Brett Favre: Where Does He Rank Among the Top Gunslingers in NFL History?

To construct a list like this you have to set certain criteria because the term "gunslinger" is used so often and most times incorrectly in my opinion. So here are some basic ground rules for this list.

1) Strong Arm.

A gunslinger by definition is someone who is skilled with a rifle and when a gunslinger appears on the gridiron, he always seems to rifle it in there. A gunslinger should be someone who is willing to go deep and go deep often, one play away from jubilation or misery. A gunslinger in the NFL is sort of like a Ferrari when you're 50, he makes you feel alive and gets all the girls. Write that down.

2) Unpredictability.

Just like those of the Old West, this type of quarterback is unpredictable. You know going in that you're going to either see him put on an aerial display or see a bad episode of the Sopranos (Tony died guys, sorry.)

There will be plays in the game where you will see a gunslinger try a pass you know he shouldn't and no matter how many times he gets taken to the cleaners, he tries it again. This is where the term "shooting themselves in the foot," would come in nicely.

3) Swagger.

The last characteristic of a gunslinger for these purposes is playing within the moment and displaying that bit of swagger. A gunslinger for better or worse has no memory of what did or didn't work because they believe with their strong arm and their be all, end all mentality that whatever little sliver of a passing lane presents itself, they can find their way through it.

Even if just a few series' ago a defensive back took the same pass attempt back for six. This too however can be a great thing because even with struggles, at the end of the game a gunslinger believes he is under control and can sling his team to victory. 

Without further ado, here are the top five best gunslingers in NFL history.

5.Dan Fouts

Dan Fouts was a field general and expected his troops to step in line.

Running the ball when Dan Fouts was in San Diego was like asking Chad Ochocinco to let someone else talk, it wasn't going to happen. Fouts was a gunslinger because of his arm, swagger, attitude and let's be honest, that epic beard he sported every Sunday. 

Fouts wanted complete and utter control over his offense and he would expect perfection day in and day out. He played with a temper, that's for sure. Evidenced by the video above that suggests NFL Films had to use the expletive beep more times than James Earl Jones is asked to do his Darth Vader voice at dinner parties. 

Fouts's energy, intelligence and never say die mentality made his teammates believe they could do anything on any given Sunday.He was a six-time Pro Bowler (1979-1983 & 1985), threw for 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons from 1979 to 1981 (an impressive stat in those years), led the NFL in passing yards four consecutive years (1979-1982) and set what was then the league mark for passing yards in a season with 4,802 yards in 1981.

Fouts's stats may not hold up against today's prolific passers' but his ability to fit balls into tight spaces, his unwavering confidence and bravado made him a gunslinger to be reckoned with.  

4. Sonny Jurgensen

Sonny is the smallest gunslinger on this list but is one of the most prolific.

With Otto Graham as your offensive coordinator and the ability to hit a wide receiver on a dime, you're bound to be a pretty good pro. Sonny Jurgensen may be the second best pure passer on this list and another clear-cut gunslinger.

A five-time All-Pro and Pro-Bowler (1961, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969), Jurgensen set a plethora of records during his playing career including most single-season touchdown passes (32) and most passing yards (3,723) in 1961. In 1967, Jurgensen broke his own passing yards record with 3,747 yards, as well as NFL single-season records for attempts (508) and completions (288).

Although he only played in one game during the postseason in his career (at the age of 40 in his final season) Jurgensen played bigger than he was and more athletically then he seemed. At 5'11'' with a pot belly, he didn't look much like a pro athlete but come Sunday afternoon he was one of the best.

What made him a gunslinger other than his arm was the nightlife he partook in, his fearlessness and his nasty demeanor on the football field. He played without fear despite being small and looking like Homer Simpson. Kudos to you Sonny. 

3. Sammy Baugh

Sammy Baugh was the first gunslinger in NFL history.

With a nickname like Slingin' Sammy Baugh and 10-gallon hats to spare, Baugh was the definition of a gunslinger and was the first of his kind. Many argue he is the greatest quarterback of all-time because he revolutionized the forward pass and was the first to play the quarterback position as it is played today. 

Baugh still holds two NFL records: The most seasons leading the league in passing (six, tied with Steve Young) and the most seasons with the lowest interception percentage (five). Many will argue he played against lesser talent and that because so few teams passed like Baugh and the Redskins, that defenses were not properly prepared for his passing attack.

Which could be true but then you have to consider that he threw with a ball that was bigger and rounder on each end, unlike the aerodynamic leather creature that Peyton Manning throws around today. It made it almost impossible to throw a spiral and twice as difficult to throw, period.

Probably what makes Baugh a gunslinger more so than his passing accolades, was his personality. Raw and unpolished, he had the mouth of a sailor and the swagger of John Wayne. He was also the toughest quarterback in his era and maybe in NFL history. During a time when there were no face masks, Baugh caught a few to the face but always made sure to administer a little order.

He once threw a ball at a lineman right between the eyes after he repeatedly punched Baugh in the face. How's that for pass protection? He played with grit and toughness and wasn't afraid to tell you he was the best.

"You gotta feel as if, you're the best son of bitch that's out there."

2. Dan Marino

Dan Marino had the quickest release and fit passes into tight spots, a gunslinger without a doubt.

In the Wild West you needed two things: a good horse and a quick draw. I'm not sure if Dan Marino owns any horses but he sure in the hell had the quickest draw in NFL history.

You can say what you want to about Marino, the number of championships he didn't win or how inflated his numbers are because the Dolphins decided to drop everything and just let Dan throw. But when it came down to it, Marino is one of the most prolific passers and gunslingers of all-time. 

You may not be able to imagine him in a cowboy hat with whiskey in one hand and a pistol in the other but as far as I'm concerned, on the football field, he is the best pure passer in league history and a gunslinger by definition.

He had the quickest release in league history, had probably the best field vision of any passer to pop on a chin strap and set record after record.

The numbers are well documented and before Brett Favre got a hold of them, he owned every significant passing record in the book. A nine-time Pro Bowler and one-time league MVP, Marino owned the skies in Miami and pretty much anywhere else he decided to visit. We're talking about a guy who threw for 61,361 yards (a lot of air space) and 420 touchdown passes.

But to be considered a gunslinger, numbers do not mean as much as the way you play the game and Marino's confidence was pretty much unparalleled during his 17-year career. He once told Bill Walsh something along the lines that he didn't worry about second or third reads, he just throw to who he thought was open.

Marino didn't worry about how well covered a receiver was. He was going to hit that wideout and in stride.

1. Brett Favre

Whether you love him or hate him, Brett Favre is a gunslinger and the best of them all.

Brett Favre is a polarizing figure and I will gurantee that I will receive many comments on how overrated this guy is or how big of a jerk or egomaniac he might be. But just like Brett, I simply don't care what people are going to say, I'm giving you my honest opinion and I'm sure many would agree that Brett Favre is the greatest "gunslinger" of all-time.

Footwork and proper mechanics never mattered much to Brett. If a throw needs to be made off a back foot, he will do it. Heck, even if it doesn't need to be, he will. He plays the game with a swagger, a passion and has had his fair share of gutsy performances over the years. His playing style would be best described as reckless and I'm pretty sure he doesn't know what a bad throw is. 

This style has cost his teams plenty of games but evidenced by the number of wins in his career (181) compared to his losses (104), that same style has won plenty of football games as well. Brett Favre has thrown the most touchdowns, yards and interceptions in league history.Which can be attributed to his longevity, consistently impressive play and erratic throwing style.

Whether you love him or hate him, Favre's gunslinger style makes him fun to watch in victory or defeat.