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Best of the rest? Looks like Big Ben, Romo
Brady, Peyton Manning clearly top QBs, but there are five other good ones
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has bounced back strongly from last season's subpar performance, writes msnbc.com contributor Steve Silverman.
OPINION
By Steve Silverman
MSNBC contributor
Steve Silverman
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
They are the NFL’s clear leaders at quarterback. Based on this season, Brady and his 33-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio have lapped the field. Based on what he has done throughout his career, Manning is on pace to join Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana and Dan Marino on the NFL’s Mount Rushmore of quarterbacks.
Quarterback play around the league has been called into question in recent seasons. Take the Chicago Bears. Sid Luckman played for the Bears from 1939 through 1950, yet his name is still atop many of the passing categories in the Bears’ record book. Rex Grossman, the Bears’ starter in Super Bowl XLI, was basically asked not to screw up rather than win games. When his inconsistent ways turned disastrous at the start of this season, he was replaced by retread Brian Griese. Grossman remained on the bench until the Bears’ Week 10 game at Oakland. He was forced into action when Griese suffered a shoulder injury.
But despite the inability of the Bears, Vikings, Dolphins, Ravens and Chiefs to produce a consistent quarterback, there are some good ones in the league who are vying for the No. 3 spot behind the two glamour boys.
Lets’ take a look at their strengths and weaknesses and rank them behind Brady (No. 1) and Manning (No. 2).
3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh: His brutal 2006 season was largely the result of physical problems and great stress. After an offseason motorcycle accident that could have cost him his life and threw him off his training schedule, Roethlisberger had an emergency appendectomy before the start of the season. Former coach Bill Cowher constantly pressed him to get back into the lineup and he was clearly not at full strength. As a result, Roethlisberger could not go out and cut it loose. He had the psychological hurdle of having to protect himself on every snap.
The 2007 season has been a joy for Roethlisberger. Not only is he back to full health, he is playing for enthusiastic rookie coach Mike Tomlin and not the demanding Cowher. Roethlisberger is simply going out and playing the game the way he can instead of having to prove himself constantly to a high-pressure coach. Roethlisberger is completing 66.7 percent of his passes and has a 22-7 TD-interception ratio. His 110.2 passer rating is second to Brady’s 131.7 and he is averaging 8.3 yards per completion. Roethlisberger also uses his size and strength to his advantage because he can shake off tacklers. His 30-yard TD run in the fourth quarter against the Browns in Week 10 was one of the decisive plays in Pittsburgh’s 31-28 comeback victory.
If any team is going to derail New England this season, the Steelers appear to have the best opportunity and Roethlisberger’s play is perhaps the key reason.
Scout’s take: “Big, strong, healthy and accurate. I have always liked him and last year was a fluke. He can make big plays when the game is on the line and he doesn’t need the ego strokes that some quarterbacks demand.”
4. Tony Romo, Dallas: He exploded out of the gate in midseason a year ago when Bill Parcells inserted him into the starting lineup ahead of Drew Bledsoe. He had a couple of hiccups down the stretch and his botched hold of a game-winning field-goal attempt in the wild-card game at Seattle last year left many wondering if Romo’s psyche had been damaged.
Those worries have been flushed away with ease. Romo has the look of a rock star on tour as he leads the versatile Cowboys offense with purpose while he plays with a sense of ease. Romo is athletic and has a quick release but his greatest strength may be his creativity. Romo knows he can avoid the first wave of the pass rush and is very dangerous throwing the ball on the run.
Romo is the leading quarterback in the NFC, having completed 190 of 292 passes for 2,555 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 picks. He does not have the strongest arm in the league but his sense of anticipation allows him to make up for that slight deficiency. He has somehow developed an excellent relationship with Terrell Owens and that gives the Cowboys a legitimate chance to get to the Super Bowl.
Scout’s take: “I don’t think he’s the best quarterback around but he is the best quarterback for that team. Tremendous leadership ability and intangibles. Not a guy who will yell and scream but players will listen and follow. Puts the ball where receiver will be and that leads to big plays.”
