Who is the better quarterback: Eli Manning or Tony Romo?

[Ren]

Eli is better at this point it's absurd to argue other wise

No one has ever had to make excuses for him like we do for Romo i'm guessing the 9 pages of this tread so far are full of them for Romo

 

[perrykemp]

Eli is better at this point it's absurd to argue other wise

No one has ever had to make excuses for him like we do for Romo i'm guessing 9 pages of this tread are full of them for Romo

But wait:

IF Romo played for the Giants he would have won those Superbowls
IF Romo had the the Giants OL he would have won the Superbowls
IF Romo would have the Giants DL he would have won those Superbowls
IF Romo was as lucky as Eli he would have won those Superbowls
IF Romo has a secondary as good as the Giants he would have won those Superbowls
IF
IF
IF

Someone posted it earlier and I thought it really brought it home -- in 2007 Romo had 12 other pro-bowlers on his team..... The Giants had exactly 1.

I don't buy this bunk that the Giants had a better team.

Many here are unwilling to attribute any portion of the responsibility for the Giants winning two superbowls to their QB, Eli Manning, and it is actually comical the lengths people go through to argue otherwise.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Many here are unwilling to attribute any portion of the responsibility for the Giants winning two superbowls to their QB, Eli Manning, and it is actually comical the lengths people go through to argue otherwise.

Well, I understand.

This is a Cowboys forum and unless the evidence is overwhelming they'll homer-out for the Cowboys side of the argument. I get that.

Tony Romo is a fine, fine QB.

There isn't a lot of difference between he and Eli, but what Eli did at the end of 2011 gave him a "nose" lead IMO.

Let's see how Tony responds in 2012.

Nothing would make me happier than to post, "Tony Romo is a better QB than Eli Manning– now that Tony has better stats AND a Super Bowl trophy to match."

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Many here are unwilling to attribute any portion of the responsibility for the Giants winning two superbowls to their QB, Eli Manning, and it is actually comical the lengths people go through to argue otherwise.

The thing is, they don't have to argue otherwise. They just have to argue that Eli deserves only a portion of the credit for what should generally be considered a team accomplishment. Likewise, they can argue that Romo deserves only a portion of the blame for his team's lack of similar accomplishment. Viewed in that light, there is room for reasonable disagreement here.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree it's not an individual game.

But there's a reason why Roger and Troy are considered better QB's than Danny White even though White put up flashier stats.

If anyone came on here and said Danny White was a better QB than Roger or Troy, they would be committed to an asylum.

I think all 3 were very good QB's but in the end it still came down to guys like Pearson making great catches at the right moments to change a game and a defense in Doomsday that did not let teams back in. Or Irvin and Emmitt coming up big at big moments. Wins and loses are about players coming up big at critcal moments, yes QB is part of that but that QB depends on these other guys to step up. The Hailmary was not a great pass it was a great play by Drew who came back to the ball out fought the CB stayed on his feet and went into the endzone. Had Drew not made that catch we lose to the Vikes.

Same with Eli, when you hang a ball up and a TE who had done little jumps up catches the ball with one arm and his helmet and hauls in a critical pass at a critical moment it was not all about the QB.

What I see our team accomplishment being given to 1 and that is just not the case. What makes a great player be it WR, RB, QB or any other position it is the high consistentcy in which they play with. This is why Marino was a great QB and guys like Fouts they could play with the consistentcy to help their team but they were never going to win it all without others be if offensive teammates or defensive ones. Teams step up and make big plays at big moments

 

[Doomsday101]

Well, I understand.

This is a Cowboys forum and unless the evidence is overwhelming they'll homer-out for the Cowboys side of the argument. I get that.

Tony Romo is a fine, fine QB.

There isn't a lot of difference between he and Eli, but what Eli did at the end of 2011 gave him a "nose" lead IMO.

Let's see how Tony responds in 2012.

Nothing would make me happier than to post, "Tony Romo is a better QB than Eli Manning– now that Tony has better stats AND a Super Bowl trophy to match."

I would agree with you if we judge them on their own play not something like a SB that again takes others. Eli does not always make great throws he has had guys who step up and make great catches. Right now I don't see our guys doing this I see guys with the dropped passes at big moments. I see guys telling the media I lost it in the lights. When the big moment comes do your guys step up. Championship teams do, be it Dwight Clark making the catch, or Lynn Swann making the jugling catch over a defender or Pearson hauling in the hailmary. When the moment comes do we step up as a team?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think all 3 were very good QB's but in the end it still came down to guys like Pearson making great catches at the right moments to change a game and a defense in Doomsday that did not let teams back in. Or Irvin and Emmitt coming up big at big moments. Wins and loses are about players coming up big at critcal moments, yes QB is part of that but that QB depends on these other guys to step up. The Hailmary was not a great pass it was a great play by Drew who came back to the ball out fought the CB stayed on his feet and went into the endzone. Had Drew not made that catch we lose to the Vikes.

