Super Bowl Quarterbacks: What To Make Of Tom Brady and Eli Manning
by David Fucillo on Feb 6, 2012 7:30 AM PST
in NFL News
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PrintHeading into Super Bowl XLVI, there were two specific story lines related to the quarterbacks. One was how Tom Brady might measure up to Joe Montana if he won his fourth Super Bowl ring. The other story line was how Eli Manning would stack up against Peyton Manning if he claimed his second Super Bowl ring.
Well, after a riveting finish to the game, the first question is more or less off the table. Tom Brady has done some great things in his career, but 3-2 in Super Bowls and not taking the bull by the horns in late closing minute drives ends any discussion of Brady versus Montana. ItBurnzWhenIP made some interesting comments yesterday about Brady being overrated. I don't know if I'd say Brady "will be the most overrated player ever inducted to the Hall of Fame", but I think there are some intriguing points to be made about the system surrounding him and his great offensive line play. You can form your own opinion, but they are comments you don't hear every day.
As for the Super Bowl winner, Eli Manning? His is an intriguing case. While I think the "clutch" term can be a tough one to use, Eli has certainly made plays in crunch time. The Tyree catch in 2008 was a crazy play, but Eli did a great job of escaping the pass rush as the play fell apart around him. Yesterday's Manningham catch was a great play by the receiver, but also an excellent sideline throw by Eli.
Ranking quarterbacks in the all time pantheon is pretty hard to do while they are still playing. After all, whether it is fair or not, a single win or loss can drastically change opinions. While Brady is not necessarily any different today than he was prior to yesterday, being on the losing end of that game alters opinions.
Where do you place each in the pantheon of NFL quarterbacks? Joe Montana remains ensconced above them, but what tier(s) do they reside in at this point in their careers?
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By the time Eli is done...
… he will go down as the most clutch quarterback in NFL history, behind maybe only Montana.
The guy is elite. I think he’s always been under-rated. He does not have a great offensive line like Brees and Brady. Like Cutler, the guy gets hammered back there. We sacked the crap out of him in the NFC title game, and the Pats got to him several times as well.
But he has weapons on the outside and he knows how to use them. Hats off to Eli.
Alex Smith Will Win a Superbowl
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alex-Smith-Will-Win-a-Superbowl/205058042848290
by liberty_JAC on Feb 6, 2012 7:57 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Agreed. I was one who undersold him
The last 10 weeks of the season he was definitely the best QB in football.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 7, 2012 1:43 AM PST up reply actions
Not sure how I'd rank all the greats
But last week before the SB I was watching a video on NFL.com about where Peyton would go if he left the colts, the 9er’s being one of the favorites in the debate. My wife was listening in and asked would I want him? I looked at her and without hesitation I said I’d rather have Eli. So yeah I like Eli better than Peyton. They are both good though.
A proud member of the epic "Green Thread" that was Pitts nonsigning of 3/24-3/25. Oh and I was there for there for the Carr nonpresser too.
Because of the neck right?
I know Eli had a great year, but do you think he would have outperformed Peyton if Peytong played this year with the new rules? (obviously statistically, since it doesn’t get better than winning a SB)
Sufficiently advanced sarcasm is indistinguishable from being an @$$hole.
by So. Cal. Niner. Fan. on Feb 6, 2012 11:41 AM PST up reply actions
No
It’s because Eli can take a hit and not get as rattled. Brady and Peyton both seem to get rattled when they gets lots of pressure. They seem to start cussing at teammates and in Brady’s case this year his own coach.
Also I think Eli’s skill set fits what the 9ers do better than how Peyton runs Indy’s offense.
A proud member of the epic "Green Thread" that was Pitts nonsigning of 3/24-3/25. Oh and I was there for there for the Carr nonpresser too.
I look at like this
If brady stopped playing today hed be in the HOF the next day Eli still has work to do this is his break out season lets see him play at that level for a couple of seasons
by Moflush on Feb 6, 2012 8:00 AM PST via mobile reply actions
This is Eli's first season as truly great.
