Revised:The NFL Greatest Of The Great QB's: Who Really Seperates Into Elite?

I have come across some good article's, debate's, and insight's about the always interesting subject of greatest QB's of all-time and their legacy's standing in the history of the NFL.

I've personally disagreed,agreed and also learned great deal's from all of them one way or another, but all bring good debate's on their respective point's and feeling's.

And even if they are biased and show obvious personal favoritism's from the heart and immaturity that get's in the way at time's of more level-headed, neutral, and open-minded reasoning....I still respect all efforts of opinion's, insight's, and point's of view's. 

After absorbing a lot of point of view's, opinion's and insight to combine with my own, I have chosen to write my own article to give my insight.

In my opinion, I feel most fan's and writer's confuse rightfully attempting to identify, categorize, and bring solid definition's to separate into that next level of the very best/greatest of all-time honor's ABOVE those who are part of the all-time great's group.  

Quarterback's with more experiences in post-season are easier to rightfully separate and categorize properly. That plays an important factor when considering which QB's enter the discussion to me.

I think it eliminates leaving the door open for foolish ridicule of the Trent Dilfers' and Jeff Hostettlers' weighing in to shift one's belief's conveniently to diminish the more rightful campaigns against one's own wishy-washy, weaker personal reasoning's to just hate on one for another's more liking.

Not to take anything away from or the importance and play of the smaller-ball style's of the Dilfers' or Hostettlers' for what they actually did, because good for those guys and I give them more credit than I think most do for being professional and playing well enough within their team's scheme to not crumble under that mega-microscope of pressure in an ultimate pressure-like condition and for not making crucial, untimely mistake's to cost their team's championship win's....that still hold's weight regardless of their supporting members. 

However, I think any of us common-sense, level-headed fan's are not going to put those type's of QB's postseason minimal experience's (thou in their biggest/most important career games) up against the great's like Manning, Favre, or Marino campaigns.

Although number of Ring's does hold weight when it comes down to separating maybe one great over another, Ive always felt it's not just about number of ring's you posses as much as it ultimately comes down to being about:

HOW THEY PLAY AND RAISE THEIR LEVEL IN THEIR CAREER'S MOST IMPORTANT AND  ULTIMATE PRESSURE GAMES, TIME AFTER TIME.

The overall actual play and handling of their good amount of postseason and Super Bowl experience's when it matters the most to lead a team in 

1) the most highly pressured position of QB and...

2) In the Ultimate pressured games and most important of their career's.

To me, that's what actually separates into the Upper-Tier, Best or Greatest  All-Time Elite group of the likes among: Montana, Starr, Staubach, Bradshaw, Brady, Aikman, Elway, or possibly even Plunkett or Stabler, Warner and even Roethlisberger has a solid case right now...Regardless of how much better or less their overall regular season stats, MVP award's, or record's they may or may not have earned thru-out their overall Regular Season combined career's.

Overall Regular season and career winning %, MVP Award's,Record's,and  Stats breakdown's are all fine and good for ranking their weight and legacy as an All-Time Great.

But it's that call of having to raise the level and lead for the elevated ,ultimate pressure of Post-Season is what defines who the Greatest and Very Best weigh into that Upper-Tier Elite Group of All-Time Greatness.

I simplify the breakdown guideline's in judging Post-Season performance to define that Elite ranking like this:
1)  raising overall average of regular season performance
2)  Game winning drives
3)  making crucial/untimely decisions and mistakes that cost your team a win without being able to overcome it personally more times than not
4) Winning % / Record
5) # of SB Rings
6) Winning more times than not in the earlier portion of one's career= higher winning to failure ratio at a younger less experienced time in career.

Unfortunately, That is were I will contest the All-Time great's like Favre, Marino, and Manning dont make it (in Manning's case...yet). Rightfully, these ALL-Time great's impressive regular season stats, mvp stature's, style's, longevity, consistency, abilities, or being better "preparer's" and "student's of the game" have contributed to their greatness to earn being in that respective group, however, just not among the Upper-Tier, Best or Greatest All-time Elite group.