Athlon Sports QB Power Rankings

[Quesadilla Joe]

2012 NFL Quarterbacks: Ranking the Best and Worst Starters

Ranking NFL quarterbacks is difficult and the criterion endless.

Montana versus Johnny-U versus Elway versus Favre? Is winning championships all that matters? What about statistical production and re-writing the record books? What about pure, raw, God-given athletic ability (looking at you Elway)? Or are intangibles and leadership ability more important?

To truly and objectively rank quarterbacks all of the above must be used to evaluate a player. I have attempted to rank all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL season for the 2012 year. This means, I don’t get a 22-year-old Peyton Manning or a 32-year-old Cam Newton.

So I put my general manager's hat on and asked this question:

If my goal is to win the Lombardi Trophy in 2012, who do I want running my offense?

Note: Age is at time of start of 2012 season

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay (Age: 28, Record: 41-21)
2011 Stats: 4,643 yards, 45 TD, 6 INT, 257 rush yards, 3 TD

There is little debate on who is the best quarterback on the planet right now. Rodgers came close to multiple single-season NFL records in 2011 until sitting out the final game of the year. Nevertheless, his 122.5 QB rating broke an NFL record and his career 104.1 QB rating is the highest in the history of the sport. He has the arm strength, the athleticism, the leadership, the championship ring and is only 28 years old.

2. Tom Brady, New England (Age: 35, Record: 124-35)
2011 Stats: 5,235 yards, 39 TD, 12 INT, 109 rush yards, 3 TD

The starting record is staggering as Mr. GQ enters his 13th NFL season. He has led the Patriots to five Super Bowls, an undefeated regular season and has turned plenty of also-ran wide receivers into Super Bowl MVPs. He would have shattered Dan Marino’s single-season passing yards record last fall had it not been for Drew Brees, and is the only QB to ever throw 50 touchdowns in a season (2007). Needless to say, Brady still has what it takes to be the best despite turning 35 in August.

3. Drew Brees, New Orleans (Age: 33, Record: 92-61)
2011 Stats: 5,476 yards, 46 TD, 14 INT, 86 rush yards, TD

His yardage total from last year speaks for itself. The Austin (Texas) Westlake product has led the NFL in completion percentage three years running and the has led the league in yards and touchdowns three times each. He has the championship ring and leadership skills to overcome his overall lack of raw physical skills (he is listed generously at 6-foot).

4. Eli Manning, New York Giants (Age: 31, Record: 69-50)
2011 Stats: 4,933 yards, 29 TD, 16 INT, 15 rush yards, TD

He has not been doing it as long or at high a level as his older brother, but Eli is the defending Super Bowl champion – for a second time. He set a career high in yards last fall by nearly 1,000 yards and has proven to be as clutch as any player in the playoffs. When he finally learns to cut down on his interceptions, he could easily find himself atop this list. Additionally, he hasn’t missed a start since taking over as the Giants starter in Week 10 of 2004 — that is 119 straight regular-season starts if you are counting at home.

5. Peyton Manning, Denver (Age: 36, Record: 141-67)
2011 Stats: None

If not for four (that we know of) neck surgeries and a new area code, the elder Manning would be no lower than No. 2 on this list. But there are still question marks surrounding No. 18’s ability to return to his Hall of Fame effectiveness. If he returns to full health, even at 36 years old, he is securely in the Top 3.

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh (Age: 30, Record: 80-33)
2011 Stats: 4,077 yards, 21 TD, 14 INT, 70 rush yards

Big Ben is an interesting case study as there feels like a clear drop-off after the Top 5. Statistically, he has never been one of the league’s elite passers, topping 20 touchdowns only three times with only one season of at least 30 scoring strikes. He has also missed five games over the last three years and has only started all 16 games in a year one time (2008). That said, he also is as tough a customer as there is in the game today and has two World Championships to prove it. Oh yeah, he also has won more than 70 percent of his games to this point.

7. Matthew Stafford, Detroit (Age: 24, Record: 13-16)
2011 Stats: 5,038 yards, 41 TD, 16 INT, 78 rush yards

The word projection comes to mind when trying to place Stafford. There are few quarterbacks with as much physical talent as the former Georgia Bulldog and he likely has the biggest arm in the game today. He also has played one full season as a starter — one that saw the Lions make the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and was littered with passing and receiving team records. Health is really the only issue surrounding the Lions passer, as he played only 13 of his first 32 possible games before last year's breakout performance.

