NFL Quarterbacks: The Best of the Best
One of the funnest arguments here on Bleacher is the battle over which team has the best QB.
If someone writes an article that is pro-Peyton Manning, Colts fans are there to defend it to the end, while fans of other teams are quick to point out all the things that could lead to Manning not being God's Gift to Football.
Same thing goes for Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers and all of the other starters in the league.
I have worked my fingers (computer) to the bone working on a new formula to rate the QBs in the league. No, this is not a perfect system. There are going to have to be corrections and tweaks. Feel free to let me know what you think is fair, and if I should change the point value for a certain topic.
Point System
QB Rating - Points (If rating is a 98.4, then he gets 98 points—rounded to the nearest number.)
TDs - plus-10
Interceptions - minus-10
Completion percentage - Points
Wins - plus-7
Loses - minus-7
All teams / players will then be given a grade based on their overall average.
Grades will be as follows.
A - 4
B - 5
C - 5
D - 5
F - 4
All of these numbers are based on the players' 2010 stats. This is not an all-time list. What a player will do in 2011 has nothing to do with what has happened prior to 2010. (I know that it has nothing really to do with 2010 either, but what else is there to write about during a lockout?)
There are a total of NINE teams that receive an automatic INCOMPLETE, because they did not have a starting QB that produced enough stats to be recorded on ESPN's stat page, where I got the information for this article.
There are some on here that are gong to surprise you, because they shocked me as well. All I ask is, please decide before going to the first slide whether you think the formula I am using is fair.
Thanks and enjoy the slide show.
Exclusions
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For this list to be accurate, we are going to have to eliminate the teams that do not have a returning starter from last year.
We can not create an equation based on players that are no longer with the team or have not had a player that has ever been a professional starter before.
Excluded from this list, all receiving an F grade are:
Colt McCoy of the Cleveland Browns, Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions and Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys did not complete enough stats to be ranked in ESPN's stats sheet, which is where I am getting the numbers for this article, therefore the Browns, Lions and Cowboys are also being excluded from this list.
If you are a fan of any of these teams, I am sorry that I could not include your team in this list. I am more sorry that your 2011 season is probably going to be a complete nightmare. Good luck with that.
Seattle Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck, F
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Point System
QB Rating - 73
TD's - plus-120
Interceptions - minus-170
Completion percentage - 60
Wins - plus-48
Loses - minus-63
Total Points - 58
Per Game - 4.53
It is obviously nearing the end of the line for a once above-average QB in Hasselbeck. Seattle made the playoffs in 2010 by winning the worst division in the last 20 years.
Miami Dolphins: Chad Henne, F
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Point System
QB Rating - 75
TD's - plus-150
Interceptions - minus-190
Completion percentage - 61
Wins - plus-56
Loses - minus-63
Total Points - 89
Per Game - 5.56
To say that the Miami Dolphins are in the market for a real starting QB would be an understatement. Being that I am not a huge Vince Young fan, I believe that the Dolphins NEED to make a play for someone, ANYONE, that can play better than Henne, or they may have the chance to draft Andrew Luck in 2012.
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St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, F
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Point System
QB Rating - 77
TD's - plus-180
Interceptions - minus-150
Completion percentage - 60
Wins - plus-42
Loses - minus-63
Total Points - 146
Per Game - 9.125
Buffalo Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick, F
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Point System
QB Rating - 82
TD's - plus-230
Interceptions - minus-150
Completion percentage - 58
Wins - plus-28
Loses - minus-84
Total Points - 164
Per Game -10.25
Prior to writing this article, I thought that the Bills did the right thing by not drafting a QB early in the 2011 NFL draft. Now, I am starting to think differently.
San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith, D-
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Point System
QB Rating - 82
TD's - plus-140
Interceptions - minus-100
Completion percentage - 60
Wins - plus-21
Loses - minus-56
Total Points - 147
Per Game - 13.36
Even though Smith is an unrestricted free agent and the 49ers spent their second-round draft pick on his replacement, head coach Jim Harbaugh has given Smith the playbook and stated that he wants him to return for at least this season.
This year could be the last in Smiths pro career unless he can turn things around and become valuable as a back up with another team.
