Comparing NFL Quarterbacks to NBA Point Guards

Aaron Rodgers, Russell Westbrook, Drew Brees and Derrick Rose have proved that point guard and quarterback are two positions where NFL and NBA teams need to have a quality player. 

If you are an NFL or NBA team, you're not going to win without a high caliber player to call plays, make timely passes and lead the team to victory when called upon.

Quarterback and point guard are very similar when it comes down to what is expected at each position. Both  find open players to make plays. They create scoring opportunities and improvise if things are not going well. They read defenses and occasionally make spectacular plays of their own.

Are there any two positions more alike in the pro sports world?

Take a look at how some top NFL quarterbacks match up with different NBA point guards. 

Michael Vick: Derrick Rose

These are the “it” guys in their respective leagues right now. Both of them put up jaw dropping numbers last season. 

Rose had a breakout year winning the league MVP. On some nights, fans wondered if there were any other players on the Chicago team.

Vick had the same effect on NFL fans. His four passing and two rushing touchdowns during the Week 9 game against Washington solidified that Vick was ready to dominate the NFL again.

Fans are eager to see if these players can follow up their insane seasons with even bigger performances

Tom Brady: Chris Paul

Two of the very best at their craft today. Both Tom Brady and Chris Paul put up consistent, spectacular numbers for their positions. While Brady has more victory hardware than Paul, both are usually at the top of any "best player in the league" discussion.

In addition to Paul and Brady's eye popping statistics, both of them are extremely careful protecting the ball. Paul led the NBA in Assist to Turnover ration last year with an extremley good 4.42. Brady holds the record for best touchdown to interception ratio for a season with 9:1.

Both Paul and Brady are high quality players who consistently put out good numbers. They are both excellent field/floor generals with high game IQs. 

Peyton Manning: Steve Nash

Nash and Manning are two of the funniest guys in all of professional sports (Why haven't they done a commercial together yet?).

They both have multiple MVP awards and play with a killer instinct. However, they are both “old” by their positions standards, and critics wonder how much they have left in the tank.

Fans are wondering how well Peyton can do after neck surgery. Suns fans wonder whether Nash will go off in to the sunset without a ring.

Regardless, these future Hall of Famers are two of the most well liked players in their respective leagues.

Cam Newton: Ricky Rubio

These two rookies are practically sweating hype. Both are high risk/high reward players.

Rubio wowed basketball scouts during his international play. Newton was clearly the most exciting player in all of college football last season.

 Ricky still has some question marks based on his mediocre performance in the Spanish basketball league last year. Some NFL analysts project Newton to be a bust.

Both of these guys have sky high potential. Fans are eager to see if their performances can equal the buzz.

Donovan McNabb:- Chauncey Billups

Both Billups and McNabb are character guys who have the potential to help win many games, though their performances over the past few seasons have caused a few questions to be raised.

McNabb's stock has fallen since clashing with Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, and he is looking for a career reboot in Minnesota. Billups suffered a spat of injuries this past season, and Knicks management is trying to find out how Billups fits in to the organization's future.

It's hard to root against both of these guys. They are both very good at their position and assets to their teams.

Eli Manning: Tony Parker

Manning and Parker have shown that they can lead their team to victory. However, with a rash of injuries and aging players, both Parker's and Manning's teams didn't live up to their 2010 hype.

Parker's Spurs had the best record in the Western Conference, and their "Big Three" played at a high level all season. However, they were beaten by a younger and hungrier Memphis Grizzlies team. Fans are wondering if the Tony Parker era is over in San Antonio. 

Manning's Giants had a ho-hum 10-6 season with no playoff appearance. There are a lot of questions on how this team will be able to beat the new look Eagles.

These guys will not always give you spectacular numbers, but they will help their teams win games. 

Aaron Rodgers: Rajon Rondo

Both Aaron Rodgers and Rajon Rondo are excellent leaders on historic franchises.

Aaron "Brett Who?" Rodgers showed himself to be an integral part of the Packers' Super Bowl win and has solidified himself as the franchise quarterback. 

Rondo is the player who the Celtics will look to build around as their "Big Three" start to retire. 

Philip Rivers: Deron Williams

Philip Rivers and Deron Williams are often given a little bit less love compared to their positional counterparts (see Tom Brady/Chris Paul) due to their small market status. 

They are also both a bit hotheaded. Philip Rivers has historically been a trash talker. Deron Williams helped usher in the retirement of one of the league's greatest coaches, Jerry Sloan.

Nevertheless, both are players you would want on your team.

Drew Brees: Stephen Curry

Drew Brees and Stephan Curry are in different stages of their careers right now. Brees is a Super Bowl winning veteran who is one of the top QB's in the game. Curry is a sharpshooting youngster who plays on an exciting, yet inconsistent, Warriors team.

The best comparison between these two is that they are two of the most likeable guys in their respective leagues. Brees captured the hearts of millions of fans by giving the city of New Orleans their first Super Bowl.

In 2008, NCAA tournament fans rooted for little Davidson College's cinderella run to the Elite Eight. Curry wowed fans and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest region.

These two guys are fun, well liked players who will always give fans their money's worth.  

Matt Ryan: Russell Westbrook

Ryan and Westbrook are electrifying young players who are just starting to come in to their own.

Ryan led the Falcons to the best record in the NFC last season. The Falcons QB also earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

Westbrook helped lead the Thunder to their first conference finals. He was also named to his first All-Star game and solidfied himself as one of the league's top point guards.

The Falcons and the Thunder are also two teams to watch in the future.

If these two guys decide to stay in Atlanta/Oklahoma City, look for both teams to remain elite for years to come. 

Matt Stafford: John Wall

Matt Stafford and John Wall are two guys who have a bright future ahead of them in the league. 

Stafford threw for 422 yards—a rookie record—and five touchdowns in a game against the Cleveland Browns. 

Wall became the third youngest player to record a triple double in NBA history last season.

Due to injuries and being on mediocre teams, fans haven't seen the full potential of either of these players.

Both the Lions and Wizards have added some quality players, so look for big seasons from Stafford and Wall.