What Makes a Quarterback Great?

There is a lot of talk about who is the greatest Quarterback playing today. Depending on which team you support, your answer may be different.

If you go to Indianapolis, and talk to Colts fans, the one thing they all will say is the numbers. Peyton Manning is the greatest to ever play the game, and there is no discussion to them.

If you go to New England, Pats fans will be quick to say stats are somewhat important, but if you look at Tom Brady, there is no one in the league today that comes close.

Travel south to Pittsburgh, and Steelers fans will say that the numbers mean nothing, and the only thing that matters is the hardware in the trophy case.

Depending on who is your team, your answer to what it takes to be the best is going to change. But there are some things that all of these men have in common—ice in their veins.

I was watching America's Game on the San Francisco 49ers from their first Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. The offensive linemen that was on the show, (sorry, I don't remember his name), said that Joe Montana willed his team to win.

Prior to the final drive, with 2:00 left on the clock, during the time out, the 49ers were the length of the field away from the winning score. As Montana made it to the huddle, everyone was a bunch of nerves.

As they waited for the ref to blow his whistle to start the play clock, Montana pointed out to everyone that John Candy was standing in the other end zone.

What? Why is this guy looking at the celebrities in the end zone? Because he was as cool as ice. It was another game, another drive. It was business as usual.

There are 11 men on offense, but only one can be the leader. If that player is anyone other than the man under center, then your team is in trouble.

Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Ben Roethlisberger are this man. They have proved that in the tightest situation, they are going to hold their head up and make the play.

There are people that have yet to win that coveted ring, that you can tell still have it.  Carson Palmer and Drew Brees both have rocket arms, and do as good as they can with little help from the other side of the ball.

Then there are the question marks: Philip Rivers and Tony Romo.

There is no question looking at their stats that Rivers and Romo have the ability to put the numbers up. They are both on teams that have great defenses. They are both on teams that feature above average running games.

The question then lies, why have they not had the success of the Mannings and Bradys and Roethlisbergers?

There is one man that the team looks to when things are on the line: The Quarterback.  If he has ice in his veins and the team knows he can get them where they need to be—they respond.

If they don't, then it is another long offseason.