New York Jets: Mark Sanchez, D
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Point System
QB Rating - 75
TD's - plus-170
Interceptions - minus-130
Completion percentage - 55
Wins - plus-77
Loses - minus-30
Total Points - 217
Per Game - 13.56
Though Sanchez has not had the success of other QB's in the NFL, he still has led his team to the AFC Championship game the last two seasons running, including knocking the top-seeded New England Patriots from the 2010 NFL Playoffs.
As long as Sanchez continues to play his best games when the stage is the biggest, the Jets have a chance at success, regardless of the numbers on this list.
Jacksonville Jaguars: David Garrard, D
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Point System
QB Rating - 91
TD's - plus-230
Interceptions - minus-150
Completion percentage - 65
Wins - plus-56
Loses - minus-56
Total Points - 236
Per Game - 14.74
The Jaguars obviously don't have very much faith in David Garrard, having traded up in the first round to select Blaine Gabbart. Garrard is going to have to prove himself in 2011 if he wants to have a chance of catching on with another team in 2012.
New York Giants: Eli Manning, D
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Point System
QB Rating - 85
TD's - plus-310
Interceptions - minus-250
Completion percentage - 63
Wins - plus- 70
Loses - minus-42
Total Points - 236
Per Game - 14.75
Coming out of the 2004 NFL draft, Eli Manning, who was believed to be close to as good as his brother Peyton, is arguably the worst from the big three of the class of 2004.
Houston Texans: Matt Schaub, D+
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Point System
QB Rating - 92
TD's - plus-240
Interceptions - minus-120
Completion percentage - 64
Wins - plus-42
Loses - minus-70
Total Points - 248
Per Game - 15.5
Though the Texans believe that they have the future of the position with Schaub, something is going to have to improve other than the defense if the Texans are going to make their first ever trip to the postseason in 2011.
Denver Broncos: Kyle Orton, C-
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Point System
QB Rating -88
TD's - plus-200
Interceptions - minus-90
Completion percentage -59
Wins - plus-21
Loses - minus-70
Total Points - 208
Per Game - 16
Though no one is sure if Kyle Orton is even going to be on the Broncos in 2011, I personally believe that the Broncos best chance of winning is Orton. John Elway is the man in charge and has high hopes for Tim Tebow. This could be the decision that makes or breaks not only Elway, but the Broncos as well.
Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler, C
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Point System
QB Rating - 86
TD's - plus-230
Interceptions - minus-160
Completion percentage - 60
Wins - plus-77
Loses - minus-35
Total Points - 258
Per Game - 16.125
For all the good that Jay Cutler may have done during the regular season, much of it was ruined when many feel he quit in the NFC Championship game. If Cutler is going to be the leader of this team, the team needs to believe in him. If they do, 2011 could be a great year for Cutler. If they don't, Cutler won't be in Chicago in 2012.
Oakland Raiders: Jason Campbell, C
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Point System
QB Rating - 85
TD's - plus-130
Interceptions - minus-80
Completion percentage - 59
Wins - plus-56
Loses - minus-35
Total Points - 215
Per Game - 16.538
It appears that the Raiders have settled on Jason Campbell as their starter, even though the head coach that brought the Raiders their first non-losing season since their Super Bowl was fired, who knows what is happening in Oakland?
In Washington, Campbell had to change his offensive coordinator every year he was there. It will be nice to see how he does with a little continuity.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, C
14 of 24
Point System
QB Rating - 91
TD's - plus-330
Interceptions - minus-220
Completion percentage - 68
Wins - plus-77
Loses - minus-35
Total Points - 311
Per Game - 19.43
Many people believe that Drew Brees is in the elite of the NFL QB's. His numbers in the Saints Super Bowl season were astronomical. If he wants to be in the elite, 2011 is going to have to be more like 2009 than 2010.
Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning, C+
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Point System
QB Rating - 92
TD's - plus-330
Interceptions - minus-170
Completion percentage - 66
Wins - plus-70
Loses - minus-42
Total Points - 214
Per Game - 21.625
Peyton Manning, who is a sure fire, first ballot Hall of Fame player, had the worst year of his professional career since his rookie season in 2010. No one can question the ability and work ethic that has led Manning to be one of the best of all time.
That does not change the fact that Manning is in fact, getting older, and it is only a matter of time before his play begins to decline.
Have we watched the beginning of the end for Manning? Or, was this a single year that just happened to be a bad one?
