Quarterbacks by the numbers

I'm going to let you in on a little secret - I am a poor sleeper. Once I am out I am okay, but falling asleep can take hours. As you might imagine my mind wanders and the other night I started making a list of the best quarterbacks ever to wear numbers 1-19. This proved harder than I would have guessed - as you will see. For some numbers I could barely pull anyone and had to do some research - but most of these guys are the ones I thought of myself.

1 - Warren Moon. This was an easy pick, not only is he great (all time yardage leader if you count the CFL years), but I could not think of another #1. We was only one game above .500 all time and 3-7 in the playoffs (and blew a 32 point lead) My DC cousin, who I will name John because I have started referring to him so much, pointed out Jeff George wore it in Altanta when he had his statistically best seasons (until he got into a screaming match with his coach). Moving on...

2 - Aaron Brooks. This was one that took some research, the only one I thought of was a pre-CFL Doug Flutie. But go and look at Brooks's stats. In the four years before he got hurt he had two 3.500+ yard seasons and two 3,800+ yard seasons. He was over 20TDs every year and never had more INTs than TDs. One year he lead the league in interception percentage. Plus in 2000, the first year he played (was third string in Green Bay), he lead the Saints to their first playoff win in their 34 year franchise history! (over the defending champion St. Louis Rams no less). I'm not saying he is a Hall of Famer, nor denying he's one of the weak sisters on the list, but he wasn't awful. The only other option was Matty Ice and while I think he will eventually surpass Brooks an overhyped rookie season and sluggish sophomore campaign isn't enough for now. I will give props for leading the first Atlanta team to have back to back winning seasons since the franchise was founded in 1966.

3 - Daryle Lamonica. I am very proud of this pull, I thought of it myself and it held up. The only other #3 out there was Bobby Herbert, who while leading the Saints to quite a few wins simply isn't at the same level (Daryle had two AFL MVPs and made Super Bowl II). Plus Lamonica had a great nickname - "The Mad Bomber." Mr. Internet tells me Hebert was "The Cajun Canon" is pretty damn cool too, but I never heard that before - and Hebert was a regular on my fantasy team for a few years there.

4 - Brett Favre. Lord Farve the First has been chronically overhyped and doesn't belong in the discussion of greatest of the great, but he is Hall of Famer and I can't think of many other #4s. By the way he is all time NFL leader in turnovers too.

5 - Donovan McNabb. This was by far and away the hardest choice because of Jeff Garcia. When Garcia was at his prime he was better than McNabb was (he's of only eight quarterbacks in NFL history to have back to back 30TD seasons). But because he was some obscure undersized guy from San Jose State he toiled in the CFL - and was even a backup there for a while - before Bill Walsh found him at age 29. Before he turned 29 McNabb had been the NFL for six seasons (five as a starter), with five straight trips to the playoffs, four straight conference championship games, a Super Bowl appearance, and five Pro Bowls (he hasn't gone back in the five years since). Their numbers aren't that different, McNabb has better stats in some places - but you need to remember he played with a much better supporting cast than the wandering Garcia who served time in Cleveland and Detriot. In 2006 Garcia backed up McNabb and when Donovan got hurt, he hurt came in, played better than McNabb, and turned the team around and won a playoff game. The next year fans wanted to keep him and move Dononvan (it is annoying how Philly fans have never appreciated how good he is which is another reason to pick him - not saying he is the best in the league, but is top 5 most seasons). That said, even though Garcia played for my Niners and helped me win a few fantasy titles, winning counts for a QB - as do to a lesser extent longevity and consistency. If Garcia's career track had been McNabb's (started in the NFL right out of college and played in Philly under Andy Reid his whole career) he would be the clear winner - but he didn't. As a consolation prize he gets to be married to the hottest playmate ever.

6 - Jay Cutler. Here are the only other #6s I or others could think of: Bubby Brister, Marc Wilson, and Matt Cavanaugh. Leave me alone

7 - John Elway. This was easy, he's in my top 3 all time.

