The Top 5 Most Overrated Quarterbacks of All Time

We hear the same names over and over. Being pushed into our brains day in and day out. Some through popularity, some through statistical achievement's, and other's for all the wrong reason's. There are a lot of players out there through history who have gone unknown or have flown under the radar. There are also a lot of guys out there who have been praised or given credit for a lot of things that weren't soley depended on them. Here is a list of my top 10 overrated quarterbacks.

5: John Elway

Inducted into the hall of fame in 2004, with his two Super Bowl rings. Elway only passed for 4,000 yards twice in his career. His career high in passing touchdowns was 27 and had a TD/INT ratio of 1.3:1.

Denver won the Super Bowl in 1997 with Terrell Davis rushing for 1,750 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season and an overall 5th ranked defense. A repeat in the 1998 Super Bowl Terrell Davis had 2,008 yards and 21 touchdowns. You can't give Elway total credit for those Super Bowls.

Elway also didn't have his breakout season until about his 11th year in his career. Quarterbacks now days don't last three with those numbers. Elway had 300 touchdown passes in his career but only averaged 18.75 per season. In his first 9 seasons he passed for 158 touchdowns and 157 interceptions. Almost 1:1.

In the 3rd season of his career he posted 22 touchdown passes, but also threw 23 interceptions. It was another 7 years before he broke the 20 touchdown mark. He finished his career with a 56.9 completion percentage. Elway won games, has two Super Bowl rings but if he was playing in the current time period, would he have a job? Statistically, Elway wasn't any better than guys like Jake Delhomme, Kyle Orton, Jason Cambell, or the better majority of quarterbacks who are being questioned about their jobs today.

4: Archie Manning

Archie Manning was never really considered a great quarterback. With two sons in the NFL and the rising of Drew Brees you always hear his name. To those who don't know any better would assume that he was a great quarterback. In fifteen season's he had 23, 911 yards, 125 touchdowns, and 173 interceptions. He had 48 more interceptions than touchdowns. Also, never reached the playoffs in his career. His record as a starting quarterback was 35-101-3 and only completed 55.2% of his passes.

Drew Brees in only four seasons with New Orleans has 18, 298 yards, 122 touchdowns and 57 interceptions.

3: Phil Simms

Phil Simms, the great debater on Showtime's Inside the NFL, was a two-time pro bowler. If you listen to him talk you'd think he was one of the best. Simms only passed for over 4,000 yards once with a career high of 22 touchdowns along with 18 interceptions on that season. The very next season he put up 22 touchdowns again, along with 20 interceptions that time.

Simms had a 1.2:1 TD/INT ratio with 199 touchdowns and 157 interceptions. Simms finished his career with a 55.4 completion percentage.

2: Troy Aikman

Troy Aikman was a six-time pro bowler and was inducted into the hall of fame in 2006. He had six straight playoff appearances and won three Super Bowls.

Troy Aikman only passed for 20 or more touchdowns once in his career. His career high was 23 in 1992 and never did it again in his 11 season career.
The Dallas Cowboys also had the NFL record holder for career rushing yards Emmitt Smith during this time period. Dallas had a top ranked defense through most of their winning seasons with Aikman as quarterback.

Aikman never put up more than 4,000 yards passing. Not once. His career high was 3,445 yards. He threw 164 touchdowns and 141 interceptions, a ratio of 1.1:1. Aikman also only averaged 199.6 yards per game. Being surrounded by other hall of famers should have boosted his production, but only came out to be average.

1: Joe Namath

" Broadway Joe" was the first player in history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season. He only did that once, and then only passed for more than 3,000 yards twice. 3,379 yards was his second highest.

Joe Namath was a five-time pro bowler and was inducted in to the hall of fame in 1985 with one Super Bowl ring. In that Super Bowl Namath was 17 of 28 for 206 yards passing and well---thats it. Somehow that was enough to land him the Super Bowl MVP.

Namath threw 173 touchdowns in his career but also tossed 220 interceptions, thats a TD/INT ratio of .78:1. He also finished his career with a completion percent 50.1% and a career passer rating of 65.5. His record as starting quarterback was 62-63-4.