Is Peyton Manning the best quarterback of all time already?

Answer 1

The case can certainly be made. He's already got the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a season and has many other records in sight, in addition to the ring (which automatically puts him ahead of Dan Marino). Already? Probably not. But it's easy to conclude that he will be by the time his career ends.

Answer 2

Such a tough question. How can anyone answer without just having an oppinion? This is definately more of an offensive era than when any of the previosly mentioned played. You can barely tackle a QB anymore LOL. Back in the 70's you could basically do anything you wanted to get the QB. In the 80's they started that stupid "in the grasp" rule. Thank goodness thats gone! Now if a DE comes in with his hands up to even bat down a pass he gets a roughing call.

I'm not saying that these rule changes should be looked at negatively, but I believe you definately have to take these things into consideration.

For what it's worth, I give him his props and say that by the time his career ends, he will be considered by most as the best ever. My favorite remains Montana for the time being though.

Answer 3

Best in the game now? Yes. Best of all time? No. Remember there are a lot of QBs that came before Peyton that are better historically. Otto Graham won 4 NFL titles, and had the best winning percentage of any starting QB. Bobby Layne and Norm Van Brocklin are the only ones that beat Graham in a title game. Johnny Unitas is up there. Namath, Staubach, Dawson, Tarkington, Marino, Elway, and Montana have to be mentioned before Manning.

Answer 4

Are you kidding me??!! Manning has a LOT of big-game flops to atone for before he can be mentioned alongside Montana, Elway, Brady, Unitas, etc.

In case you haven't noticed, championships and big games count for a lot more in team sports than regular season stats. It's not just that Manning has only 1 Super Bowl ring, it's the whole body of subpar big game work. Steelers game in 2004?? Multiple head-to-head crumbles against the Patriots? Even this year for crying out loud, Manning was HORRIBLE vs. the Chiefs, the Ravens and the first half of the Patriots game. The defense bailed him out against the Ravens big-time.

Montana, for instance, has 4 Rings, 3 SB MVPs and a playoff rating of 100+.

In his postseason career of 13 games, Manning has VERY pedestrian numbers: completions 290 attempts 475 yards 3495 18 TDs 15 INTS.

That is just not gonna get in done in the Greatest Ever debate. Not close.

Manning needs at least 2 more rings and a number of great postseason games. I'm not a hater, I'll root for the guy. But don't give him a bigger piece of history than he's earned.

Answer 5

Stats don't make great quarterbacks, super bowl rings do. Peyton has got one now, but that still leaves him in the dust behind: Joe Montana, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, and a littly behind Tom Brady. I really don't see him getting another one this year, because the AFC is just too strong.

Answer 6

No he is not, and no he will never be. I don't know if you used to watch football in the 80's but he is not a better quarterback then Montana, Marino, or Elway. He just is not as talented as them. They couold do every thing Manning could do, except they were better at it. I'm not trying to dis Manning, I've just watched a lot of football and would not rate him above those guys.

Answer 7

I think he still has some work to do to catch Montana and Unitas.
I do think he is a more complete quarterback than either Favre or Elway. Maybe not as exciting to watch as they were, but the knowledge of the game is exceptional. Just my opinion.

Answer 8

Manning has proven his abilities on the field time and again.
But the best of all time already? I don't think so. The best currently in the league? Definitely.

Give him some longevity and he will definitely own every significant recored there is for a Qb to own. He's already on the road to the Hall of Fame. At the rate he's going he will be first ballot too. But the best ever? That remains to be seen.

Answer 9

C'mon get serious . He's good but he's also working in an environment that really makes playing old style defense impossible and in some cases illegal . How well do think he would have done if he had to play under the conditions that Bradshaw did ?. TB has 4 rings and played in a much tougher era.
So the greatest of all time ? No

Answer 10

To some people. I don't think he is though. The team he has built around him helps make him look that great. Yeah he helps them too, that is how it is supposed to be. Still though there are QBs that look great without a All-Pro team. Besides he still isn't on the level of Montana(and I don't like Montana but that is about the person not the player)