Greatest QB of all time

[Spiritof96]

This was posted in the Superbowl 51 thread.

As much as I hate his guts (sports hate), I don't think it's arguable anymore: Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time.

I keep waiting for the Patriots Reign Of Terror to end, but it doesn't look as if it's going to.

So I have a question about how our members conceptualize greatest of all time. Certainly resume and rings count in that evaluation, but is that the only consideration? Is Brady the consensus?

If the outcome of one game determined your life or death and you had to pick one QB. (separated from their teams/organizations and coaches) whom would you choose? Is that even a fair way to evaluate greatest?

For my money I tend to favor Elway because of his physical gifts combined with his accomplishments. I tend to discount Montana because of the greatness around him, and I think I prefer Brady to Manning mainly because Manning seemed to get nervous or jittery in the biggest moments.

I am curious how people rank this and why.

[KevinHall]

I think I might still take Montana over anyone else for now. He just had that knack for bringing teams back. He started that in college too when he brought ND back from the dead in a Cotton Bowl game his senior season. Brady though may be right there with him now. I haven't watched the ending of that game last night but that had to be as impressive a comeback to watch as any. I think Brady has more championships as any QB now in the Super Bowl era. He may have more any QB in any era but I"m not sure about that. So if you wanted to put him at number 1 I couldn't argue much with you.
Others who are great but fall just a bit short of those are Manning,Elway,Staubach,Bradshaw,Marino and the list could on and on. I am only including ones I have seen. I never really saw Unitas or Starr. Unitas was the very end when I saw him but most say he was the best. Starr won a bunch of titles in Green Bay.

[Matt Dillon]

Of his era? I agree. I'm always reluctant to anoint players and teams as the greatest of all time due to there being so many variables involved.

[teamchemistry15]

I understand why people still argue Montana. It's a valid argument. My question to that is how much better would Brady be if he had Jerry Rice?

[George]

It has to be Brady. Not only are the career stats solid as a rock, and not only does he have more Super Bowl wins than any other QB, he's done it all with an ever-rotating lineup of no-names and/or guys past their prime. And when he has had legitimate Pro Bowl weapons, a la Gronk, Brady still carries on when they get hurt.

Not counting Belichick, Brady is the constant thread running through that dynasty. The guy just wins, no matter the stage. That combined with the stats makes it a no-brainer, for me.

[George]

I understand why people still argue Montana. It's a valid argument. My question to that is how much better would Brady be if he had Jerry Rice?

I don't think it would make much difference.

He threw for 4800 yds and 50 TDs when he had Randy Moss, followed a few years later by a 5200 yd, 39 TD season without Moss. With or without top WRs, Brady doesn't just get it done - he has incredible stats with the wins.

[KCKUKFan]

Brady and Belichik are the absolute greatest football combo ever. It would be fascinating to know what Brady's career trajectory would look like without Bill and vice versa.

But, to answer the question, I've gotta go with Brady. I wasn't old enough to remember some of the other candidates (Montana), but saw AIkman and Elway and those guys in their prime. Brady has the stats, has the championships, and like Downes said, was able to do it with a rotating door of players.

It hurts me to admit this, mind you, because I'm a Colts/Manning guy.

But, as Jay-Z once said: men lie, women lie, numbers don't.

[Spiritof96]

It has to be Brady. Not only are the career stats solid as a rock, and not only does he have more Super Bowl wins than any other QB, he's done it all with an ever-rotating lineup of no-names and/or guys past their prime. And when he has had legitimate Pro Bowl weapons, a la Gronk, Brady still carries on when they get hurt.

Not counting Belichick, Brady is the constant thread running through that dynasty. The guy just wins, no matter the stage. That combined with the stats makes it a no-brainer, for me.

I think I tend to credit that dynasty to Belichick and the culture the Pats have created more than Brady as a singular talent. Do you think if stuck any of the other greats in that system they would have fared less well? Brady is hard to pin down as when I watch his play, he seems understated in his greatness unlike some of the others we could choose from.

[fastkat]

Johnny Unitas,

[Matt Dillon]

Johnny Unitas,

Johnny U. was a great one and the game was much different then. Hence the reason for my post above (#3). I saw many games Unitas played as well as Bart Starr. Both, in their era, were just as great as Brady is in his, in my opinion.

[uglyduckling]

Brady. Nobody takes more random white guys and turns them into superstars than Brady lol.

[boomdaddy]

Brady. Nobody takes more random white guys and turns them into superstars than Brady lol.

Speaking of random white guys, Edelman made one the best catches of all time and the most spectacular catch in any super bowl. Yes, Brady deserves all of the accolades of being the GOAT QB. But, a certain receiver should be talked about more for that heroic catch.

[Blue Heaven]

What makes Brady so great is that outside of Randy Moss, he throws to a bunch of JAGs. All dynasty teams have had multiple HOFs. Brady is the only HOF worthy Patriot. You can't count Moss because he only played what two years there? I am not a Patriot fan. I have loved the NFL since the late 70's and Tom Brady is the best QB I have ever seen.

[Spiritof96]

What makes Brady so great is that outside of Randy Moss, he throws to a bunch of JAGs. All dynasty teams have had multiple HOFs. Brady is the only HOF worthy Patriot. You can't count Moss because he only played what two years there? I am not a Patriot fan. I have loved the NFL since the late 70's and Tom Brady is the best QB I have ever seen.

I would like to hear someone in that organization talk about what they look for in a WR. I wonder if they are evaluating that position differently than the rest of the league. Perhaps valuing quickness, route precision, and hands over speed and size. I am sure there are other considerations, but whatever it is it works.