Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his.
-- General George S. Patton
December 12, 2004
It There Were Any Doubt...
Peyton Manning is UNARGUEABLY the single greatest quarterback to ever play the game.
His fans support him, other fans won't give him his due, but without a doubt statistically he is the greatest QB to ever play the game.
ESPN took the time to mathematically level the playing field comparing the greats since the AAFC and NFC merger in 1950.
What did they find? No surprise to me, Peyton Manning is number 1.
While it is not likely that he will cap this historic season with a Lombardi Trophy he will go down in history as the man who shattered Dan Marino's single season TD record. He is on track for 59 TD's this season. In fact after today he is only 2 TD's away from tying the record. He will destroy it.
We've gone through every quarterback season since the AAFC-NFL merger in 1950 to figure out the best passing performances in history. We created a level playing field by transferring each season to the offensive environment of 2004. If interceptions were more common than they are in 2004, we project fewer interceptions. If teams threw less often than they do now, we project more passing. If teams played only 14 games a year, we give the quarterback an extra two games -- and Manning and the other 2004 quarterbacks get an extra four games to make a full season.Then we created a formula that turns passes, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions into the same PAR points (points created above a replacement-level QB) that you find each week in the Snap Judgment QB ratings. Unfortunately, we can't break down every single play like we do for Snap Judgment, so we can't adjust quarterbacks who get stuck in bad field position or have no running game. We couldn't include sacks since those numbers don't exist for some seasons, and we didn't adjust for strength of schedule. Also, this is a list of the best passing seasons of all time, not necessarily the best quarterbacking seasons of all time. Rushing yardage isn't included, which is one reason why Steve Young's 1994 season didn't crack the top 10.
It turns out that Manning is indeed having a historic season -- the greatest of all time, in fact.
So all you silly Rothlisberger, Vick, and Culpepper fans will just have to sit back, wait and cross your fingers that one day, your QB might actually be fit to carry Peyton Manning’s jock strap.
Just thought I'd weigh in...
SlagleRock Out!
Peyton is the best STATISTICAL quarterback of all time, no question about that. But, in other measuring methods, he's *only* a top 10, probably a top 5.
He is having an unreal year, though. Could it have anything to do with having to show his brother how it's done?
Posted by: the Humble Devildog at December 12, 2004 06:26 PMI agree there are others who have won their Super Bowl titles, but Manning is a shoe in for the hall of fame and if the Colts get a little better defense and can tack down a Super Bowl win he will go down in history as the best ever. He is cleary top 5 at a minimum.
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by: SlagleRock at December 12, 2004 11:21 PMSince football is a team sport,it takes a complete team to win a Superbowl.No quarterback in history ever won one by themselves.
Several records will fall to Manning this season.He will be the standard that future quarterbacks will strive for.
At this point,I would have to agree.Peyton Manning is the greatest NFL quartetback that has ever lived.
Posted by: PappaSlagle at December 13, 2004 06:02 PMI would disagree with the contention that Peyton is the best quarterback ever. But only slightly disagree.
While I never got to see him play, I have yet to see anyone who came close to running a game the way Johnny Unitas did. In the intangible department, Johnny U. was head and shoulders above every one else. Johnny Unitas did more with less talent, which, to me, gives him the nod for best ever.
My favorite QB is still, and always will be, Bret Favre.
Posted by: the Humble Devildog at December 13, 2004 06:59 PMUNARGUEABLY, please you and I have this conversation alot. But Unargueably, take your pick but the following people would rather have Rings than records, FANS, coaches, owners and players. Listen to Dan Marino who STILL holds the record and he will be the first to tell you he would trade all that for a ring. The Greatest QB's are not mesured by some computer at espn, there mesuered by what they have contributed to their team and fans. While Im sure the people of Indi love Manning they also loved Artest and Oniel last year when they posted the NBA Best record. No Im not comparing Manning to them, I agree hes a fenom and I love that guy he is no doubt this years MVP, but when it comes to football I measure the secuss of a QB by how heavy his hand is, and Mannings is pretty light. But at least for the Colt fans their is light at the end of the tunnel, the cloud never seams to leave the Seahawks alone.
Posted by: Defender1 at December 18, 2004 07:10 AMVery nice comments you guys have here, congratulations and thanks to allowing my post...
Posted by: Phendimetrazine at April 15, 2005 02:09 PM