5. Brett Favre, Green Bay: The legend has enjoyed a renaissance season in Cheeseland. After dancing around the retirement question each of the last three offseasons, Favre returned to a team that has shown a dominant defense and he has adapted to coach Mike McCarthy’s edict to become more of a game manager and less of a gunslinger. While that characterization is usually reserved for poor quarterbacks, in Favre’s case it just meant easing off the throttle and not trying to do everything. The results have been startling. Favre is leading the league with an average of 306.3 passing yards per game and has thrown 16 TD passes and has thrown just eight interceptions. He had thrown 47 picks in 2005 and 2006.
That had been the biggest complaint critics had about Favre. His confidence in his arm strength had skewed his judgment and he took too many risks. He had a veteran’s confidence and savvy, but his inability to avoid the picks was beyond troubling.
Why the improvement this year? It’s certainly not because the Packers have a dominant running game. Newcomer Ryan Grant has given them a lift in wins over the Chiefs and Vikings, but there was no ground attack before that. Favre has simply meshed with the Packers’ defense which has improved steadily the last two seasons. Barring a complete collapse the Packers will be back in the playoffs in January and Favre will have an opportunity to make an improbable run at a second Super Bowl championship at the conclusion of his 17th season.
Scout’s take: “Arm strength remains intact and is no longer taking huge risks by frequently forcing the ball into tight spaces. Content to play with the team and not carry it.”
6. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati: The Bengals are trying to battle back after a woeful start and even though the team is just 3-6, there is hope that they can do it. Much of that is because they have one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league.
Palmer has all the physical gifts a scout looks for in a quarterback. He is big, strong, smart and has the arm to make any throw in the game. Palmer also has the experience to set up opposing cornerbacks with the pump fake or by going against previous tendencies. With all of those attributes it seems amazing that the Bengals are not challenging the Patriots and the Colts, but coach Marvin Lewis has been unable to control his players and the lack of discipline that leads to Bengals players popping up in the police blotter also leads to costly in-game mistakes.
Some of that may fall on Palmer because he has not been able to impress upon his teammates the need to avoid those embarrassments. It’s not that he hasn’t tried because he has called out his teammates for their boorish behavior and costly mistakes on a couple of occasions. However, little has changed and that’s why the Bengals are in last place in the NFC North.
The Bengals’ 21-7 win over the Ravens in Week 10 was somewhat encouraging. If the Cincinnati running game can start to make a contribution — it ranks 28th in yards per game — perhaps Palmer can open things up. He has completed 64.9 percent of his passes and has thrown for 2,464 with 16 passes and 10 interceptions. His ability to throw the long ball with both touch and velocity in clutch situations is not to be underestimated and gives the Bengals a puncher’s chance of turning their season around.
Scout’s take: “I’d love to see him on a real team instead of the group he’s with. For a kid who grew up on scholarship, he is tough, responsible and determined. Combine that with all his natural gifts and you get a great quarterback. The only problem is his supporting cast.”
7. Derek Anderson, Cleveland: He may still be somewhat unproven, but if the NFL gave out an award for the most improved player in the league, Anderson would be a clear winner this season. The Browns appeared destined for a last-place season after Charlie Frye’s performance in the season opener, but give credit to Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage for cutting their losses, trading Frye to Seattle and giving the job to Anderson. Instead of serving as a caretaker while Brady Quinn readied himself for the job, Anderson has stepped in and taken the responsibility of running the offense with determination and surprising talent. His size — he’s 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds — allows him to see over the top of the defense. He usually finds the open receiver and has taken advantage of a talented crew that includes Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and dependable Joe Jurevicius.
Since the Browns have had such shocking success, they have played themselves into playoff contention. They have been able to surprise opponents to this point but that is unlikely to be the case coming down the stretch. Opposing defensive coordinators will try to gameplan against Anderson and that means bringing pressure from different angles. He has only been sacked eight times and thrown nine interceptions. How he reacts to more sophisticated blitz packages will determine the Browns’ success this season and Anderson’s long-term viability.
He is an accurate passer who has taken the responsibility for running the Browns offense and done a fine job so far. He has thrown for 2,234 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions and has shown that he is a legitimate NFL quarterback.
Scout’s take: “He’s a smart, sharp guy who has taken advantage of an opportunity. If the Browns feel they have to give the job to Quinn (eventually), Anderson is still making himself a lot of money with his performance. This team has had so many problems at the position that they better think twice before they go with the high draft pick over this guy.”
