The AFC has Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Both are elite QBs that can lead their teams to victory. Both are Super Bowl MVPs and both will one day be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
The NFC, however, has two great QBs, but it would be hard to place them in the elite column. Tony Romo and Drew Brees are great in the same respect: They both are the leaders behind two of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses. They both have their go-to guy—Romo and T.O., and Brees with Colston—but neither has made it to a Super Bowl.
Both Romo and Brees play the position with different styles. Romo is an ad-lib guy, and Brees uses a more strategic approach to the game. Brees is married and is more settled. Brees spends his offseason doing charity work and promoting his Drew Brees Foundation.
Romo is single and likes dating the next best thing. He does charity work, but more than often can be found doing red-carpet premiers.
Now, what a person does in his down time does not mean he will be better or worse at the sport he plays. It is just odd how they can be total opposites in personalities, but be two of the best QBs in the game today.
Brees entered the league in 2001 via the draft. Brees spent a year holding a clipboard, and then was given a chance to play, having a not so great start. But then in 2004, with Philip Rivers waiting to take over, had his best year ever. In 2006, Brees was brought in by New Orleans to be their franchise QB, even though he was still recovering from shoulder injury.
Romo was an undrafted free agent in 2003 for the Dallas Cowboys. He was the third-string QB and was almost lost in the shuffle when the Cowboys decided to bring in veteran Drew Bledsoe. He then spent three-and-a-half years waiting for his chance.
Both Romo and Brees have two Pro Bowl selections a piece, and they both benefit greatly from an outstanding supporting cast of running backs and wide receivers.
The one thing in common they both have is that Romo was with coach Payton in Dallas, and Brees now plays for the third-year head coach for New Orleans.
If you look at their 2007 stats, Romo had a Pro Bowl year, with 4,211-yards passing,
36 TD, 19 INT, and 97.4 passer rating. Brees finished the year with 4,423-yards passing, 28 TD, 18 INT, and 89.4 passer rating.
Romo clearly had a better year, statistically, but Dallas also had a better defense that allowed Romo to play with Dallas ahead most of the time. Brees played most games with a sense of urgency and needed to score because the Saints' defense was one of the worst in the league.
So, after pondering for a few minutes, weighing in all the evidence, and with much deliberation: Drew Brees gets the edge over Tony Romo as the best QB in the NFC.
Let me know what you think.
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7 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
TexasCowboy 10 months ago
Yet another ridiculous comparison neither have have won a super bowl
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Robert Lewis 10 months ago
I stated in the article that neither have one a super bowl!?
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Kelley Ritchey 10 months ago
I think it's Romo. As you suggested, the stats show Romo had the better year.
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Robert Lewis 10 months ago
Statistics say allot, but I think Brees has some intangibles, that Romo does not with leadership. Thats not to say Romo cannot learn them, as his gains more experience.
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Kelley Ritchey 10 months ago
OK. I don't mean to suggest it's all the statistics. Clearly, field leadership and similar factors could have a role.
However, on the point in your post regarding game situation (team ahead or behind), my own proprietary stats where both QBs are in a competitive game, Romo has the edge. Again, based on statistics only.
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Paul Augustin, Jr. 10 months ago
Brees led a less talented team to an NFC championship game. Romo couldn't win one playoff game with 13 pro bowlers. My pick is Brees.
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Robert Lewis 10 months ago
Exactly, Thats why I gave Brees the edge, his top receiver is a 7th round draft pick, with no one set at the #2 spot at all last year, he did not have a great TE to throw to, and the running game was void last year. To over come those issues and still play like he did, he is the better QB in my book.
Romo is good, but he has a great supporting cast.
We will see after this year, both teams are almost equal in talent on offense, but having a great defense, that allows you to make a mistake, and stay in the game is a great option. Brees does not have that, they must score everytime they have the ball if they want to win.
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