Scramblin' Man: Top Ten Out Of Pocket Quarterbacks

There are tons of great qualitites that make up an NFL quarterback. One of the most underrated is the ability to avoid the rush and make plays. This list is my opinion on who the top 10 scrambling* quarterbacks in NFL history are.

10. Archie Manning

The father of Football's First Family didn't choose to become a scrambler so much as it was forced upon him by a porous Saints offensive line. His scrambling ability made him a good quarterback on some of the worst teams in NFL history. He wasn't afraid to take a hit, and was difficult to bring down.

9. Steve McNair

The late great Steve McNair was NEVER afraid to get knocked down, which made for some physical plays once he got out of the pocket. He could barrel downfield and take down several defenders before they finally got the better of him. Somewhere, he is running down the likes of Derrick Thomas.

8. Ben Roethlisberger

Roethlisberger showed us all what he can do as a rookie. He is low on the list because he doesn't run the ball. He is great, however, at extending the play. With the Steelers O-line in question last season, he was still able to scramble the Steelers all the way to a Super Bowl victory. Give him time, and he will move up.

7. John Elway

John Elway's most famous run came years after his best scrambling years were behind him, in Super Bowl XXXII. He showed that he could take a hit after being spun around in the air by two Packers defenders. John was a great athlete who also played baseball, so he knew the value of toughness. He kept many drives alive with his feet.

6. Michael Vick

The reason that Vick isn't higher on this list is the fact that he doesn't have a great arm, so most of his scrambles turned into rushes. That, and his two years in prison. Regardless, he is one of the most exciting players to watch. Anytime he breaks loose for a run, it has big play possibility.

5. Steve Young

Steve Young was able to tuck the ball in and run on a great number of plays for an already explosive 49ers offense. With an offense around him that lit up the scoreboard, Young was able to set the record for career rushing TDs by a quarterback since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, with 43. He trails only Otto Graham, who had 44.

Which begs the question: Why is Graham not on this list?

Graham played in an age where most footballs and football stadiums were poorly made. Rugged balls and poor weather protection made the quarterback's main job to run the ball. As such, Graham had many more attempts than Young.

4. Roger Staubach

Roger Staubach was great, and could have been better had Tom Landry not suppressed his run-and-gun style. He ran for 2,264 yards in his career, with 20 touchdowns to boot.

3. Donovan McNabb

McNabb is tops among active QBs in all rushing categories. He seems to be slowing down a bit since missing some time due to injury in 2005. He only ran for 147 yards last season, and has never approached his career high of 629 that he set in 1999. He still maintains that he is not a scrambling quarterback, even though I consider him one of the greatest.

2. Fran Tarkenton

Fran Tarkenton was probably the original scrambler. He ran for 3,674 yards in a career than spanned 17 years. However, he ranks fifth all-time in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns, many of which were created by his ability to make plays out of the pocket.

1. Randall Cunningham

Randall Cunningham, who bears a striking resemblance to Tecmo Bowl player QB Eagles leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards with 4,928 yards on 775 carries. Many see him as a pure speed demon, but some remember in 1990 when he dodged many Bills tacklers, including Hall of Famer Bruce Smith, to fire a 95-yard TD to Fred Barnett. He tops my list of the Top 10 Scrambling Quarterbacks of All Time.

Honorable Mentions: Doug Flutie, Steve Grogan, Vince Young

Tell me what you think and what your list is!

*Scrambling here is defined by how well a quarterback ran downfield, made plays out of the pocket, and was able to take a big hit. Stats are a nice added bonus, but they really didn't influence the rankings much.