Mister Bird Flu summed it up nicely in one word.

"IT"

I think the mental/emotional aspects to a QB's game - how he performs under pressure, how well he goes through progressions, what he works on in his off days, how he reacts to and leads his teammates, etc.

Trent Green had a lot more "it" than people want to give him credit for. He was a good leader and had the respect of his teammates. He took tough hits and got up. He was never afraid to lead the way with a block. He wasn't fast, but he scrambled and went for the first down marker when he had to. Some people act like he had a weaker arm than Pennington.

You listed Peyton Manning as a franchise QB, though. To me, Peyton is also a game manager. I figured that was just part of what it takes.

I'm inclined to agree with you. It's just not as clear with him because he had a HoF supporting cast and seemed to get overshadowed by them.

This.

You leave any time on the clock late in the game, and this type of QB will find a way to get it done. I didn't see to many Falcons games last year, but I did happen to be watching when the Bears had a victory in their back pocket, and let Ryan back on the field. Dude made them pay. To early to put him in that class listed above, but that is what franchise QB's do.

Never say game manager and Peyton Manning in the same sentance.

Literally speaking, every QB "manages" a game, but this isn't the primary connotation of the word in NFL terms.

Left-handed compliment.

The ability to win consistently....and in the postseason.

The problem with Trent Greens it is he wasn't really good in pressure situation...

Accuracy, brains, the ability to stay healthy. Everything else is a bonus.

Eh I wouldn't say this. He wasn't Elway maybe but he wasn't a choker by any means. He led a lot of important drives late in games in his five good years.

I have an old franchise QB who gets hurt a lot now. When he went down in my last season my offense went to shit. I lost in the first round of the playoffs despite having the #1 seed because of it. My backup has some talent but he's just not accurate enough downfield. He even has ridiculous speed, but it doesn't make him for his lack of accuracy. Of course my receivers dropped five passes, which didn't help. But I killed the other team on the ground and my defense played an awesome game, until overtime when they collapsed...because I only scored 13 points...because my ****ing quarterback choked....of course losing my surest-handed receiver didn't help. Basically it was a nightmare.

He's 36 now but I refuse to trade him. I'm going Carl Peterson and loading up on free agents. I might go a little conservative on offense to keep him healthy, though. He's lost a lot of his athleticism so I'm afraid what might happen if I expose him to the rush too much.

When the game is on the line with less than two minutes to go, a game manager will look at the sidelines with a ****ing reeruned look on his face. He will, in essence, confirm the fact that he has no balls.

A franchise QB carries the team on his back and wins the game.


Sample Quiz:

1. With 1:05 left in the game at your own 35, who do you want at QB?
a. Peyton Manning
b. Kyle Orton
c. Kerry Collins
d. Jeff Garcia

2. If you could have any QB to lead your team, who would you pick from the following choices?
a. Trent Dilfer, 2000 Baltimore Ravens
b. Mark Rypien, 1991 Washington Redskins
c. Brad Johnson, 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
d. Joe Montana, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

3. If the Chiefs had the #1 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, who would you want them to take?
1. Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA
2. Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State
3. Tony Mandarich, OT, Michigan State
4. Deion Sanders, CB, Florida State
5. Derrick Thomas, LB, Alabama

True Fan answers:

1) b, c or d

2) a, b or c

3) 2, 3 4 or 5.

Important drives, or game winning drives?

Game winning drives, sure.