you what other QB has all that and uses it to the very best of his ability? He’s got one Ring already and I fully expect another before his time is up. Let’s just make it this year, Peyton!

Key Omissions:
Yes I do know who Brett Favre is. However, I don’t think that a Gunner really belongs in the top 5. The beauty of Farve is that he’s got a cannon for an arm and great accuracy. The ugly of Favre is that he relies far too heavily on his arm and will force it into double and triple coverage to guys who are not good enough to come up with it and against Corners and Safetys you really shouldn’t to that with. Favre can get you great numbers, but you also have to eat those 7+ picks he’s capable of giving you. Something you don’t see out of the rest of my top 5.
Drew Brees has the best numbers this season and he’s a fantasy footballer’s wet dream. But football is not baseball and there’s a vast difference between fantasy and reality. I’m coming over onto the Brees/Saints bandwagon slowly but surely. I didn’t think they could win from behind, but they proved they can against the Dolphins, but with that said, they did it against the Dolphins and I’m not sure they can do it in December against the Ravens or Steelers. If/when the Saints win a 13-7 hard hitting game, or when they show that the can win like this for a full season and not fall apart in December (as they’ve been known to do) then I’ll be more ready to add Brees to this list. But til then, you’ve gotta earn it kid!