8 - Steve Young. Easy, and not because I am a 49ers fan. He's not on the absolute top tier, not on Montana's level, and I was surprised he proved to be a first ballot Hall of Famer, but he is only legitimately "Great" QB to wear number 8. Troy Aikman was on a great team, but was not a great quarterback. Captain Sunshine had one season of 20+ touchdowns in his whole career (23 - with 14 interceptions). Having the all time leading rusher meant he did not have to throw often (or against defenses geared to stop him). He career rating is 81, or 15 points lower than Young's which is second all time (Aaron Rogers!?). And that is despite Steve playing for the Tampa Bay Yuccaneers (career rating in San Fran was 101). Plus in 1998 Aikman threw three interceptions in a loss to Arizona - the Cardinals first postseason win since 1947!!! Archie Manning was probably better. Matt Hasselbeck and Mark Brunell might be.

9 - Drew Brees. You can make an argument he is best QB in the league right now (although you might not win). You could do the same for Steve McNair in his day (ditto), but I will lean towards the QB who became the second ever to crest 5,000 yards in a season and owns the single season completion percentage record. Sonny Jurgensen was good, but not at the Brees/McNair level. Shout out to the Punky QB!

10 - Fran Tarkenton. Not much to say. He was really really good. When he retired the owned all the major career passing records and could scramble. Got to three Super Bowls.

11 - Norm Van Brocklin. Old school shocker! Van Brocklin went to 9 Pro Bowls in a 12 year Hall of Fame career. In his first season as a starter (half the time) the Rams set a record for most points in a season. In September 28, 1951 he because the first QB ever to throw for 500+ yards in a game as he established a still standing record 554 yards. He played in four NFL championship games winning two (one each for the then LA Rams and the Eagles - the only QB beat the Vince Lombardi Packers in a title game). He also had a great quote after brain surgery saying "It was a brain transplant. They gave me a sportswriter's brain, to make sure I got one that hadn't been used." And if that's not enough the other option is Phil Simms - who while a quality NFL starter is not one of the true greats of the game.

12 - Tom Brady. This is actually the number that sent me down this stupid path. May years ago I realized that a bunch of Super Bowl QBs had worn 12 (more than any other number): Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, Bob Griese, Terry Bradshaw, Ken Stabler, Jim Kelly, Stan Humphries, Chris Chandler, Tom Brady, and Rich Gannon. Doug Williams won a Super Bowl as #17 but was #12 for most of his career (I'm not forgetting Dilfer. That should be a curse: "Diiilfer!!!"). And there are other quality 12s out there (John Brodie, Randall Cunningham). Thankfully Tom Brady is in my top five all time making this an easy decision. But Staubach was better than a lot of the names on this list. As was Jim Kelly. It irks me that a guy who got his team to the playoffs and navigated through the AFC to the Super Bowl four straight times will go down as a loser.

13 - Dan Marino. I thought about Kurt Warner because I do think Dan's emphasis on the pass over the run is part of the reason why most of his success was statistical. But in the end I could not justify it - Marino won a lot games (61% for 147 wins - 3rd all time, Elways is 2nd with 148) while putting up all those stats. I do want to say that 6 great seasons with three Super Bowl appearances (only second QB to start for two different teams behind the immortal Craig Morton) is enough to get Warner into the Hall of Fame, despite blah to dreck the other five years. But only because those seasons were incredibly good. He is one of four QBs to throw 40+ TDs in a season (but wouldn't you know it that Marino did it twice?). He led the league in completion percentage and yards per attempt three times and TDs, yards per game, and rating twice. In 2001 he lead the league with 4,830 yards, which is third all time. Those were the three Rams years when he put himself in the argument for best QB in the league. But without the later quality Cardinal years he doesn't go, nor would he if all six of his "good" years were in the Arizona range. He is second all time in completion percentage and yards per game and has two of the eight 300+ yard per game seasons. He makes it in my eyes, but if he waits for a while I won't cry - he stunk his way out of two cities. I initially thought this would take a separate post, but the case is convincing enough I don't feel the need.