Steve Silverman writes regularly for msnbc.com out of Chicago and is the author of the Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Best of the rest? Looks like Big Ben, Romo
Brady, Peyton Manning clearly top QBs, but there are five other good ones
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has bounced back strongly from last season's subpar performance, writes msnbc.com contributor Steve Silverman.OPINION
By Steve Silverman
MSNBC contributor
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
They are the NFL’s clear leaders at quarterback. Based on this season, Brady and his 33-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio have lapped the field. Based on what he has done throughout his career, Manning is on pace to join Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana and Dan Marino on the NFL’s Mount Rushmore of quarterbacks.
Quarterback play around the league has been called into question in recent seasons. Take the Chicago Bears. Sid Luckman played for the Bears from 1939 through 1950, yet his name is still atop many of the passing categories in the Bears’ record book. Rex Grossman, the Bears’ starter in Super Bowl XLI, was basically asked not to screw up rather than win games. When his inconsistent ways turned disastrous at the start of this season, he was replaced by retread Brian Griese. Grossman remained on the bench until the Bears’ Week 10 game at Oakland. He was forced into action when Griese suffered a shoulder injury.
But despite the inability of the Bears, Vikings, Dolphins, Ravens and Chiefs to produce a consistent quarterback, there are some good ones in the league who are vying for the No. 3 spot behind the two glamour boys.
Lets’ take a look at their strengths and weaknesses and rank them behind Brady (No. 1) and Manning (No. 2).
3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh: His brutal 2006 season was largely the result of physical problems and great stress. After an offseason motorcycle accident that could have cost him his life and threw him off his training schedule, Roethlisberger had an emergency appendectomy before the start of the season. Former coach Bill Cowher constantly pressed him to get back into the lineup and he was clearly not at full strength. As a result, Roethlisberger could not go out and cut it loose. He had the psychological hurdle of having to protect himself on every snap.
The 2007 season has been a joy for Roethlisberger. Not only is he back to full health, he is playing for enthusiastic rookie coach Mike Tomlin and not the demanding Cowher. Roethlisberger is simply going out and playing the game the way he can instead of having to prove himself constantly to a high-pressure coach. Roethlisberger is completing 66.7 percent of his passes and has a 22-7 TD-interception ratio. His 110.2 passer rating is second to Brady’s 131.7 and he is averaging 8.3 yards per completion. Roethlisberger also uses his size and strength to his advantage because he can shake off tacklers. His 30-yard TD run in the fourth quarter against the Browns in Week 10 was one of the decisive plays in Pittsburgh’s 31-28 comeback victory.
If any team is going to derail New England this season, the Steelers appear to have the best opportunity and Roethlisberger’s play is perhaps the key reason.
Scout’s take: “Big, strong, healthy and accurate. I have always liked him and last year was a fluke. He can make big plays when the game is on the line and he doesn’t need the ego strokes that some quarterbacks demand.”
4. Tony Romo, Dallas: He exploded out of the gate in midseason a year ago when Bill Parcells inserted him into the starting lineup ahead of Drew Bledsoe. He had a couple of hiccups down the stretch and his botched hold of a game-winning field-goal attempt in the wild-card game at Seattle last year left many wondering if Romo’s psyche had been damaged.
Those worries have been flushed away with ease. Romo has the look of a rock star on tour as he leads the versatile Cowboys offense with purpose while he plays with a sense of ease. Romo is athletic and has a quick release but his greatest strength may be his creativity. Romo knows he can avoid the first wave of the pass rush and is very dangerous throwing the ball on the run.
Romo is the leading quarterback in the NFC, having completed 190 of 292 passes for 2,555 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 picks. He does not have the strongest arm in the league but his sense of anticipation allows him to make up for that slight deficiency. He has somehow developed an excellent relationship with Terrell Owens and that gives the Cowboys a legitimate chance to get to the Super Bowl.
Scout’s take: “I don’t think he’s the best quarterback around but he is the best quarterback for that team. Tremendous leadership ability and intangibles. Not a guy who will yell and scream but players will listen and follow. Puts the ball where receiver will be and that leads to big plays.”