He was always good, but far too reckless, as noted by the 20+int seasons.
Sufficiently advanced sarcasm is indistinguishable from being an @$$hole.
by So. Cal. Niner. Fan. on Feb 6, 2012 11:43 AM PST up reply actions
eli manning over tom brady everytime
MONTANA FOR LIFE
eli is as good as steve young, kid is captain clutch…
Trade Sabean/jk...NO-BODY!!!...
I would put Eli a bit behind Young
Young was more mobile. If memory serves, that was also an early problem for him as he learned to settle down in the pocket more and not take off too soon. But at his peak, he was better then Eli now. Not sure Eli will ever overtake Young in my mind. I just think he lacks the mobility, but he does manage himself very well under pressure.
by ColoradoNiner on Feb 6, 2012 8:37 AM PST up reply actions
Young was better at everything, and he did it at a time when the NFL rulebook was still fairly kind to defenses.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Feb 6, 2012 9:00 AM PST up reply actions
Is 2 rings and one MVP type season enough to make it to Canton?
Sufficiently advanced sarcasm is indistinguishable from being an @$$hole.
by So. Cal. Niner. Fan. on Feb 6, 2012 11:45 AM PST up reply actions
Steve Young was right
Assuming Eli plays out the rest of his career respectably, he’s a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Only Plunkett has started for two Super Bowl winning teams and not gone in, right (of those eligible)?
Seems like Eli’s has the hardest part behind now.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Feb 6, 2012 9:09 AM PST up reply actions
Agreed. He will make it, but i don't think he is there yet.
Sufficiently advanced sarcasm is indistinguishable from being an @$$hole.
by So. Cal. Niner. Fan. on Feb 6, 2012 11:45 AM PST up reply actions
ItBurnzWhenIP is right...
…Brady is very overrated. As I pointed out elsewhere, Young and Montana were both better statistically than their contemporaries than Brady has been compared to his.
Super Bowls are a terrible way to evaluate QBs, but hopefully this loss will put an end to the ridiculous claim Brady is in the same league with Steve and Joe. It’s not even close.
Sorry, just to clarify...
…Marino’s career passer rating index is 113. That ranks 11th in NFL history.
SB wins indeed mean nothing much
Are Mark Rypien, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Doug Williams
all really equals to Steve Young?
^ This and ^^ That
Sufficiently advanced sarcasm is indistinguishable from being an @$$hole.
by So. Cal. Niner. Fan. on Feb 6, 2012 1:46 PM PST up reply actions
It's more how great his O-Line is, (Brady to his credit even said he had the best line in football),
how great the system has proven to be, (they inserted Cassel who hadn’t played a game since HS and barely missed a beat), and the fact that despite these amazing elements around him, he’s never taken over a game in the playoffs and driven the ball down the field to score when he needed to. Oh and he’s 0-2 in Super Bowls since spygate.
But to me the biggest part is the O-Line. He gets so much praise heaped on him while people ignore that when he’s actually getting pressured and hit (so rare!) he mentally collapses and has made mistakes consistently throughout his career. I think Kellen Moore could be absolutely fantastic in Belicheat’s system whereas throughout much of the league Moore could never be an NFL caliber QB. Brady does 1 thing amazing and 1 thing above average. He throws an incredibly accurate ball when he’s given all day to do it and he slides around well in the pocket. But his mental meltdowns when forced to move around will always crush him when compared to the greats.
Brady NEVER could have made the pass Montana did to Clark for the catch.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 7, 2012 1:55 AM PST up reply actions
How does Eli's jock smell?
No one can take away Eli’s rings, but look at his stats and his record and you tell me if he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Montana, Young, Marino, Favre, P. Manning, Elway. Eli is still way behind guys like Jim Kelly and Warren Moon in my opinion.
Hall of Fame shoe-in? Most clutch ever? C’mon man!
Ultra-projectable
I feel like I want to rage. Right now.