14 - Otto Graham. A statistically great on a dominate team, played in two leagues and was All-Pro or in the Pro Bowl every season save his rookie year (when he won his first championship). The Browns won .833 of their games while he was their QB (.803 in the NFL). In ten seasons he played for 10 titles and won 7 (3-3 in the NFL). In 1945 he also won an title in the basketball league that became the NBA for the Rochester Royals (now Sacramento Kings). That's pretty athletic. Graham wore #60 for a chunk of his career (he was a running back in college).

15 - Bart Starr. Conversely I think Starr falls more into the Troy Aikman memorial "good QB on a great team" catagorey. He did call his own plays - which Graham did not. I'm no so impressed with that, offenses were much simpler back when that was the norm. But I can't think of a better #15. I almost switched to Jack Kemp who in his eight healthy seasons in the AFL was All-Pro or a Pro-Bowler for seven of them. He played in five AFL title games and won a pair. But I can't go with a guy who had a career 47% competition percentage and 69 more interceptions than touchdowns.

16 - Joe Montana. Bummer for Len Dawson to have the same number as the all time great right? Neat stat on Joe? He only had one season where he threw more than 13 picks: 1990 when he threw a whopping 16 to go with 3,900 yards and 26 touchdowns while going 14-1. He lead the league in completion percentage five times. He had more interceptions than touchdowns (by one pick) just once in his career - in 1986 when he broke his back. He still won six of his eight games and completed 62% of his passes. He wone 71% of his games (most of any QB with 100 wins) and the only season he was the starter and had a losing record was in 1982, when a strike killed half the season (he lead the league in TDs that year). I'm just sayin'...

17 - Jake Delhomme. Another hard number, there really aren't super QBs who have worn #17. I went with Delhomme because he got to a Super Bowl his first year as starter and nearly won it with a 300 yard 3 TD performance. He also got them to the NFC championship two years later with just one receiver. For a while although no one noticed he was one of the five or so best QBs in the league. It always bothered me how little credit he got - and it will be worse now since his arm fell off and he threw a million picks (before that he had just one losing season). That said if Philip Rivers keeps going at his current clip for just a few more years he will surpass him. For now though I can't shake the feeling he is a meathead - seen him taunting other teams too many times - that is linebacker territory, not for your leader (although to be fair Randy Cross told Joe Cool to shut up after he yelled at the Cowboys early in "The Catch" game. Reportedly also when Ed Too Tall Jones told him "You just beat America's Team" he snapped back "Well, you can watch the Super Bowl on TV with the rest of America.") You might also make a case for Brian Sipe the 1980 NFL MVP, but it was his only big year and in his one career postseason appearance he completed just 32% of his passes and had three picks the last of which was the devastating "Red Right 88." Winning big games and postseason games is absolutely a mark of greatness for quarterbacks. Don Meredith had a nice singing voice. Steve DeBerg played for a bunch of teams.

18 - Peyton Manning. He's in my top five.

19 - Johnny U. I would be funny and say Joe Montana again (he worn 19 in KC - went to a conference championship and Pro Bowl at age 37, led the league INT% age 38 and won the famous Monday night duel with Elway before finishing his career going 26 of 37 for 314 yards and 2TDs (1 INT) in a playoff loss), but Unitas is a little too good for that. He led the league in passing four times and touchdowns four straight seasons. The threw a touchdown pass in 47 straight games (no one has gotten in ten games of that) from his rookie '56 year to 1960. He won three titles and three MVPS and was the first quarterback to throw for 40,000 career yards which only ten have done it since (he owed many records when he retired - he's still seventh for TDs). In 1959 back when the NFL had 12 game seasons he threw for 32TDs - that's good for today (Brees lead the league with 34 this year and only Peyton Manning and Favre also had more than 32). In 1959 the other three Pro Bowl quarterbacks had 20, 16, and 10 TDs (and as many or more picks than Unitas's 14) And this was in an era when the rules meant, as a friend of mine put it, there were no quarterbacks just players who threw the ball.

