Where Have All the Great Quarterbacks Gone?

As I watched my Detroit Lions take the field with a fourth quarter lead against the Buccaneers this past Sunday, I couldn’t help but be overcome by a sense of dread.

As a Lions fan, I’ve seen my fair share of Jon Kitna—and I know what he’s capable of in a tight spot.

I’ve seen him throw the ball directly to opposing defenders. I’ve seen his lack of pocket awareness result in fumbles. I've even seen him throw the ball straight up into the air while being pursued by a defensive end.

A 16-7 lead, in other words, was anything but safe.

I sat there wishing the Lions' starting QB were Tom Brady, or Carson Palmer, or Peyton Manning, or...or...

Then it hit me:

There's a serious drought of dependable quarterbacks in the NFL today.

I’m not talking about the so-called “game managers”—but rather the type of QB who can make plays and carry a team to victory.

Back when I first began paying attention to the game during the late 80s and early 90s, there were plenty of top-tier quarterbacks—guys like Montana and Elway and Marino and Aikman.

Unfortunately, they seem to have been the last of a dying breed.

Instead, we’ve had to settle for guys like Elvis Grbac, Chris Chandler, Jeff Garcia, Kordell Stewart, and Brad Johnson. While some of them proved to be winners, they never exuded an air of dominance on the field.

In crunch time, when their team was down and needed a drive to win a game, there was always a seed of doubt as to whether they'd be able to pull it off.

With the likes of Montana and Co., it was never a question of IF they could do it—only of how.

This year we've had fans chanting for the likes of Brian Griese and Byron Leftwich. I'll pause here and let you think about that for a second.

Are you prepared to live in a world where Brian Griese is looked upon as the answer at QB?

Because, quite frankly, I’m not.

Right now, you could argue there are only four QBs in the league who can measure up to the past generation: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, and Carson Palmer.

After that, there's a collection of guys who seem like they could be headed in the right direction—but for various reasons just aren't there yet.

To wit:

Ben Roethlisberger

Great arm, good mobility, but something is missing. He can kill you just as easily as he can make an unbelievable throw. In time, he has a chance to break into the elite group.

Donovan McNabb

One of the elite QBs in the NFL once upon a time—but injuries have taken their toll. As McNabb's mobility has decreased, his limitations as a pocket QB have become readily apparent.

Unfortunately, he won’t play the Lions every week, and I don’t see him reestablishing himself as one of the greats.

Marc Bulger

Certainly has the numbers, and makes very smart decisions with the football. His rib injury and the loss of Orlando Pace have really derailed his season though—and because of this I hesitate to elevate him unless he can bounce back next year.

Drew Brees

The enigma. Once on the outs in San Diego, Brees emerged as a great QB in New Orleans. However, the Saints and their signal caller have looked abysmal this year. I need to see how he responds to the early-season woes before deciding on Brees' status.

Vince Young

His numbers are ugly and his delivery is awkward, but there's something about Young that instills confidence in teammates and fans alike. If he can keep getting better, he’ll go down as one of the best in this generation.

 

The rest of the field is populated by unproven youngsters and journeyman vets. Maybe it's just that I expect too much from QBs—but it doesn't seem excessive to ask that at least a third of NFL quarterbacks be truly exceptional.

It's happened before, after all—and there's no reason it can't happen again.

That's why I'll continue to root for guys like Matt Leinart, Jay Cutler, Alex Smith, and Trent Edwards to develop. It may not help my Lions, but it'd be good for the game of football.