Same with Eli, when you hang a ball up and a TE who had done little jumps up catches the ball with one arm and his helmet and hauls in a critical pass at a critical moment it was not all about the QB.

What I see our team accomplishment being given to 1 and that is just not the case. What makes a great player be it WR, RB, QB or any other position it is the high consistentcy in which they play with. This is why Marino was a great QB and guys like Fouts they could play with the consistentcy to help their team but they were never going to win it all without others be if offensive teammates or defensive ones. Teams step up and make big plays at big moments

I agree with those thoughts.

And I think rightly or wrongly a QB is going to be elevated a few notches or knocked down a few depending on the overall performance of the team.

 

[ufcrules1]

But wait:

IF Romo played for the Giants he would have won those Superbowls
IF Romo had the the Giants OL he would have won the Superbowls
IF Romo would have the Giants DL he would have won those Superbowls
IF Romo was as lucky as Eli he would have won those Superbowls
IF Romo has a secondary as good as the Giants he would have won those Superbowls
IF
IF
IF

Someone posted it earlier and I thought it really brought it home -- in 2007 Romo had 12 other pro-bowlers on his team..... The Giants had exactly 1.

I don't buy this bunk that the Giants had a better team.

Many here are unwilling to attribute any portion of the responsibility for the Giants winning two superbowls to their QB, Eli Manning, and it is actually comical the lengths people go through to argue otherwise.

This right here. Eli was a big reason his team won the superbowl. He was a machine in the playoffs.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree with those thoughts.

And I think rightly or wrongly a QB is going to be elevated a few notches or knocked down a few depending on the overall performance of the team.

I agree that is how many people will view it. I tend to view a bit differently as in the consistency of that player. I have said many times that I agree with the coaches when they claim that QB's get too much credit for wins and too much blame for losses. Romo shares in the blame of this team not achieving what we hope for but the rest of the team also is responsible.

We can't have our OL melt down vs quality defense, we can't have WR not making the difficult play or a defense who gives away the leads late in games. They all share in it but I don't see Ware being taken to task and no will dispute how good he is.

I tend to agree with an earlier post about he lack of mental toughness by this team and that is something Garrett and his staff will have to change

 

[Vtwin]

You've zero'd in on something I think is important in this discussion. In Eli's two SB playoffs runs, he beat:

2007

Romo (In Dallas)
Favre ( At Lambeau)
Brady (Neutral Field)

2011

Rogers (at Lambeau)
Brady (Neutral field)

Just look at that level of competition. He beat others (Ryan, Alex Smith, etc).

Romo's single playoff victory was against a Donovan McNabb who was pretty much shot (the loss was his last game as an Eagle).

Ridiculous argument.

Manning did not beat those QB's. The Giants DEFENSE beat those QB's.


If anything this argument lends credence to the Manning = Busdriver argument.

You're starting a team. You get to pick either Romo or Manning for your QB. Who do you take?

For me that is an easy choice.

 

[Doomsday101]

Ridiculous argument.

Manning did not beat those QB's. The Giants DEFENSE beat those QB's.


If anything this argument lends credence to the Manning = Busdriver argument.

You're starting a team. You get to pick either Romo or Manning for your QB. Who do you take?

For me that is an easy choice.

I think Manning is more than just a bus driver, he is a very talented player. In my view the differance is NY as a team will step it up and we don't. Romo is not going to change that and Eli did not cause NY to step up as a team.

 

[gbrittain]

OK.

How about Eli is 8-1 in the playoffs since 2007.

Tony is 1-2.

Usually these conversations are pointless, but clearly you are not a hater and more than reasonable...so I'll bite.

One could also say the Giants are 8-1 in the playoffs and the Cowboys are 1-2.

As I have said many times before Romo's legacy will be no where near that of Eli's barring a Super Bowl win or two for Romo. So I understand legacy versus a players ability.

I cannot get past the fact that Romo has the second highest passer rating in the history of the NFL. I do understand the difference in eras, but the history of the NFL includes his peers and he is second only to Aaron Rodgers. I cannot get past the fact that Romo has been saddled with Parcells for a single season, Wade for most of his career, and then a rookie head coach.

Obviously pure speculation, but I would be willing to bet a lot of money that no QB would ever win a Super Bowl with a Wade Phillips led team. Tom Coughlin took an expansion team in Jacksonville and in his second year went to the AFC Championship game and then proceeded to make the playoffs four years in a row. I am one of those crazy guys that thinks good coaching matters. There is a reason the Cowboys rarely looked prepared for a playoff game in recent years.

If comparing Romo to a Super Bowl winning QB is idiotic (not your words, mine), comparing the rest of the team to that of a Super Bowl winning team
and in some cases multiple Super Bowl winning team (Patriots, Steelers, Giants) is insane at best.