5. Brett Favre, Green Bay: The legend has enjoyed a renaissance season in Cheeseland. After dancing around the retirement question each of the last three offseasons, Favre returned to a team that has shown a dominant defense and he has adapted to coach Mike McCarthy’s edict to become more of a game manager and less of a gunslinger. While that characterization is usually reserved for poor quarterbacks, in Favre’s case it just meant easing off the throttle and not trying to do everything. The results have been startling. Favre is leading the league with an average of 306.3 passing yards per game and has thrown 16 TD passes and has thrown just eight interceptions. He had thrown 47 picks in 2005 and 2006.
That had been the biggest complaint critics had about Favre. His confidence in his arm strength had skewed his judgment and he took too many risks. He had a veteran’s confidence and savvy, but his inability to avoid the picks was beyond troubling.
Why the improvement this year? It’s certainly not because the Packers have a dominant running game. Newcomer Ryan Grant has given them a lift in wins over the Chiefs and Vikings, but there was no ground attack before that. Favre has simply meshed with the Packers’ defense which has improved steadily the last two seasons. Barring a complete collapse the Packers will be back in the playoffs in January and Favre will have an opportunity to make an improbable run at a second Super Bowl championship at the conclusion of his 17th season.
Scout’s take: “Arm strength remains intact and is no longer taking huge risks by frequently forcing the ball into tight spaces. Content to play with the team and not carry it.”
6. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati: The Bengals are trying to battle back after a woeful start and even though the team is just 3-6, there is hope that they can do it. Much of that is because they have one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league.
Palmer has all the physical gifts a scout looks for in a quarterback. He is big, strong, smart and has the arm to make any throw in the game. Palmer also has the experience to set up opposing cornerbacks with the pump fake or by going against previous tendencies. With all of those attributes it seems amazing that the Bengals are not challenging the Patriots and the Colts, but coach Marvin Lewis has been unable to control his players and the lack of discipline that leads to Bengals players popping up in the police blotter also leads to costly in-game mistakes.
Some of that may fall on Palmer because he has not been able to impress upon his teammates the need to avoid those embarrassments. It’s not that he hasn’t tried because he has called out his teammates for their boorish behavior and costly mistakes on a couple of occasions. However, little has changed and that’s why the Bengals are in last place in the NFC North.
The Bengals’ 21-7 win over the Ravens in Week 10 was somewhat encouraging. If the Cincinnati running game can start to make a contribution — it ranks 28th in yards per game — perhaps Palmer can open things up. He has completed 64.9 percent of his passes and has thrown for 2,464 with 16 passes and 10 interceptions. His ability to throw the long ball with both touch and velocity in clutch situations is not to be underestimated and gives the Bengals a puncher’s chance of turning their season around.
Scout’s take: “I’d love to see him on a real team instead of the group he’s with. For a kid who grew up on scholarship, he is tough, responsible and determined. Combine that with all his natural gifts and you get a great quarterback. The only problem is his supporting cast.”
7. Derek Anderson, Cleveland: He may still be somewhat unproven, but if the NFL gave out an award for the most improved player in the league, Anderson would be a clear winner this season. The Browns appeared destined for a last-place season after Charlie Frye’s performance in the season opener, but give credit to Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage for cutting their losses, trading Frye to Seattle and giving the job to Anderson. Instead of serving as a caretaker while Brady Quinn readied himself for the job, Anderson has stepped in and taken the responsibility of running the offense with determination and surprising talent. His size — he’s 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds — allows him to see over the top of the defense. He usually finds the open receiver and has taken advantage of a talented crew that includes Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and dependable Joe Jurevicius.
Since the Browns have had such shocking success, they have played themselves into playoff contention. They have been able to surprise opponents to this point but that is unlikely to be the case coming down the stretch. Opposing defensive coordinators will try to gameplan against Anderson and that means bringing pressure from different angles. He has only been sacked eight times and thrown nine interceptions. How he reacts to more sophisticated blitz packages will determine the Browns’ success this season and Anderson’s long-term viability.
He is an accurate passer who has taken the responsibility for running the Browns offense and done a fine job so far. He has thrown for 2,234 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions and has shown that he is a legitimate NFL quarterback.
Scout’s take: “He’s a smart, sharp guy who has taken advantage of an opportunity. If the Browns feel they have to give the job to Quinn (eventually), Anderson is still making himself a lot of money with his performance. This team has had so many problems at the position that they better think twice before they go with the high draft pick over this guy.”
Steve Silverman writes regularly for msnbc.com out of Chicago and is the author of the Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
