It's the offseason, so that means it's time for those "Top 10 [position] in the NFL" threads. However, I thought maybe we try a something a little different this year. Instead of a very subjective numerical ranking scheme, we'd break it up into "Tiers". Feel free to duplicate my layout or make up your own. Top Tier: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady I was going to call this 1st tier, but that wouldn't be fair to other QBs that are also top quality. Yet it wouldn't be fair to these two to put anyone elses name in their tier. These two have battled for the #1 spot for years, going back and forth, and honestly, both have a great case. Brady's injury this year has taken him out of the media and our minds for a season, but it doesn't erase his years past, and until he comes back and shows me he's "fallen off the horse" I cannot take it upon myself to assume he has and bump him down. 1st Teir Leading: Drew Brees Body: Kurt Warner, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer, Matt Hasselbeck Newcomer: Ben Roethlisberger If Brady does fall off the horse, Brees is first in line to become the number one contender. Warner needs no explination. Rivers really came into his own in 2007 and solidified himself this year with over 4000 yards passing and a the best TD:INT ratio in the league. Eli has become his offense center piece and superstar, showing that with him the Giants can surive anyone that they can survive the gain and loss of anyone (Shockey, Tiki, Plax, etc). McNabb was quickly falling out of favor and quickly shut up his critics he has been the core of a pass happy offense for years (though many argue it should shift to Westbrook). Palmer got hurt and all of Cincy fell even more off the horse than they already were. However, he was the leading QB in this group for awhile, and he should come back strong, similar with Hasselbeck. Big Ben just tip toed in here with his Superbowl performance. I can no longer hold his "ideal situation" in Pitt against him, it's not his fault he lucked out. More is put on him year after and year and lives up to it. 2nd Tier Leading: Brett Favre Body: Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, Chad Pennington, Tony Romo, Marc Bulger Newcomer: Matt Ryan/Matt Cassel Had Favre stayed in GB he'd be leading 1st tier, however the change of team and missing camp, etc, is too much for Favre to overcome. Dispite a bad ending, Favre is one of those players that single handedly puts you in (and can take you out) of any playoff hunt. Cutler and Rodgers had great statiscal season and look to be centerpieces for their teams. Pennington (Mia/NYJ), Romo, and Bulger have all been given their teams spotlight, however their teams have yet to get a return for it in the playoffs. The Matts burst into the scene this year and gave life to two teams declared DOA early in the season. However, they will have to repeat their performances before anything more can be said. 3rd Tier Leading: Jeff Garcia/Jake Delhomme Body: David Garrad, Jason Campell, Matt Schuab, Kerry Collins, Derek Anderson Newcomer: Joe Flacco Jeff has been labeled one of the most underrated and disrespected QBs in the league after getting two different teams into the playoffs in two years, however, he can't offer any team a future. Delhomme has yet to return to his 04/05 form, and it's hard to say if he will in 09. Campell, Schuab, and Garrad have earned the affection of their teams and have shown they were the right guy to choose over the QB they ran out of town. Collins managed a great season, but that's all. Anderson is proof of why one should not jump on "Cassel" looking wagons, one year doesn't make a QB. Who knows how his career goes from this point. Flacco took his team to the playoffs as a rookie, which is great, but by veteran standards he had a mediocre season, which gets him a mediocre placement with the other playoff vets. 4th Tier Leading: Trent Edwards Body: Kyle Orton, JaMarcus Russell, Gus Frerotte, Tanard Jackson Newcomer: Tyler Thigpen Edwards led the Bills to a great opening season, however, much is still left to be desired. Orton looked like he finally stepped on the neck of Grossman and ended that battle. Russell is still struggling to come into his own, same with Jackson. Frerotte manages well, but won't win you many games. Newcomer Tyler Thigpen did a lot for himself this year, people actually know his name. None of these QBs have much job security, however, if given another chance next season some stand a chance of showing they can lead an offense. So those are my Tiers. I don't think I left anyone really out, but I wouldn't be surprised if a name slipped my mind.
Get Pennington off the 2nd tier please. Might Flacco be above Bulger now or is it wait and see? Otherwise good list, and GREAT avatar!
very good, but do you mean Tarvaris Jackson of the Vikings? Tanard Jackson is a safety for the buccaneers. I also agree that Flacco belongs in the seconod tier.
