2008 Woodie Awards
Brett Favre: best QB ever
Jason Nevel
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Sports
A common sports trivia question that has been asked for the past 16 years is "Who was the first person Brett Favre completed an NFL pass to?" The answer: Brett Favre. The pass was the first of 5,377 completions in the gunslinger's 17-year career.
Favre retired Tuesday to the shock and dismay of millions of football fans across the country - myself included. However, the debate has already begun over where Favre ranks on the list of the top quarterbacks of all time.
Here is my list of the Top 5 QBs in NFL history:
1. Favre. Just look at the record book. Favre holds the career record for touchdowns (442), passing yards (61,655), passing attempts (8,758), completions (5,377), career wins as a starting QB (160) and he holds the record for consecutive starts at QB (253). On top of that, Favre is the only player in NFL history to win three MVP awards and he took the Packers to two Super Bowls, winning one against the New England Patriots in the 1996-1997 season. Yet, despite all of his accolades, the thing that separates Favre from the rest of the pack (pun intended) was the surrounding cast he played with. Favre never got to throw to Jerry Rice, Lynn Swann or Randy Moss.
2. Joe Montana. Nobody was cooler under pressure than Montana. He didn't come to the huddle with cockiness but rather a sense of inevitability. Everyone knew what Cool Joe was capable of, and more times than not he delivered. Montana won four Super Bowls with the 49ers and delivered one of the most memorable plays in NFL history, which is now known as "The Catch." He finished his career with 273 TDs and a QB rating of 92.3. Montana ranks first on most people's list, but I am dropping him below Favre because the numbers don't stack up. Also, he played with arguably the greatest player in NFL history, Jerry Rice.
3. John Elway. He will be remembered as the guy you want to lead a late-fourth-quarter drive. In 1987, Elway had one of the most memorable drives in NFL history when he led the Broncos on a 98-yard, game-tying drive in the AFC Championship. Elway was knocked early in his career for not being able to win the big game but proved critics wrong when he won back-to-back Super Bowls. Elway is third all-time in passing yards and second in wins by a quarterback.
Favre retired Tuesday to the shock and dismay of millions of football fans across the country - myself included. However, the debate has already begun over where Favre ranks on the list of the top quarterbacks of all time.
Here is my list of the Top 5 QBs in NFL history:
1. Favre. Just look at the record book. Favre holds the career record for touchdowns (442), passing yards (61,655), passing attempts (8,758), completions (5,377), career wins as a starting QB (160) and he holds the record for consecutive starts at QB (253). On top of that, Favre is the only player in NFL history to win three MVP awards and he took the Packers to two Super Bowls, winning one against the New England Patriots in the 1996-1997 season. Yet, despite all of his accolades, the thing that separates Favre from the rest of the pack (pun intended) was the surrounding cast he played with. Favre never got to throw to Jerry Rice, Lynn Swann or Randy Moss.
2. Joe Montana. Nobody was cooler under pressure than Montana. He didn't come to the huddle with cockiness but rather a sense of inevitability. Everyone knew what Cool Joe was capable of, and more times than not he delivered. Montana won four Super Bowls with the 49ers and delivered one of the most memorable plays in NFL history, which is now known as "The Catch." He finished his career with 273 TDs and a QB rating of 92.3. Montana ranks first on most people's list, but I am dropping him below Favre because the numbers don't stack up. Also, he played with arguably the greatest player in NFL history, Jerry Rice.
3. John Elway. He will be remembered as the guy you want to lead a late-fourth-quarter drive. In 1987, Elway had one of the most memorable drives in NFL history when he led the Broncos on a 98-yard, game-tying drive in the AFC Championship. Elway was knocked early in his career for not being able to win the big game but proved critics wrong when he won back-to-back Super Bowls. Elway is third all-time in passing yards and second in wins by a quarterback.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Tim
posted 3/06/08 @ 8:51 AM CST
I agree with your assessment on Favre. Two additional points to consider: 1. He played 2 and a-half seasons with a sprained thumb and no feeling in his throwing hand. (Continued…)
You're joking, right?
posted 3/09/08 @ 1:24 AM CST
I think you might have failed to mention in your "list" that Favre also holds the record for most interceptions thrown in NFL history. Not to mention the number of rings Favre has: one compared to Montana's three. (Continued…)
Ed
posted 3/10/08 @ 4:34 PM CST
what an embarassment...will someone please correct the spelling of Brett's last name in the headline?? c'mon pay better attention we're trying to look professional here
UMM?
posted 3/11/08 @ 6:32 PM CST
Who is Farve? I had no idea he played for the Packers.....I do know of a faVRe.....maybe you should clarify who you are talking about the title a little bit better. (Continued…)
S Smith
posted 10/20/08 @ 7:05 AM CST
Brett Farve may have seemed like a good guy but what kind of person calls the teams the Packers are going to play to tell them the the Packers offense plays? That is Brett Farve. (Continued…)
Troglodyte
Kris
posted 10/20/08 @ 4:01 PM CST
I think you have a "tough row to hoe" in suggesting Favre as the best QB ever. There will always be someone who thinks that the QB from their "favorite" team is the GREATEST!!!! It is the same as saying who the greatest baseball player is, there are so many players from differing eras that the metric for deciding is too hard. (Continued…)
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