8. Tony Romo, Dallas (Age: 32, Record: 47-30)
2011 Stats: 4,184 yards, 31 TD, 10 INT, 46 rush yards, TD

Few players are more scrutinized in football than Romo. But after missing most of the 2010 season, he did his best to lead a team that lacked depth and had changed coaches to within one win of the NFC East crown. He posted his best statistical year last fall and feels like a young 32 — having begun his starting career at age 26 back in 2006. He is a classic overachiever, but is as tough as they come and is a quality leader. He needs to add to his one career playoff win to move up this list, however.

9. Philip Rivers, San Diego (Age: 30, Record: 63-33)
2011 Stats: 4,624 yards, 27 TD, 20 INT, 36 rush yards, TD

The word knucklehead quickly crops up when talking about Mr. Rivers. He constantly runs his mouth and sometimes his temper can get the best of him. But he also produces big numbers — four straight seasons above 4,000 yards — and wins a lot of games — he made the playoffs in each of his first four seasons as the starter. Yet, he has never been able to get his very talented teams into the big game and turned the ball over 25 times last fall. A return to the postseason this fall cements Rivers as one of the league’s top 10 signal callers.

10. Matt Ryan, Atlanta (Age: 27, Record: 43-19)
2011 Stats: 4,177 yards, 29 TD, 12 INT, 84 rush yards, 2 TD

When it comes to the NFL’s best it feels like Ryan is consistently overlooked. But his numbers play on any roster and his win-loss record is pristine. He has never had a losing season and has only missed the postseason once (at 10-6 nonetheless). He has improved his touchdown total four straight seasons (16, 22, 28, 29) and has increased his yards three straight years. He is a consummate professional who quietly accounted for 31 total touchdowns a year ago. Ryan has missed two games in his career and is about to enter his prime.


15. Carson Palmer, Oakland (Age: 32, Record: 50-56)
2011 Stats: 2,753 yards, 13 TD, 16 INT, 20 rush yards, TD (9 games)

Not just anyone could walk into Cincinnati and turn the Bengals into a perennial playoff contender but that is essentially what the No. 1 overall pick did in 2003. Cincy lost at least 10 games in five straight seasons before drafting Palmer. By 2005, the Bengals had their first winning season since 1988. In fact, Cincy has three postseason appearances since 1990 and two have come on the strong right arm of Palmer. After a brief six-game hiatus, all he did last year in Oakland (for a lame duck coach) was post his highest yards-per-game total of his career (275.3 ypg). At 32 years old, he still has plenty left in the 6-foot-5, 235-pound tank.



31. Matt Cassel, Kansas City (Age: 30, Record: 28-26)
2011 Stats: 1,713 yards, 10 TD, 9 INT, 99 rush yards (9 games)

The story is well-known: Cassel didn’t start a game at USC, sat behind Brady, went 10-5 when called upon in New England and parlayed one year into a big contract. Yet, he is a career 59.0 percent passer, is 18-21 as the Chiefs' starter with 32 interceptions and 22 fumbles over that span and has had major injury issues. Cassel has one more year to prove he is the franchise quarterback in KC

http://www.athlonsports.com/nfl/rank...rterbacks-2012

The rest is at the link, too many characters to post the entire thing.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by milkman

Whether or not the defense was built to play with a lead, that has nothing to do with the fact that Peyton, when plays needed to be made in the biggest moments in the biggest games, late in those games, he has failed to deliver in every opportunity, but one.

You can talk about all the other bullshit you want, but at the end of the the day, Peyton Manning has been the worst QB of any "great" QB when it matters the most, when the game is on the line in the playoffs.

Well we're talking about things like "clutch plays" and "poise". Those types of things are a matter of inches.
I gleefully remember when Merriman caught Peyton by the shoe to end a potential game winning drive and I remember the Tyree play where it seemed like Eli's ass was grass twice before he chucked up the rainbow that landed on Tyree's head. Are you chalking up Eli's "poise" to talent as opposed to luck? Statistically, it’s not close. Peyton wins. I’m of the opinion that Eli has an enormous horse shoe lodged up his ass. Sometimes I wonder if you head is up yours.

[Backwards Masking]

Hopefully Denver doesnt go to the playoffs (obviously), but chances are if the play decent and Pey Pey stays healthy they will. It's sad but true, the Colts did it too many times not to deny that.