By the way a bunch of teams had two guys: 49ers, Packers, Eagles, Colts, Broncos, and Saints (!?! - Aaron Brooks). The Oilers/Titans and Browns almost made it. The 49ers almost had three and the Saints had a third mentioned.

Rooting interests

It occurs to me that if going to have a sports blog I should be forthright and list off all my rooting interests.

NFL - San Francisco 49ers
NHL - Washington Capitals
NBA - Washington Wizards
MLB - Cleveland Indians
CFL - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
WNBA - the Sue Falls Bird
MLS - Ha ha ha

I did watch a Steven Gerrard highlight reel once on youtube. He was pretty amazing, so you could say in real soccer I root for Liverpool - but I've never seen a game.

College Football:
Div. I-A - University of Florida
Div. I-AA - University of Maine
Div. III - Kenyon College

College Hockey - University of Maine
College baseball - University of Florida
College basketball - University of Florida

Most of these loyalties can be explained pretty simply. I went to Kenyon College, then the University of Florida for graduate school, and grew up in Maine. Although for Division I-AA football Florida A&M is nipping on Maine's heels. Not because I have ever been to a game (I fact I had to use the net to see what their colors were and for a while though their mascot was the Sea Dragons or Dragons - probably some confused mix that came to me from NFL Europa) but because I know a few other grad students from there and like the idea of rooting for a historically black college. Plus they purportedly have a great band that kids all over the country come to the school for - not that I care about bands, but it annoys me how much UF's sucks. In truth this is all pretty academic - I've seen two UMO games in person and maybe two more on the telly.

I started liking the Caps because visited some family when they were making a run in 1998 I watched them go the Stanley Cup when I got home (they were swept). Then I moved to DC for a while a couple of years later and my cousin has season tickets to the Caps so I went to a bunch of games which cemented it. The only Wizards game I have been too was when my office took me to a game during the Michael Jordan era, but ironically I actually root for the Wizards because I don't like MJ. Many years ago the Bullets had a center named Gheorghe Muresan. Not only did I like him because he was a giant (7'7" tallest player ever), but he became my favorite player because he did the "Gheorghe Muresan Cologne" Snickers commercial when his Airness had started thinking because he was great at basketball he should permeate everything. I'd rather smell like Gheorghe. I also regularly check out the Washington post for news and pick up bits about the Caps and Wiz that way. I was amused by the craziness of Gilbert Arenas - see http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2007/10/is_gilbert_cheating_at_halo.html - until he decided it was smart to have an old west showdown with his teammate. I root for the Indians because of my father. He complained that we never root for the same teams so I adopted two of his in the sports I was not set on - the Indians and Georgia Tech football (before UF - now I'm hanging on by a thread for dear life). My Dad roots for the Indians because in 1949 he started following baseball and figured he would root for the Indians because they had won the year before. Opps. So I root for the Tribe. Now. Before my Dad's complaint in 1997 when the Florida Marlins beat them in the World Series I rooted for the Marlins because their AA team was in Portland Maine - not that I went to a bunch of games or knew the players. I still feel bad towards my Dad for this. By the way in 2007 my Dad was cheering for Boston in game Seven of the ALCS. He roots for both teams and follows Boston more closely, I gave him a raft of s*** about it and so he pretended to feel guilt and did not watch the final out. I was already pissed because this Indians fan had convinced me that they had a chance to win it all so I was watching an earlier game and discovered that our closer had an ERA over 5!?! I called her up and railed on her and said it was over. She admitted it was a big problem, but as I soon learned was a huge homer and so blind. (Joe Borowski played in 18 more games for the rest of his career). I don't know why my Dad did that, he had already see the Saux win (and the Pats). The last team is by far and away my most favorite - the San Francisco 49ers. I don't know why I root for them (nor why I picked Hamilton in the CFL a league of which I see less than a game a year). Over the course of the 1986 season, when I was eight, I tried out a bunch of teams (Bears - defending champs, Dolphins - because of '72, Broncos, and maybe some others?) before settling on the 49ers despite knowing little about them (the first game of their I ever remember I bitched out some stiff named Jerry Rice for getting hurt). I rooted for them ever since and by this point I am wedded to them.

