He pretty much ignores postseason success during the Manning vs. Brady years, but then suddenly crowns Rogers as the best QB in 2010 because of his Super Bowl, despite the fact that Brady's stats are much better than Rogers that year, and he won 4 more games. In a consistent analysis, I think you either need to give the "reign" back to Brady in 2010, or you need to concede that Brady's post-season success pushes him above Manning in 2003 and maybe 2005 too. You can make an argument that he made the correct call for any of those individual seasons, but when you look at all of them together it isn't very consistent the way he did it.
Yeah as Beast also said, I don't agree with the selections, just thought it was an interesting way to look at it. So like the author mentioned in the outset, one year slightly better than another QB doesn't automatically give them the belt. So for more recent ones like Brady/Rodgers, we don't know enough to really give the "belt" to anyone. Clearly Brady loses it after 07 because of the injury. Year to year between Brady and Rodgers, I think Rodgers takes 09 Brady takes 2010 Rodgers takes 11 Rodgers slightly past Brady for 2012. So the last few years can be up for grabs. They both had little drops before jumping back to amazingness
In 2010 Brady was better than Rodgers imo, Rodgers had the Super Bowl run, but he got waaay to much credit for it. That packers defense made plays, the Packers shoulda lost in philly if Akers makes his kicks. 2011 Rodgers took over the league, call me a hater but the lockout lead to those ridiculous qb numbers we saw.
I would give 2010 to Rodgers. it was really his coming out year, and what propelled him into the discussion of excellence. In 2011, wasn't Brees setting records, going undefeated at home by wide margins? if it weren't for like 6 freakish team turnovers in San Fran, the road was paved for them to win the Super Bowl. i still can't believe they blew that game (and high Super Bowl chances). There was no chance the Giants would beat them down in NO for the NFC championship. In 2012, i have to go Peyton Manning. AP was the only thing separating him from another MVP, this time on a different team and directly after missing an entire season.
I thought that was 2011 for Rodgers was his jump from great QB to one of the best in the league. Then he followed up 2011 with last year, and he's still in that top tier of QBs. I wouldn't disagree with giving Brees 2011. It's close between him and Rodgers. Both had incredible years and I think both edge Brady out for the #1/#2 QB of 2011. Peyton was hurt that year, so the tier that held those 4 became 3 for that year. 2012 was an impressive year for Peyton, Brady, Brees, and Rodgers. Neither one pulled away from each other. So thinking the "belt" idea I think Rodgers keeps it if you give it to him for 2011.
QB Wins on the Road since 2009: Drew Brees - 21 Tom Brady - 20 Aaron Rodgers - 19 This despite the Saints having only 3 wins on the road last year in the Bountygate aftermath.
again w/o context. Let's look at the road wins: Brees: 2009: Philly who ended 11-5 Buf 6-10 Mia 7-9 SL 1-15 TB 3-13 Was 4-12 Atl 9-7 Beat one playoff bound team, zero teams that actually won a playoff game. 2010: SF 6-10 TB 10-6 Car 2-14 Dal 6-10 Cin 4-12 Atl 13-3 Beat one playoff bound team, zero teams that won a playoff game 2011: Jax 5-11 Car 6-10 Atl 10-6 Ten 9-7 Min 3-13 Beat one playoff bound team, zero teams that won a playoff game 2012: TB 7-9 Oak 4-12 Dal 8-8 beat zero playoff bound teams 4 year total: opp records: 134-202, 40% beat 3 playoff bound teams beat zero teams that actually won a playoff game Brady: 2009: TB 3-13 Buf 6-10 beat zero playoff bound teams 2010: Mia 7-9 SD 9-7 Pit 12-4 Det 6-10 Chi 11-5 Buf 4-12 beat 2 playoff bound teams including eventual AFC Champs and title game rep in NFC. 2011: Mia 6-10 Oak 8-8 NYJ 8-8 Phi 8-8 Was 5-11 Den 8-8 Beat one playoff bound team, that team won a playoff game 2012: Ten 6-10 Buf 6-10 NYJ 6-10 Mia 7-9 SL 7-8-1 Jax 2-14 beat zero playoff bound teams 4 year total: opp record: 135-184-1, 42% beat 3 playoff bound teams Beat eventual AFC Champ beat NFC team that lost in conf title game Team they beat won 4 playoff games Rodgers: 2009: SL 1-15 Cle 5-11 Det 2-14 Chi 7-9 Ari 10-6(they rested starters from the start) beat one playoff bound team who was resting starters(Matt leinart got the start). 2010: Phi 10-6 NYJ 11-5 Min 6-10 Beat 2 playoff bound teams including team that was in AFC title game 2011: Car 6-10 Chi 8-8 Atl 10-6 Min 3-13 SD 8-8 Det 10-6 NYG 9-7 beat 3 playoff bound teams, eventual SB champs 2012: Hou 12-4 SL 7-8-1 Det 4-12 Chi 10-6 beat one playoff bound team, that team won 1 playoff game Totals: 139-157-1, 47% beat 6 playoff bound teams beat eventual SB champ beat title game team teams won 7 playoff games The rankings should be: Rodgers Brady Brees instead of the other way around.
