This list is inspired by a recent N.F.L.com article asking if Eli Manning should be considered the best quarterback in the league heading into the 2012 N.F.L. Season. I’m one of the biggest Eli Manning homers alive as a born and raised New York Giants fan. I used to get into heated battles with one of my best friends about how I would take Eli Manning over Ben Roethlisberger–and this was in 2008 before Eli Manning has become the quarterback he is today. And Big Ben was everyone’s favorite guy on and off the field. Before he was a man accused of sexual misconduct on multiple occasions, or a guy who a lot of people thinks fakes, or at least plays up, injuries to make himself look like a hero.
With that being said, it’s insane to consider Eli Manning the best quarterback in the N.F.L. heading into the N.F.L. season–and I love the guy. Here are my top 10 quarterbacks heading into the 2012 N.F.L. season based on a large part of where they are right now in, but also based on what they have done in their careers.
One thing you notice looking through the quarterback roster is how much better the N.F.C. is than the A.F.C. at the quarterback position. In my top ten there are five A.F.C. quarterbacks, but I think the number 11, 12, thirteen, fourteenth of fifteenth spot would go to N.F.C Quarterbacks as well. (Michael Vick, Tony Romo, Cameron Newton, Matt Ryan would be my next four, not necessarily in that order. (Alex Smith and Joe Flacco are in that mix as well). That means of the top 15 quarterbacks to me 10 might be from the N.F.C.–and one of the A.F.C. QB’s is a huge question mark even if he is a legendary player.
These posts always spark up a lot of debate and it’s really just my opinion. I can see arguments for a different order. In fact in the comments I challenge you in a coherent argument to change my mind. My thoughts are not set in stone.
#1 Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Clearly the league’s best quarterback, just ask him! I really want to highlight an interesting stat I saw the other day from profootballfocus.com, well actually their twitter account. Of all the QB who took significant snaps, Joe Flacco saw the least amount of six defensive back sets…that should let you know that the league doesn’t fear Flacco as an elite quarterback.
Flacco is closer to average than he is great, but you have to love the confidence he has in himself and while I took the easy way out with the joke, Flacco has a big time opportunity to prove he is right this year. I Hope he does.
Anyway moving onto the real list!
#10 Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos
This was the toughest one for me as I feel I left some deserving players off the list. I could easily argue for Tony Romo here who doesn’t get enough credit from so many places I feel bad doing the same thing year and not giving him enough credit. I mean Cutler throws too many interceptions and has rubbed people the wrong way, but this guy is gutsy and will make throws few other quarterbacks can make and really only throws that I’ve seen Eli Manning attempt on a consistent basis. But if we’re being completely honest what great team has Jay Cutler had to work with? His entire time in Chicago and Denver he’s had no great WR. Brandon Marshall is good but he gets bounced around a lot for a reason. The TE in Chicago were useless. He’s never had an offensive line that’s great and he just keeps coming out and throwing. I think he’s a very under-appreciated talent.
#9 Matt Schuab, Texans
I want to put Schaub higher, but I just can’t–in fact I’d have no problem putting Jay Cutler here, Michael Vick at 10 and knocking Schuab off the list. Quarterbacking in the N.F.L. is all about scoring points and winning games. You can’t win games by yourself in the N.F.L., but the great quarterbacks give their team a chance to win every time they step on the field. Schaub has always put up pretty good numbers, but he has had difficulty staying on the field (missed at least five games in three of the last five seasons) and until this year hasn’t won a lot–which separates him from Eli Manning, their Touchdown to interception ratios and yardage totals (each is roughly 2:1) are not that far off, but Eli has won a lot of big games–Schuab has yet to win any big games. Had he been healthy for the playoffs the Texans might have been in the Superbowl. Another year like he had last year
#8 Matthew Stafford, Lions
Last year Stafford was better than the 8th best quarterback in the league and if Calvin Johnson stays healthy Stafford should rack up touchdowns with the best players in the league. The issue is though can Stafford stay healthy. He’s missed 19 games over a possible 48 over the last three seasons. Last year he stayed healthy and we saw what he could do, let’s see it again this year.
#7 Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
What will we get from Peyton Manning moving forward? That is the question. No quarterback in the league is as valuable as Peyton Manning, save Tom Brady and maybe Aaron Rodgers, but I’ve always had more confidence in the talent and coaching around those players than I have with the Colts coaching staff and players. Manning instantly makes the Broncos a playoff contender over the next five years if he’s the Peyton Manning he’s been for his entire career. As a football fan the league is not the same without Peyton Manning–here’s to hoping that Peyton is back to full strength.
#6 Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Rivers had an inconsistent year and something about him makes me think he won’t be at the top of his career as long as big Ben or Eli Manning, but he’s a very good player. Last year he started off slow but during the final 8 game stretch Rivers had 14 touchdowns and 6 interceptions and got back to dominating games. Over the final 6 games he was even better throwing 10 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. Rivers has thrown an average of 30 touchdowns and 4,400 over the last four seasons. Pretty darn good.
The top five quarterbacks are continued on page two.