John Elway: Overrated QB, or Savior to Denver Broncos Fans?

Recently, I got to experience something disturbing. It was mentally unstable, openly hostile, and if it was in person, I think it would have tried to eat children.

Surprisingly, it wasn't a Raider fan, but just the opposite.

I was on the other end, of a Denver Bronco fan's tirade, about who was the most overrated QB in NFL history?

To me, putting Elway at the top of this list, was like telling someone that Jesus Christ wasn't the Son of God. Two guys, in particular, were openly livid, actively sending snide comments, instead of actually defending their QB. One's opinion, was that my opinion didn't matter, because, "I'm a Stupid Raider fan".

Funny, last time I heard, I'm not even mentioned on John Elway's stats page, either.

Here's the major problems, I have with Elway's greatness:

First of all, for most of his career, he was a great thrower, but couldn't deliver in the big games. 3 Super Bowl losses, after great seasons, was illustrating the problem in Denver.

Secondly, over time, you had to surround him with a cast, that could help him do it....but, like a great super bowl team, then, it's more about the team concept, than a single player. With Denver, the first major piece arrived in 1990, in Shannon Sharpe. Then, Along came Terrell Davis, 5 years later. And the last, was Rod Smith, who helped give the Denver a legit 3 pronged attack.

Now, a lot of their arguments, on this case, was still, only Elway could have led this team to the Super Bowl. Not really. I'd bet, that if Dan Marino had these weapons, he could have won it all. Or, say, Steve McNair. Thing is, you look at how much of the team took the heat off of the QB, the QB then becomes redundant.

Another point, to look at, is where do you draw the line, on the passing being more of the QB's specialty, than the WR/TE's job of getting that ball, and running like a bat out of hell? Shannon Sharpe already proved, he had the tools. Rod Smith, I still don't know how he went undrafted, had a great set of hands. And in the last season, Elway wasn't anywhere near his glory years....22 TDs, and 10 picks....meanwhile, TD, had over 2000 yards.

Does this mean, Shanahan was worried that Elway would blunder somewhere along the line? Or does it mean, that Elway, simply had to make sure he didn't do something totally foolish, like a bad pass, that would come back to haunt them?

In a way, I think a lot of questions, can be brought out, not just because of the two super bowl years, but as well, the previous season, in 1996.

Elway, had a decent year, but not overpowering. 26 TDs, 14 picks, over 3000 yards. This translated into a 13-3 season, but it also had a bad ending, when their march in the playoffs ended when the Jags upset them in Denver.

Shannon Sharpe got 10 TDs, TD got 13 on the ground, but to an effect, it looks a lot like Elway was still trying to use will, over teamwork, to get through the playoffs.

The following year, it seems something finally got through to Elway. again, high 20s for TDs, 11 picks, but TD went wild, with 1750 yards, 15 TDs, and both Sharpe and Smith broke the 1000 yard mark.

Result? They finally won their first Super Bowl.

Now, what was the major difference, between this season, and say, 1986?

A lot of it, I think went into the chemistry of the team. If you have a great QB, but fail to give him targets that can catch the ball, or a Running Back to take some of the load off, you're wasting his skills.

Same thing goes the other way. You can have great WRs, but if your quarterbacks are spending more time on the turf, than in the pocket, it's going to be hard, to find your man open in the midfield.

I'll stick by the argument, that Elway was on two teams, that won the Super Bowl. But he didn't win them, by himself.

If it wasn't for Terrell Davis, and a good supporting cast, Elway's legacy, would probably rank up there with Jim Kelly and Fran Tarkenton.

And if you think Elway's the greatest ever?

Now I know you're dreaming.