Chris: Considering Peyton Manning started this season on pace to throw for 112 touchdowns and that both Christian Ponder and Blaine Gabbert are still employed as quarterbacks rather than account executives, I would venture to say this is the golden age for those who want to play said position. But who is the best signal-caller ever, discounting Bullwinkle J. Moose, who only played collegiately and not professionally?
Joe: Johnny Unitas was a pioneer in the NFL. He went from sandlot football to NFL championship QB. He beat all comers under all weather conditions to achieve Hall of Fame status in a time when ruggedness was required. Johnny U was at his best when the chips were down and the game was on the line.
Brad: Even
though Johnny Unitas set a lot of records in his career, several were broken by
later players.
Chris:
Johnny Unitas had such a level and firm head of hair that it could both perfectly
balance a jug of water and, if he were to be turned upside down, be used a
scrubbing agent on grimy bathtubs. Unfortunately, the NFL seems determined to
have all of Unitas’ records broken by instituting rules that prohibit quarterbacks
from being tackled or pressured. I really liked his shoes, though. I
derive much satisfaction watching football players in black zapatos.
Ralphie: Johnny
Unitas is not the best quarterback ever because he can't run as fast as Cam
Newton can.
Chris:
Unitas won one Super Bowl (though he left halfway through the game, due to his
rib falling off) and three NFL championships, prior to the Super Bowl being
invented by inventors. However, the greatest quarterback of all time won four
Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVPs and, as far as I can recall, never lost a
game or threw an incomplete pass. And I was not a fan of Joe Montana. He
already had two rings by the time I was old enough to become inconceivably
frustrated watching him gut the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense in Super Bowl XXIII
(the only game he didn’t win MVP). The following year Montana’s 49ers scored 55 points in their
Super Bowl win over the Denver Broncos, a record which has managed to stand,
despite the NFL’s new policies of fining defensive players who attempt to
tackle offensive players. If these rules were in place in 1989, the 49ers would
have scored over 100 points, assuming the scoreboard had three digits.
Brad: Joe
Montana is one of the greatest players of all time, but I don't feel he stands
out as the best quarterback ever.
Ralphie: Joe
Montana is not the best quarterback ever because he can't pass as far as Cam.
Joe: Joe
Montana was a great QB. He won championships and deserves HOF status. He should rank in the top five of
all time.
Brad: I
think Eli Manning is the best quarterback ever because he has a great rating
this year at 69.1, along with a long list of accomplishments throughout his
career and various humanitarian efforts off the field.
Ralphie: Eli
Manning is not the best quarterback ever because he wasn't as good in college
or the NFL as Cam.
Chris: I am
eternally grateful for Eli Manning’s two rings, which represent two devastating
losses for Mr. Gisele Bundchen and his coach, who openly defies the NFL’s dress
code policy and its anti-spying policy. And Eli currently has two more Super
Bowl victories than his more famous brother, Cooper.
Joe: Eli
Manning is a very good QB that has two Super Bowl rings, but his tenure is too
short to be considered among the tops.
Ralphie: Cam
Newton is the
best quarterback ever because he thinks on his feet. He can read the play and
can pass as well as run. He's also fun to watch.
Brad: Cam Newton just doesn't have
the career time yet to be considered the best quarterback.
Joe: Cam Newton is an awesome
athlete and good QB. He has a college football national championship ring,
primarily due to his play. He is too early in his pro career to rank among the
best.
Chris: Seeing
as how I can’t consider Wossamotta U’s quarterback, I don’t feel comfortable
placing Auburn’s
quarterback ahead of him. Though Cam Newton will have my full support if he is
ever in the position to either defeat the Patriots in the Super Bowl or to convince
Nabisco to reintroduce blueberry Newtons.
Try on a new pair of Sports Briefs with the Gab Four every Friday. Find out more about Joe, Chris, Brad and Ralphie, and read their solo columns on their individual pages.
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