Only time will tell, but this time next year, odds are, Manning will either be much higher on this list...or much lower.
San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers, B-
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Point System
QB Rating - 102
TD's - plus-300
Interceptions - minus-130
Completion percentage - 66
Wins - plus-63
Loses - minus-49
Total Points - 352
Per Game - 22
One of the most debated QB's in the NFL is Philip Rivers. He puts up a TON of stats, but when the games are the biggest, Rivers and the Chargers are anything but great. Coming from the draft class of 2004, Rivers is constantly going to be compared to Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Of the three, Rivers gets the best stats but is still the only one of the three without a Super Bowl ring.
Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco, B
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Point System
QB Rating - 94
TD's - plus-250
Interceptions - minus-100
Completion % - 63
Wins - plus-84
Loses - minus-28
Total Points - 363
Per Game - 22.68
For Ravens fans, Flacco has taken their team to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Ravens, each time the Ravens have had to play on the road, they have been unable to make it to the Super Bowl.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman, B
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Point System
QB Rating - 96
TD's - plus-250
Interceptions - minus-60
Completion percentage -61
Wins - plus-70
Loses - minus-42
Total Points - 375
Per Game - 23.43
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found their franchise QB, and the success of the Bucs is going to hinge on the growth of Josh Freeman. As long as Freeman continues to improve, the sky is the limit for Tampa Bay.
Kansas City Chiefs: Matt Cassel, B
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Point System
QB Rating - 93
TD's - plus-270
Interceptions - minus-70
Completion percentage -58
Wins - plus-70
Loses - minus-42
Total Points - 379
Per Game - 23.68
When Matt Cassel took over the Patriots when Tom Brady was injured, most of his success was attributed to the team around him. With Scott Pioli in Kansas City, his top priority was to bring in a winning QB, which is exactly what he did with Cassel.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers, B+
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Point System
QB Rating - 101
TD's - plus-280
Interceptions - minus-110
Completion percentage - 66
Wins - plus-70
Loses - minus-35
Total Points - 372
Per Game - 24.8
Because of their Super Bowl victory, people have forgotten about the Packers slow start to 2010, when they went 3-3 out of the gate. Rodgers has made people forget about Brett Favre and is on his way to being a legend in Cheese Town.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, A
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Point System
QB Rating - 91
TD's - plus-280
Interceptions - minus-90
Completion percentage - 63
Wins - plus- 91
Loses - minus-21
Total Points - 415
Per Game - 25.93
Matty Ice was one of the best QB's of the 2010 NFL regular season, only to fall apart in the playoffs, getting destroyed by the eventual champions, the Green Bay Packers. If Ryan is going to be one of the best in the NFL, he is going to have to step up when the opportunity presents itself.
Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Vick, A
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Point System
QB Rating - 100
TD's - plus-210
Interceptions - minus-60
Completion percentage - 63
Wins - plus-56
Loses - minus-28
Total Points - 341
Per Game - 26.23
Mike Vick played so well for the Eagles in 2010 that they are already willing to give up on Kevin Kolb, who was good enough to give up Donovan McNabb (OK, that deal worked out.) I think it is a mistake to give up on Kolb so early, because regardless of how good Vick is playing today, as a running QB, how much more time could he have in those legs?
Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger, A
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Point System
QB Rating - 97
TD's - plus-170
Interceptions - minus-50
Completion percentage - 62
Wins - plus-63
Loses - minus-21
Total Points - 321
Per Game - 26.75
Steelers fans believe that Ben Roethlisberger is an elite QB, while other teams are quick to point to stats to prove otherwise. With three Super Bowl appearances in the last six years, it is hard to not include Roethlisberger as one of the best in the NFL.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady, A+
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Point System
QB Rating - 111
TD's - plus-360
Interceptions - minus-40
Completion percentage - 66
Wins - plus-98
Loses - minus-14
Total Points - 581
Per Game - 36.31
Having won the NFL MVP, Brady was thought to have one of his best seasons since his injury. Though the Patriots entered the 2010 NFL Playoffs as the No. 1 seed, they were knocked out in the divisional round by the Jets.
At 33 years old, how much longer can Brady sustain his success? Hard to tell, but as long as he plays like he did in 2010, he will be at the top of this, and any other list.
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