Yeah, I never thought I’d be taking the anti-Eli stance because before yesterday I’d just never seen anybody praise the guy. He just went from dramatically underrated to comically overrated in three and a half hours.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Feb 6, 2012 9:17 AM PST up reply actions
Hall of Fame
Barring him falling off a cliff statistically, he’s got fairly solid chance of finishing top ten in a lot of categories. Add in a pair of Super Bowl rings, with a chance for more before he retires and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get in the HOF with relative ease.
by David Fucillo on Feb 6, 2012 9:40 AM PST up reply actions
It wouldn't surprise me at all, but do you think he deserves it already?
Sufficiently advanced sarcasm is indistinguishable from being an @$$hole.
by So. Cal. Niner. Fan. on Feb 6, 2012 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
HOF
Just based on his numbers now, I think it’s an interesting case. Moving forward, aside from potentially more Super Bowls and defining moments, it’s all just about adding counting stats. I think he has done enough to justify entry into the Hall of Fame. He’s had some luck on his side, but he’s also made some great throws and twice led his team to victory over the favored opponent in the Super Bowl. I think his case likely only improves in the eyes of the voters, but I’d probably vote for him at this point.
by David Fucillo on Feb 6, 2012 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
2 Super Bowl MVPs
Name the other guys that have won 2 or more.
Now here’s the biggy. Name another QB that’s led 2 game winning 4th Quarter Touchdown drives. I really don’t know if there IS another guy that’s done that.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 7, 2012 2:07 AM PST up reply actions
I honestly don't know whether Eli is brilliant or stupid ...
He constantly throws to guys who are well covered … Risky? Dumb? When it’s successful (i.e., Tyree, yesterday’s sideline catch), he’s brilliant. When it’s not, it’s another interception. What’s not in question is his confidence and guts … few other QBs make those throws. Is he just lucky? Well, possibly … look at the team he plays for. Has there ever been a teem go through the playoffs with as many breaks and as much luck as the Giants … not just this year, but almost every time they’re in the playoffs? Almost uncannie.
by 49erFanSince1950 on Feb 6, 2012 10:04 AM PST reply actions
That throw to Manningham was in a place only he could catch it,
But Eli does have the gunslinger, Brett Favre, Jay Cutler, Rex Grossman mentality of “f#(k it, i can make any throw”
Sufficiently advanced sarcasm is indistinguishable from being an @$$hole.
by So. Cal. Niner. Fan. on Feb 6, 2012 11:50 AM PST up reply actions
Iam glad some1 notice
Even the 1st TD pass was a little reckless if mayo had turn around that would of been an easy pick 3 or 4 season at playing at this level and hes in the HOF
by Moflush on Feb 6, 2012 1:23 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
You got to throw it to have have some luck
in contrast to…
by asmithisaverage on Feb 6, 2012 12:32 PM PST up reply actions
and you've got to have receivers who will make the tough catch in traffic to have success doing that
let alone make the easy catches consistently
Not sure where Eli fits in the grand scheme of things as of yet , but Kudos to him , he's a tough S.O.B. ...!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!
That's what has earned my respect the most
He is one tough, goofy-looking bastard. He doesn’t have the elite offensive line but even while getting the hell beaten out of him he makes great throws.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 7, 2012 2:10 AM PST up reply actions
I think Eli will make the HoF...
I agree with So Cal that he’s just getting going. Eli could win 1 or 2 more before he’s done. And he tends to make plays when the chips are down. I don’t think he’s better than Young or Montana (yet). But he’s good. And still has time to get better.
I also agree I’d rather have Eli than Peyton. I wouldn’t rank Eli as one of the “elite” in today’s NFL. But that’s not a knock on him. More a reflection of the talent at the QB position in this day and age. Montana wasn’t considered “elite” either, until way late in his career.
I guess my point is Eli still has time (and room) to grow. In the near future, he may well be counted among the Bradys and Rodgers. Only thing is, Brady seems to have pretty well peaked out. Eli is still going.
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