But I'm relieved knowing once they get there they don't have a prayer as Peyton is clearly the biggest choke artist in the "All Time Greatest" conversation.

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by Toad King

Sure he would. Those are the best teams in the league. They consistently win 10+ games.

Odds are those teams will be very good again.

Odds are low we end up facing Caleb Hanie, Curtis Painter and Kyle Boller again.

Your arguments are not logical. Logic is little tweeting bird chirping in meadow. Logic is wreath of pretty flowers that smell bad.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/...4b2051d7ff.jpg

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Well we're talking about things like "clutch plays" and "poise". Those types of things are a matter of inches.
I gleefully remember when Merriman caught Peyton by the shoe to end a potential game winning drive and I remember the Tyree play where it seemed like Eli's ass was grass twice before he chucked up the rainbow that landed on Tyree's head. Are you chalking up Eli's "poise" to talent as opposed to luck? Statistically, it’s not close. Peyton wins. I’m of the opinion that Eli has an enormous horse shoe lodged up his ass. Sometimes I wonder if you head is up yours.

I get it.

You're butthurt that Eli spurned your Chargers.

But the fact is, and I've told your dumb ass this before, Eli made that Tyree play.

The only ****ing reason people remember Tyree is the fact that he caught that ball with the help of his helmut.

They don't remmember that Eli escaped a certain sack and was able to get his head downfield to see an open receiver then threw a great pass that should have been an easy catch if Tyree doesn't **** up and bobble to begin with.

JFC.

[milkman]

And when you talk about luck if you make one or two big plays over the course of a couple of playoff seasons, then you might be able to attribute it to luck.

But when you do it again and again, and again, there's more than luck involved.

Eli just keeps making huge plays in huge moments.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by milkman

I get it.

You're butthurt that Eli spurned your Chargers.

But the fact is, and I've told your dumb ass this before, Eli made that Tyree play.

The only ****ing reason people remember Tyree is the fact that he caught that ball with the help of his helmut.

They don't remmember that Eli escaped a certain sack and was able to get his head downfield to see an open receiver then threw a great pass that should have been an easy catch if Tyree doesn't **** up and bobble to begin with.

JFC.

I'll openly admit I didn't like what Eli did in that draft but I'm still a rational football fan.
I'd mentioned in my post that Eli escaped 2 certain sacks. The question was do you chalk that up to talent or luck?

JFC.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Well we're talking about things like "clutch plays" and "poise". Those types of things are a matter of inches.
I gleefully remember when Merriman caught Peyton by the shoe to end a potential game winning drive and I remember the Tyree play where it seemed like Eli's ass was grass twice before he chucked up the rainbow that landed on Tyree's head. Are you chalking up Eli's "poise" to talent as opposed to luck? Statistically, it’s not close. Peyton wins. I’m of the opinion that Eli has an enormous horse shoe lodged up his ass. Sometimes I wonder if you head is up yours.

Did Eli ever toss a game costing pick-6 in a SB game? I know his brother did which is one reason why Eli has 2 SB rings to Peyton's 1.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

I'll openly admit I didn't like what Eli did in that draft but I'm still a rational football fan.
I'd mentioned in my post that Eli escaped 2 certain sacks. The question was do you chalk that up to talent or luck?

JFC.

I chalk it up to toughness, desire, and the will to never give up.

[SAUTO]

What about the pass to manningham? As good a it gets, especially at crunch time
Posted via Mobile Device

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

What about the pass to manningham? As good a it gets, especially at crunch time
Posted via Mobile Device

Nope, its luck. /bitter bolt fan

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by milkman

I chalk it up to toughness, desire, and the will to never give up.

Bottom line. Is Eli more talented than Peyton?

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Bottom line. Is Eli more talented than Peyton?

In the post season, he is.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Bottom line. Is Eli more talented than Peyton?

I'd rather have Eli in the postseason.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Bottom line. Is Eli more talented than Peyton?

Of course not.

But if talent was all it took to win championships, then Jeff George would be considered by everyone as one of the greatest QB ever, while Johnny Unitas would be sitting on his couch at home talking about his semi-pro football glory days.

[Quesadilla Joe]

I don't think there is a GM out there that would choose a 22 year old Eli over a 22 year old Peyton.

Eli is clutch, great. But so is Paul Pierce and nobody would choose Paul Pierce over LeBron.