Tier 1 1) Manning 2) Brady 3) Big Ben 4) Brees 5) Rivers 6) Warner Tier 2 7) Cutler 8) Eli 9 Mcnabb 10) Romo Tier 3 11) Hasselbeck 12) Rodgers 13) Garrard 14) Schuab 15) Garcia 16) Delhomme- Consistently average 17) Cassel- Drastically overrated. Played one good defense this year and got destroyed. 18) Bulger Tier 3 19) Kerry Collins- Needs perfect protection to be a good qb. 20) Jason Campbell- blah 21) Trent Edwards 22) Derek Anderson- blah Favre is retiring so he doesn't count. Pennington if healthy can win plenty of regular season games against bad defenses. He's average at best. Carson Palmer has looked horrible since his injury. It's too bad since he would have been a top 5 qb for a decade.
Derek Anderson isn't a starter. Wrong. Marc Bulger is not 2nd tier. Wrong. Favre doesn't even belong on this list. Wrong. Carson Palmer cannot be considered so high since his injury and Chad Pennington is 3rd tier, just about average. Look out for Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub to jump up another tier next season for sure. Good effort, entertaining read.
Great list. Marc Bulger is a really good quarterback; probably the most underrated in the league. I don't agree with Eli or Roethlisburger being first tier, and I think it's too early to put Rivers up there quite yet. Best = Manning & Brady Tier 1 Brees Warner McNabb Romo Hasselbeck Palmer Tier 2 Bulger - I think he has to prove he still 'has it' to make tier 1 again. Rodgers - With more time, I think he's a very strong contestant for tier 1. Big Ben Eli Rivers Cutler Pennington Tier 3 Garrard Thigpen Cassel Ryan Campbell Flacco Schaub Tier 4 Collins Delhomme Frerotte Edwards Orton Derek Anderson I think Favre and Garcia are too old to judge fairly. When they're healthy, probably both 2nd tier-ish.
You can make a convincing argument why everyone belongs where they are on your list except these guys. Facts are Facts, Carson Palmer got injured, and since then either hasnt been able to get healthy, or has been garbage. So until he can get healthy again, he doesnt belong that high. Matt Hasselback, is in the same boat, a few years back he was a great quarterback, he made all the plays he needed to make, but now that time is gone, he hasnt done that consistently in 2 years, and is running out of time to prove he can get it back. Big Ben, i'm sorry but he just isnt allowed to be that low anymore. He has done more faster, than any quarterback in NFL history, except for Tom Brady. Also look at his OL, how many of us said that down the stretch his OL would be his undoing? How they couldnt block well enough for him? Well guess what, we were right, they couldnt block, and yet holy shit the son of a bitch ran circles around everybody until he finds an open reciever. Whether you believe that the refs gave the Steelers their last two rings, or not, Ben has two rings and is in a position with the core of that defense, to do oh so many more things before his career is over. Many have already started calling him a Future HOFer and he only just completed his 5th season. Tier 1 it is, or even in the "best" catergory. You just cant deny it any more.
^ I didn't really have them in order, just by tier. I edited it to make it to represent my opinion a little better. I don't see a point in dropping Hasselbeck and Palmer to tier 2. They have the ability to be tier 1 and I don't think their injuries will change that.. they just play for crappy teams.
Top Tier Brady, Manning, Rothlisberger 1st Tier Warner, McNabb, Brees, Palmer 2nd Tier Cutler, Rivers, Rodgers, Romo, E. Manning, Favre, Ryan 3rd Tier Pennington, Bulger, Hasselbeck, Garcia, Delhomme, Flacco, Collins 4th Tier Garrad, Campell, Schuab, Anderson, Edwards, Thigpen, Cassel JAGS - the rest
I´m surprised, that there isn´t more love for Schaub, he´s a pretty good QB, he belongs to the 2nd Tier QBs, imo. Bulger is done. And Flacco and Collins gotta show me, that they can win Games, when their Defense and/or Runninggame struggles before I put them in 2nd or 3rd Tir.
I don't think Bulger should be that high and I think Rodgers should be in 1st in the newcomer section. But hey everybody has their own opinions. Great list Buc. I 100% agree any I think others will as well HOWEVER he can not stay healthy so to put him in 2nd is a little unfair. *shrug*
Overall that's a great list. Anybody can find one or two that might be changed but in its entirety it's great.
Tier 1 (The Best QB in the Game) - Peyton Manning Tier 2 (The Superstars who are not the Best) - Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers Tier 3 (The Consistently Good) - Drew Brees, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo That's all the Star level QB's in the NFL right now. Tom Brady will go in one of those tiers if he comes back strong but I have my doubts. Right now he's a zero. Tier 4 (The Up and Comers who will join the first 3 tiers if they stay good) - Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Matt Cassell Tier 5 (Yesterday's News) - Kurt Warner, Carson Palmer, Chad Pennington, Jeff Garcia, Jake Delhomme, Marc Bulger Tier 6 (the Trent Dilfer Memorial List) - Everybody else.
