Aaron Rodgers vs. Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady: Who Is the NFL's Top QB in 2011?

Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. 

Anyone could form a credible case for either of those three quarterbacks, stating that they'll be the best quarterback of the 2011 season. 

Truthfully, there is no right or wrong answer (assuming they each have a typical season in 2011). 

But what does being the "top quarterback" really mean?

Does it refer to the quarterback that is most likely to lead his team into a deep playoff run? Because after all, isn't winning the primary objective of the game? 

Is it the guy that produces gaudy stats and leads in the NFL in practically every passing category? It could be, since we're talking about the best quarterback, not the top quarterback that happens to play on the best team.

Or is it a mix of both? 

Regardless, this article will discuss the situations that each of these quarterbacks will be facing in 2011, and you can decide for yourself who the real quarterback king of 2011 will be.  

Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass against James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 31-25. (Photo b

After being drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the 24th overall pick of the 2005 draft, Aaron Rodgers spent his first three NFL seasons on the bench behind the legendary Brett Favre. 

The Packers finally decided to move on from the Brett Favre era after the 2007 season, and Rodgers hit the ground running. 

His first season as a starter (2008) brought him 4,038 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes, as well as a 93.8 quarterback rating.

He carried that success into the next two seasons of his career.

He has 8,356 passing yards and 58 touchdowns between the last two seasons combined. He also had passer ratings of 103.2 (2009) and 101.2 (2010) during those two years.

But all stats aside, Rodgers has something that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are both lacking: his youth.

The 27-year-old Rodgers is eight years younger than Manning (35) and six years younger than Brady (33).

Manning and Brady both have to face the possibility that their age could interfere with their production, while Rodgers can rest easy knowing that he won't be facing a decline anytime soon, at least not due to age.

Rodgers is also coming off of a Super Bowl winning season, and it's hard to duplicate the confidence of a man that was holding a Lombardi Trophy as recently as last February.

Rodgers' youth and the team's overall confidence that stems from the Super Bowl makes him an appealing option to become the front runner as the 2011 season's top quarterback.

There are some offensive talents surrounding Rodgers who may be lost to free agency, such as James Jones (WR), John Kuhn (FB) and Brandon Jackson (RB).

However, key pieces such as Greg Jennings (WR), James Starks (RB), Jordy Nelson (WR) and Donald Driver (WR) will remain intact, and they'll likely be able to retain at least one of the previously mentioned free agents.

But still, it's not all sunshine and gumdrops with Rodgers.

He's great on his own, but as a team, the Packers were only 10-6 in the regular season and were only in the playoffs as a wild card team.

If the team doesn't improve on their regular season play and somehow misses the playoffs, then it would be difficult to crown Rodgers as the top quarterback in 2011, especially since both Manning and Brady had stats that were more impressive than the numbers Rodgers put up in 2010. 

Author's Verdict

Unless Rodgers has a career year (which is certainly possible), he will once again fall behind both Manning and Brady in touchdowns passes and possibly passing yards as well.

Also, considering that the Packers were underdogs in 2010, it's unlikely that they'll have a repeat season. So don't expect the Lombardi trophy excuse to last beyond 2011, and after all, both Manning and Brady have been there and done that, so it's not like Rodgers is the only one that has the hardware to backup his play. 

2011 Top Quarterback Rank: Stats (third), Team Success (second), Overall (third) 

Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)

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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

How do you know when someone might just be the greatest quarterback ever?

When the public talks about what a "down" year he had after throwing for 4,700 passing yards (career high) and 33 touchdowns.

It's understandable that the Colts' 10-6 record in 2010 may have felt like a disappointment, given it was the their lowest win total since 2002, but they had a good season regardless, and Peyton Manning is as good as ever.

We live in a world that is currently dominated by fantasy football and Madden video games, so naturally, people want to immediately point fingers at the quarterback while completely ignoring the injuries to offensive weapons such as Dallas Clark (TE), Austin Collie (WR) and Joseph Addai (RB).

Yes, Manning threw 11 interceptions in three games last season, but that's bound to happen when your favorite targets disappear.

It's also true that Manning turned 35 last March, but that should not be a major concern.

Just look at the season Brett Favre was able to have at the age of 40. Also, the Colts' offensive line has been able to keep Manning upright for most of his career, so there's not a great deal of wear on his body.

The only obstacle Manning will face in 2011 is the team that surrounds him.

The current team is capable of winning, but Manning is far from having the firepower of the 2004 Colts, a team that featured Marvin Harrison (WR), Reggie Wayne (WR), Brandon Stockley (WR) and Edgerrin James (RB).

Also, the team's defense needs to rank higher than 20th overall (average yards per game) if they want to make a deep postseason run.

Author's Verdict

Manning will post monster stats no matter what in 2011, so there is no questioning that he will hold his value in that regard. 

Outside of the Colts' 2006 Super Bowl winning season, the team has historically been stopped in the playoffs by elite defenses, so if they experience a quick exit from the 2011 postseason, that will certainly hurt the argument supporting Manning as the top quarterback of 2011.

2011 Top Quarterback Rank: Stats (first), Team Success (third), Overall (second)  

Tom Brady (New England Patriots)

Al Bello/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks to pass during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/G

Tom Brady has been a great quarterback from multiple angles. 

If you want to judge a quarterback from a statistical point of view, then look no further than his awe-inspiring 2007 season that resulted in an NFL single season record for touchdown passes (50), as well as 4,806 passing yards. 

But if you'd rather rate a quarterback on his contributions as a team member, then just glaze at his three Super Bowl rings, and also think back to the team's 16-0 record during 2007 season, which resulted in Brady's fourth Super Bowl appearance.

Whether you love or hate the Patriots (it has to be one or the other), you can't deny that Brady is one of the most accomplished athletes in NFL history.

But we're talking about 2011 here. 

While the Patriots dynasty of the early 2000's may be over, the team is still a contender, and Brady still has the tools required to remain productive. 

At the age of 33, Brady is easily young enough to play at an elite level. 

And as if Brady's overall talent isn't impressive enough, he has an army of offensive weapons on his side. 

Wes Welker (WR), Rob Gronkowski (TE), Aaron Hernandez (TE), Danny Woodhead (RB), Deion Branch (WR) and Julian Edelman (WR) are all suitable weapons who are at Brady's disposal.

Author's Verdict

The Patriots have plenty of young and talented players on both sides of the ball, and the team is constantly competitive every single year, so there is no reason to believe that 2011 will be any different.

As a member of the Patriots, Brady will be in an ideal situation that will allow him to win games.

When looking at the Patriots in comparison to the Packers and Colts, it's clearly more probable that Brady will play in a Super Bowl in 2011 as opposed to Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers.

And given his weapons on offense, he will certainly quench the thirst of fantasy football lovers everywhere and post admirable statistics.

2011 Top Quarterback Rank: Stats (second), Team Success (first), Overall (first)