Right Place, Right Time: Tom Brady and 7 Overrated Super Bowl-Winning QBs

This February, fans across the nation will tune into Super Bowl XLV.  It will be the one time of year where football enthusiasts throw rivalries aside (save for those whose teams are playing) and unite behind their love of the game.

In most cases, a lot of focus is put on the two quarterbacks competing against each other.  I was reading up on Super Bowl history last night and in looking at the career numbers of some of the winning quarterbacks, it astounded me just how much credit they were given not just in the Super Bowl(s) they won but in their entire careers as well.

Get ready to hate me once again, fans and readers!  This is my countdown of the 7 most overrated Super Bowl winning quarterbacks of all time!

7: Eli Manning

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Eli Manning of the New York Giants rolls out of the pocket while playing the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Now, I know it might be a little early to write the younger Manning off as overrated, but hear me out on this one.

In Super Bowl XLII, the Giants' win was nothing short of a miracle.  Manning escaped what would have been a devastating sack on any other quarterback, and connected with David Tyree in what has come to be known as "The Catch."

Manning's postseason that year was spectacular as he threw six touchdown passes and only one interception.  However, his postseason numbers before 2007 were just awful, as he was only good for one touchdown and three interceptions.

Many saw 2007 as a turning point for him, but he went back to his old ways in 2008 as he threw no touchdowns and two interceptions as the Giants were eliminated after one game.  With a tendency to throw interceptions along with being stuck on an underachieving Giants team, Eli Manning kicks off this list.

6: Johnny Unitas

Unitas is lauded by many football fans as one of the best quarterbacks of all time, if not the greatest ever.  Looking at his career honors, I understand why.

In 17 seasons, Unitas made 10 Pro Bowls and won three MVP awards.  Still, I've got to call him overrated.

Looking at his career stats, he really only had two great years; 1958 and 1959, when he and the Baltimore Colts won the NFL Championship.

At age 37, he won Super Bowl V against a tough defensive Dallas Cowboys team thanks to a miraculous fourth quarter comeback.  Long story short, he got lucky.

Also, like the previously mentioned Eli Manning, Unitas was prone to throwing interceptions.  In his 17 seasons, he threw 20 or more picks five times!  Ultimately finishing with 290 touchdowns, 253 interceptions and an average passer rating of 78.2, I hardly think that Johnny Unitas is one of the greatest.  I know the game has changed since he played, but the numbers don't lie!

5: Troy Aikman

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2 Nov 1998: Quarterback Troy Aikman #8 of the Dallas Cowboys prepares to throw a pass during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. S

Despite winning three Super Bowl rings and making six Pro Bowls, Troy Aikman makes this list.

In his 12 seasons, Aikman never won an MVP Award and compared to some of the other quarterbacks of his generation, his numbers are fairly modest (165 touchdowns, 141 interceptions).  Plus, the former No. 1 overall pick only threw more than 20 touchdown passes in a season once!

Let's be honest, folks.  Troy Aikman wasn't the top reason the Cowboys won so many Super Bowls in the '90s.  The main men behind those titles were running back Emmitt Smith and that strong Dallas defense.

Along with an average passer rating of 81.6, Troy Aikman makes No. 5 on this list.

4: Peyton Manning

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass against the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Jets won 17

For those who want to start writing hate mail, now would be a good time.

I know that Peyton Manning has won four MVP awards.  I know that he has made 11 Pro Bowls.  Throw any stats you want at me.  I still think he's overrated.

When for a good portion of your career, you have Tony Dungy as your head coach and as a result are playing in a consistently throw-deep offense, your numbers are going to be inflated.  On top of that, you aren't going to get sacked much and will have more opportunities to go deep when you have a rock-solid offensive line in front of you.

Plus, Manning's lone Super Bowl win came against a Chicago Bears team that was tremendous on defense, but total crap on offense thanks to having Turnoversaurus Rex Grossman at quarterback.  Last year, he was matched up against a well-balanced team in the New Orleans Saints.  Needless to say, the man got taken to school.

3: Terry Bradshaw

Before I go into why he's on this list, let's have a look at Terry Bradshaw's career honors.  He made three Pro Bowls, won four Super Bowls, and one MVP Award.  I hate to say it, Steelers fans, but Bradshaw isn't exactly what I'd call an elite quarterback.

In 14 seasons, he threw a very respectable 212 touchdown passes.  However, he also had 210 career interceptions and thus his passer rating was a less than average 70.9

His Super Bowl record can be chalked up to two key factors: running back Franco Harris's natural running talent (not to mention his Immaculate Reception) and Mean Joe Greene leading that dangerous defense known as the Steel Curtain.

Even today when I watch him on Fox NFL Sunday, I can't help but think of Terry Bradshaw as the Peyton Manning of his time.  AKA, someone who got lucky and placed in the right system

2: Tom Brady

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 12: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks for a receiver against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Patriots defeated the Bears 36-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

There's no doubt in my mind that Tom Brady will one day be enshrined in Canton.  The man has made six Pro Bowls, won three Super Bowls and has one MVP award to his name.

Still, I'm not going to give him any credit whatsoever for his accomplishments.  He has a strong offensive line protecting him (although said strength is debatable after last weekend) and evidence suggests that for a good majority of his career, he has had an unfair advantage thanks to Patriots coach Bill Belichick secretly videotaping opposing teams' defensive signals during games.

Since Spygate, teams have seemed to figure out New England's approach.  What was once a top-ranked defensive squad is now one that finished 25th in the NFL this season.

Also, let's be honest.  Had Drew Bledsoe not gotten hurt during that one fateful game in 2001, I don't think that we'd be talking about Brady today.  In fact, it's safe to say that the former sixth-round pick probably wouldn't even be in the NFL anymore.  Long story short, with inflated stats and especially after losing a Super Bowl to a Giants team that the Patriots should have blown out of the water, Brady makes this list.

1: Joe Namath

To this day, it astounds me that Joe Namath is a Hall of Fame quarterback.  The man is pretty much known for one game in his entire career.  Other than that, his numbers are simply atrocious.

In 13 seasons, Namath threw for 173 touchdowns and a ridiculous 220 interceptions.  That gives him a passer rating of 65.5, and he's still in the Pro Football Hall of Fame????  Come on...

People can go on and on about how he was the NFL's first media superstar and how he "evolved" the quarterback position, but I'm not buying it.  The man has one big honor under his belt, to go with just one Pro Bowl appearance.  I hate to say it, but the man known as "Broadway Joe" just isn't good enough to have his name in lights.