In the end I don't care where anyone ranks Romo. Ahead of this guy, behind that guy and etcetera. What I do care about, is he good enough to be a Super Bowl caliber QB? To me the answer is a resounding yes.

If he never wins a Super Bowl, his legacy will be a blip on the radar. Let him win a Super Bowl and then the comparisons to Eli don't appear to be to silly.

 

[perrykemp]

This right here. Eli was a big reason his team won the superbowl. He was a machine in the playoffs.

15 TDs vs 2 Interceptions (~100 QB rating) in their 2 SB postseason runs.

He clearly elevates his play in the postseason because his regular season stats aren't anything near that.. he regular season QB rating is 82.

 

[DFWJC]

I give Eli a ton of credit for his season last year.
He wasn't the total train-wreck turnover machine that he often is and he really stepped it up down the stretch.

I don't see why we can't give credit where credit is due.
That, of course, also applies to Romo. He was outstanding as well.

No reason to tear one down to build the other up, imo.

 

[Doomsday101]

I give Eli a ton of credit for his season last year.
He wasn't the total train-wreck turnover machine that he often is and he really stepped it up down the stretch.

I don't see why we can't give credit where credit is due.
That, of course, also applies to Romo. He was outstanding as well.

No reason to tear one down to build the other up, imo.

I agree. I think Eli is a very good and very talented QB I'm not claiming him as some lucky guy or a bus driver but I watch NY as a team step up at big moments not just the offense but the team and to that end I have to give the props to Coughlin for getting his team to step up when it counts

 

[Idgit]

I don't see any credible posters making light of the Giants' accomplishments or of Eli's play at the QB position. Everybody is giving them their rightful credit as an organization.

And I don't think Romo is the only QB in the league who has less hardware than Eli but who is, regardless, a better player. P Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees are all better QBs than Eli Manning. They're all, also, better QBs than Tony Romo in my book.

So, we can dismiss the argument that it's pure homerism to think that one player at one position on the Cowboys is better than one player at the same position on the Giants. It's a bad argument.

And, if you remove the homerism dodge, and if you recognize team accomplishments for what they are and do not consider them conclusive evidence that any one player is better than his counterpart on another team, then the best argument left in this thread for Manning is that he elevates his play in the post-season, and that that's an incredibly valuable trait in a QB. I have no issue with this argument. He does. And it's why he's in the conversation, in my opinion, despite generally less-impressive performance in his career to-date.

We'll see where they go from here. As I said, Manning's play really stepped up this year, to the point where I think he actually deserves the recognition he gets. I expect him to only get better. The good news is that Romo stepped it up significantly last year, too. If RGIII isn't a bust, we're going to get to see some of the best QB play in the NFCE that I can ever remember. I can't think of a time when the division has been this stacked at the position.

 

[Vtwin]

I think Manning is more than just a bus driver, he is a very talented player. In my view the differance is NY as a team will step it up and we don't. Romo is not going to change that and Eli did not cause NY to step up as a team.

I don't consider Eli to be just a bus driver either. Just saying that to use the "Eli beat (insert QB here) while Romo only beat (insert QB here)" argument is ridiculous as QB play has nothing to do with the performance of the opposing QB while defensive unit play has everything to do with the performance of the opposing QB.


A bus driver QB with a dominant defense can beat the best QB's in the game if his defense gets it done.

Your point about guys stepping up and making the big plays is taken. A SB championship team NEEDS that to happen mulitple times during the course of the season regardless of how good your QB is.

Brady hasn't won a SB in how many years? If it was all on the QB he most certainly would have had a few more.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't consider Eli to be just a bus driver either. Just saying that to use the "Eli beat (insert QB here) while Romo only beat (insert QB here)" argument is ridiculous as QB play has nothing to do with the performance of the opposing QB while defensive unit play has everything to do with the performance of the opposing QB.


A bus driver QB with a dominant defense can beat the best QB's in the game if his defense gets it done.

Your point about guys stepping up and making the big plays is taken. A SB championship team NEEDS that to happen mulitple times during the course of the season regardless of how good your QB is.

Brady hasn't won a SB in how many years? If it was all on the QB he most certainly would have had a few more.

I agree, we have all seen guys who we know for a fact will not be a HOF QB win rings hell some were nothing but avg and in many years even less than avg.

 

[boyzjunkie]

If the question was, who is the better passer? Romo or Eli I would unflinchingly say Romo.
But since the question was phrased 'who is the better quarterback', I have no qualms answering eli.

I leave it to you men to parse this.

 

[ufcrules1]

15 TDs vs 2 Interceptions (~100 QB rating) in their 2 SB postseason runs.

He clearly elevates his play in the postseason because his regular season stats aren't anything near that.. he regular season QB rating is 82.

15tds and only 2 interceptions in 2 SB runs is insane. Eli is elite period. It takes a team to win a super bowl but Eli playing out of his mind sure does elevate his team around him. A true leader on his team.