That brings up another point, I don't hold all these teams in equal esteem. I am a fanatical football fan, but only a general fan of the other sports. I can watch them and know who is good and what is going on, but I don't know players. In the NFL I can name you the backup quarterback of every team. There are three teams I am not going replace barring something incredibly drastic - San Fran, the Caps, and Gators football. If those are my wives, UMO hockey is my mistress team. Watching the Garth Snow/Mike Dunham team in '93 is a favored childhood memory. I've actually been lucky - I have seen my teams win 3 Super Bowls, 2 BCS titles (still want a playoff), and 2 Frozen Fours (that is when I was following them - UF and and San Fran have 3 previous titles). Even the Caps had a title shot (the Washington teams and the Indians are probably the most hard luck of my teams). Secondarily UF basketball as won titles twice and UF baseball made the College World Series. And as I said in 1997 the team I rooted for then won the World Series. Other than than they are mainly placeholder teams so I have someone to root for - but none of those attachments are so strong I can't imagine changing them in the future if say I move somewhere, know someone connected to the team, fall in love with player, etc.

As for teams I don't like, almost all of them are football teams. I don't like the Yankees, the Pittsburgh Penguins (rivalry), or the Lakers - although I have a strong suspicion that will fade once Kobitch retires. I the NFL I detest the Cowboys. There used to be other teams I disliked back when San Fran was good and had rivals (that is a privilege for the good teams). I dislike the Ravens because of what Modell did to Cleveland, but ironically he lost control of team once in Baltimore so that is fading. I loath "Slash" Lewis, but like Ozzie, the coach's brother, and some of their young up guys. I dislike they Raiders (rivalry I guess? I have been to the bay only once in my life), but they are waaaaay too dysfunctional to get worked up about (although JaHamburger has brought me hours of entertainment).

In college my main ire is for FSU, especially if they could stop sucking. That is total rivalry - I used to like them before I went to Florida. Before I got here I did not really follow college ball so I just rooted for coaches I knew (Bowden, Holtz, Paterno) because I had little idea who the players were. I always hated Thug U. I fact they are probably the team I hate more than any others (maybe Dallas). I don't like USC either - I don't respect the defense free football of the Pac-10, but I don't mind their other teams. In the SEC I hate LSU who is a rival and has a dumb coach (I always root against poorly coached teams) and Bama because they have put some bad beats on us (even before this year) and Saban is a prick. UGA is a rival, but I have mellowed on them because I like Richt and they never beat us. Tennessee doesn't earn much ire either because Kiffin is gone and they are pretty middling. I used to dislike OSU when I went to school in Ohio and everyone told me how great they were (I disliked them a bit before), but in '03 championship game I switched from rooting against them to for them because the announcers were blowing Miami the whole game. They were so fast they told viewers. They even said it after a rush that got two yards. OSU was staying with them, but the announcers ignored what was right in front of them and stuck to their pregame plan. I hate when that happens (see Leak, Chris accuracy).

Finally there is Notre Dame. I used to like them when Holtz, but now I don't care about them at all either way. And I swear I am the only sports fan in the world who is neutral on them.

My long-suffering DC cousin

I don't have any love for Washington, but I have a cousin who lives there and periodically writes me leading me to take my emails to him and write them up as quick entires there.