Beating the eventual super bowl champ is a statement out of context as the Giants weren't playing well at the time.
Actually the Giants played really well that game and NYG would only lose one more time the rest of the season(4 more reg season and 4 postseason games)
All of this is just splitting hairs. Brady, Brees and Rodgers are all awesome. Really going to sit here and analyze the amount of playoff teams they beat on the road? They play 8 road games a season. And exactly like you said- it depends on how well a team is playing at the time, injuries etc...
Come on now, they were on a 3 game losing streak heading into that game and lost two weeks after to a bad Redskins team at home.
Oh I know it. I split hairs on purpose. Just to prove a point that if you dig deep enough, you can claim anything is out of context.
Only the saints game was a bad game, the other 3 they had chances to win and came up short. They happened to play very well in that GB game. They started the year 3-1, their lone loss was to Washington, they had their # that year.
Agreed. I actually think the belt idea is probably really good for sports in general. Players can alternate from having an amazing year to a less amazing year but still be the best. The belt idea is clever because whoever has to get it next has to really grab it. And since we have the ability to look at how a QB did in 200x and see if he kept it up the next year and so on, I actually like the thought process of it. And with era changes, this is a good idea. It doesn't solve who is the GOAT, but it's a good way to put together a list of the greatest greats to play the game.
Ill take Brees over any QB in the NFL. And about the road losses, Brees played outa his mind in San Fran in that second half, his defense choked to Alex Smith. Brees would have his 2nd title if that choke didnt happen. The Giants woulda got killed and the Pats defense woulda been torched. I hope the Saints win it, if its not going to be the Jets.
Brady really has had two careers, one before the Patriots had offensive weapons, and one after. Let's look at some stats for Brady. Touchdowns and turnovers include fumbles and rushing tds: 2001-2006 2001: 2843 yards, 18 touchdowns, 15 turnovers 2002: 3764 yards, 29 touchdowns, 18 turnovers 2003: 3620 yards, 24 touchdowns, 17 turnovers 2004: 3692 yards, 28 touchdowns, 19 turnovers 2005: 4110 yards, 27 touchdowns, 17 turnovers 2006: 3529 yards, 24 touchdowns, 16 turnovers From 2002-2006 Brady started every game. His stats were good, with a positive touchdown to turnover ratio, but not exceptional. He never broke 30 tds in a season, and only surpassed 4000 yards once. Then the patriots decided to load up on offense. In the offseason before 2007 they acquired Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Brady responded, going from being an above average quarterback to putting together one of the best seasons ever. He went from never having thrown over 28 tds in a year to throwing 50! 2007-2012 2007: 4806 yards, 50 touchdowns, 11 turnovers. 2008: DNP (Injury) 2009: 4398 yards, 29 touchdowns, 15 turnovers 2010: 3900 yards, 37 touchdowns, 5 turnovers (Moss Traded by game 4) 2011: 5235 yards, 42 touchdowns, 14 turnovers 2012: 4827 yards, 38 touchdowns, 10 turnovers Brady has only put up elite numbers in the last 5 seasons that he played. Calling him the best player of the last 10 years ignores the fact that until 2007 he wasn't putting up elite numbers. The past five years have seen Brady put up elite numbers, but he's been surrounded by excellent talent at WR and lately at tight end.
