What Makes An Elite QB

I got this IM from a co-worker that really got me thinking: "would you classify Roethlisberger with Rodgers, Brees, Brady, and Peyton as an elite QB?"

My response was "depends on how you define elite". What exactly makes a QB elite? Is it the number of Super Bowl rings you win? Is it the number of yards you throw for? Is it how you handle yourself on and off the field? Is it the ability to win games? Is it all of the above?

Clearly if you know anything about me I am a die hard Pittsburgh fan. I am not going to sit here though and tell you how awesome Big Ben is and he should be a hall of famer and he's elite just because he is on the team I like. I am not like that. I tell it how I see it and how I feel. Is he an elite QB? It still depends on what is an elite QB. Here are some of Big Ben's numbers along with other "elite" quarterbacks.

Since coming into the league in 2004 he is 80-33 in the regular season. 10-3 in the playoffs with 4 AFC championship appearances, Three Super Bowl appearances, Three AFC Championships, 2 Super Bowl championships, 2 time pro bowl. Career he has 165 Td's and 100 int's. 63% completion, 26,579 passing yards, 92.1 passer rating, 20 4th quarter comebacks and 26 game winning drives.

Now let's compare him to the other "elite" quarterbacks.

Drew Brees: has been in the league since 2001 and is 92-61 in the regular season and 4-3 in the playoffs. 1 Super Bowl ring. He has 281 td's and 146 int's. 65.9 completion %, 40,742 passing yards, a 94 passer rating, 19 4th quarter comebacks and 29 game winning drives.

Peyton Manning: Has been in the league since 1998 with a regular season record of 141-67, and 9-10 in the playoffs. 1 Super Bowl ring. He's thrown 399 td's and 198 int's. 64.9 completion %, 54,828 passing yards, 94.9 passer rating, 35 4th quarter comebacks, and 46 game winning drives.

Tom Brady: Has been in the league since 2000 and had his first start in 2001. He has a 124-35 regular season record and a 14-5 playoff record. He has won 3 Super Bowls. He has thrown for 39,979 yards 300 touchdowns and 115 interceptions. He has a 63.8 completion percentage, a 96.4 passer rating, 24 4th quarter comebacks and 34 game winning drives.

Aaron Rodgers: Has been in the league since 2005 and starting quarterback since 2008. He is 41-21 in the regular season and 4-2 in playoffs winning 1 Super Bowl. He's thrown for 17,366 yards 132 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He has a 65.4 completion %, a 104.1 rating, 3 4th quarter comebacks and 6 game winning drives.

So if all of these guys are elite quarterbacks strictly based on numbers an elite quarter back needs to have at least 1 super bowl ring, win around 65% of your regular season games, at least 6 playoff appearances, around 20,000 passing yards, around a 150 passing td's, completion percentage of 63% or higher, a career passer rating around 95 and some fourth quarter comebacks and game winning drives.

So does that mean these 3 guys should be considered elite quarterbacks because all they are lacking is the Super Bowl ring? Are they not elite because they do not have a ring? Does the ring make a quarterback elite? If Eli win's another ring but his numbers aren't like the other "elite" quarterbacks is he now elite because of the second ring?

Anyways, take a guess on who the following three are. I will label them A, B, C. Scroll down for answers. Don't cheat.

A):Been in the league since 2004 and started in 2006 has gone 47-30 and 1-3 in the playoffs. Has a completion rating of 64.5, thrown for 20,834 yards, 149 td's and 72 int's. Has a passer rating of 96.9 with 13 4th quarter comebacks and 14 game winning drives.
B):63-33 regular season record since being in the league since 2004 and starting in 2006. 3-4 in the playoffs. 63.5 completion record, 24,285 yards, 163 touchdowns and 78 interceptions, 95.5 passer rating, 13 4th quarter comebacks and 16 game winning drives.
C): Has been in the league and starting since 2008 with a 43-19 regular season record and a 0-2 playoff record. He has a 60.9 completion percentage, thrown for 14,238 yards, 95 touchdowns and 46 interceptions. A Rating of 88.4 and has 11 4th quarter comebacks and 16 game winning drives.

Yes some of these guys may not be elite because of lack of rings and only being in the league for a couple of years but so has Rodgers. Rodgers has had a great couple of years but what if his numbers go the other way? Can you then say hes not an elite quarter back? If any of A, B, or C get a ring in the next year or two are they then elite?

To me out of all the guys listed I would consider Tom Brady and Peyton Manning elite quarterbacks. Why you say? Well because they have had success in the league for several years. They have been on a variety of teams and still consistently are able to find success and put up numbers. They have post season success and they are guys that nobody ever wants to play week in and week out. With their elite skills they can lead a team to victory. Take for example Peyton not playing this season. The Colts win two games. Is it only because Peyton isn't there? No. But when have you seen Peyton be able to only win 2 games in a season? These guys have something special, something bigger than rings and numbers, they have something elite.

I'd be very interested to hear your arguements and points on what you think makes an elite quarterback. So comment back or send me an email and I will add your comments here. 30mclear44@gmail.com is my email.


Thanks for checking in, don't forget to scroll down to see the answers to who are the A, B, and C.















A= Tony Romo, B= Philip Rivers, C= Matt Ryan.