Recently he wrote me that complaining that they had signed a washedup Scary Larry Johnson. He also remarked that they just signed a free agent NT (runstopper Maake Kemoeatu from Carolina) because Albert Haynesworth, to whom they just gave $100 million contract, doesn't want to play the nose in a 3-4. He went on to add they have only two decent offensive linemen on the entire roster in C Casey Rabach & G Derrick Dockery (which I think is overstating the quality of Dockery). He wrapped up with noting that their "middling" QB can't wait to get out of town after this season, and there is no successor in place.

I replied that I think Shanahan is doing a much better job than Danny Boy ever did. It's not his fault Snyder overpaid Albert. At least this year they have done okay with cuts and signings (save Rock Cartwright). Johnson isn't a feature back anymore, but they aren't paying him that much.

Here is the hard reality: Washington is two seasons away (chronic mismanagement will do that to you). I think Shanny knows that. LJ and Sheriff Gonna Getcha will split carries this year, prove they are done and clear the way for a late round pick this season to take over in 2012 when the lockout is over. Assuming OT Stephon Heyer (who cuz apparently forgot about) doesn't leave as restricted free agent, he and signee Artis Hicks will be functional on the OL (and they added a blocking TE in Sean Ryan from KC). The latest coaching savior in the nation's capital is making smart small moves to improve roster depth and is probably thinking with better coaching some of the current guys will improve. The biggest factor is do they take a OT at #4 or reach for one of the overrated QBs? I didn't like Jason Campbell coming out of Auburn, but I have grown to respect him more. I think he could be an a slightly above average starter in a more stable situation (and with a better OL) - which might be DC under Shanahan save I think he wants a out no matter what and that they will take a QB at #4 and use Campbell just as a bridge guy. They would be better served taking Dan Lefevour out of Central Michigan in the second round.

My cousin also left out that Kemoeatu is coming off a season ending achilles injury. But if he is healthy he can be a clogger.

Hey, at least they did not sign David Carr...

We need a winner RIGHT NOW!!!!!

The NFL is bandying about new ideas on how to solve overtime. Naturally of course they are not even discussing the best solution - mine:

In my view the simplest solution is to punish teams for either not rolling the dice to make sure they won in regulation or giving up a lead. How should the NFL handle overtime? Do away with sudden death. If the game is a tie after four quarters you play a fifth full quarter (that will teach them). If the game is tied it's a tie. In the playoffs you play a sixth full quarter and so on until you end one with a team ahead.


I don't mind the current NFL rule as much as others. How about playing some defense you whiners!? Last time I checked that was an integral part of good football so suck it up (for the record I am much more annoyed with all the rules favoring the offense so much than I am about overtime).

That said there is a problem. Between 1974 and 1993, the team that won the coinflip only won 47% of the time, some advantage huh? I miss positional football. Since 1994 their winning percentage boomed to 60%. What happened in 1994? The NFL tweaked an unrelated rule (to help offenses, sigh) - kickoffs were moved back from the 35 yardline to the 30 yardline, giving teams better average starting position. Before that teams that won the toss scored on their first possession a quarter of the time, now its a third of the time.


The modification everyone is talking about (forcing a team to score a touchdown to win the game with sudden death - if it's a fieldgoal the other team gets a crack at it) is a slight improvement.  I understand the idea that both teams should get a chance to touch the ball - but again play defense and you will. Regardless I'm not convinced the rule will changed. As others have pointed out the NFL (to be fair similar to other sports leagues) is often irrationally reluctant to change rules and so probably won't until some a team in the Super Bowl wins the toss and drives down to score without the other team touching the ball.



Also I don't care for the college rule. First of all special teams are part of the game, what if some team spends a lot of time perfecting returns, you are taking that away from them. Secondly the teams start already in field goal range. Okay maybe no in college because with 120 teams there are some weak kickers out there, but NFL kickers could. Also it is weak in college for a team to lose because their kicker is not as good because that will almost always be some non-BCS team losing to one of the big boys.

It's still better than soccer or the NHL where they have shootouts which isn't really even the same sport (plus before the the NHL plays a 4 on 4 overtime period, also lame).