Top 10 AFC East QBs of all time | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Top 10 AFC East QBs of all time

Z

zwift319

Practice Squad
Joined
Apr 16, 2005
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
Location
Capit Town, Va
Hey all, long time lurker here. I’ve been wondering for a while what the power ranking for the top 10 AFC east QBs of all time would look like. So, I spent some time thinking about it, did some research at profootballreference.com and created my own list. Before revealing my list, some caveats. First super bowl wins count more, in general, than any other stat. Second, I tried to divorce myself from my Dolphin homerism. Third, I’ve only followed football since 95, so I don’t have a reference on some of the older QBs outside of their statistics. Finally, the bottom half of this list was damn hard to make. Here we go (apologies if someone else has made this thread before):


  1. Tom Brady

Comment: God damnit

2. Dan Marino

Comment:The only exclusion to my super bowl rule.His pure statistics are so much superior than anyone else in the division that has won a super bowl (other than that ******* above) , that he deserves to be here.

3. Bob Griese

Comment:The first “before my time guy.”Truthfully, I felt he was a bit overrated, but 2 super bowls and an undefeated season are more than anyone else on this list can boast.

4. Jim Kelly

Comment:I know I’m violating my super bowl rule again, but 4 super bowl appearances and superior statistics have to be worth at least one super bowl win, right?

5. Joe Namath

Comment:probably the first premier quarterback of the AFC east and the first super bowl winner in the entire AFC.

6. Drew Bledsoe

Comment:I always felt he was overrated growing up, but he did lead the hapless Patriots ( it feels good saying that) to the super bowl in the 90s.

7. Earl Morrall

Comment:This is the first member of this list I expect to catch heat from.Yes, I realize he was mostly a career backup, however, in my opinion, he contributed more to the 72 undefeated season than did Griese.Add in another championship with the Colts before the joined the AFC east and he’s number 7.

8. Chad Pennington

Comment:Here is where the list gets officially difficult.There are other quarterbacks who have led their team to the super bowl, but none played in such a pass centric league like Pennington.So despite his lack of playoff hardware, I have to give him credit for taking several mediocre teams from two franchises to the playoffs.

9. Woodly/Strock

Comment: Were the placeholders between the Griese and Marino eras, led the Dolphins to a super bowl in a strike shortened season and assisted Marino in getting to his only super bowl appearance.I’m reaching for straws now…

10. Ken O’Brien

Comment:Maybe?Could also be Steve Grogan, or Tony Eason, or perhaps Bert Jones?I assume the Bills have had quarterbacks other than Kelly.Maybe some of them were decent?

So any thoughts?
 
Marino and Brady are the best 2 QBs Ive ever seen play. Reverse the order and you have it right.

I never saw Namath play, but from the film I have seen he was a beast. Id put him up a little more.

I think you have to put Jim Kelly 3rd, but again I never saw Griese play either. Personally, when I do "all-time" rankings I try to stick to "all times I have actually existed".

Bledsoe was underrated, but I would say 6th is just right on this list. Good call on having Noodle in there. I wouldnt have a problem with Noodle 6 and Bledsoe 7 or vice versa.

Nice thread topic for discussion.
 
Griese is often overlooked by fins fans, look at the success he had in that era. Imagine what he would have been like with modern conditions and setups!
 
I agree with the top 5.

Morrall was way before my time. His 72 season looked pretty impressive but he only started a total of 12 games for the Fins during his career. I think Pennington who played his whole career in the AFCE and went a pretty solid 44 and 37 with 2 playoff wins, 2 division titles, and 4 playoff appearances should be placed ahead of him.
 
In general, I agree with only posting lists of players I have seen. But if I post the list of top 10 AFC east QBs since 95, you start to see ugly names such as Fiedler, Flutie, and Testaverde show up.

As far as Griese vs Kelly, it really comes down to what you value more: 3 super bowl appearances, 2 super bowl wins, undefeated season vs. 4 super bowl appearances, better passing numbers.
 
The only other qbs that I can think of, and just based on longevity, are grogan and ferguson. Also, don't forget that the colts were in the afc east for many years including mannings early years.
 
Colts from the era that they played in the AFC East should count, so... Peyton Manning.
 
Forget Super Bowls; they are team efforts. You have to ask yourself, if you could remove a QB from a team or era and place him in another, how would he do? If Marino played on Brady's Pats teams or Greise played on Buffalo's 90's teams or Brady or Kelly played on the 72 Fins, who's your best QB then?
 
Jetsfan89 said:
I agree with the top 5.

Morrall was way before my time. His 72 season looked pretty impressive but he only started a total of 12 games for the Fins during his career. I think Pennington who played his whole career in the AFCE and went a pretty solid 44 and 37 with 2 playoff wins, 2 division titles, and 4 playoff appearances should be placed ahead of him.
Click to expand...

People always forget that the Dolphins won a good chunk of games that year with a backup QB.
 
My top 10:

(remember Peyton did play in the AFC East for 4 seasons and Unitas played for 3)

1. Tom Brady
2. Dan Marino(if folks want to switch I have no problem but 2 last second SB wins gives Brady the edge for me- Shula made and wo SBs w/ other QBs, Belichick never even made a title game w/o Brady)
3. Bob Griese
4. Jim Kelly
5. Chad Pennington
6. Peyton manning(mainly b/c the QBs have stunk in this division)
7. Steve Grogan
8. Joe Ferguson
9. Joe Namath(he won SB in AFL, he was a beat up INT machine in the AFC East but again we don't have any choices)
10. Drew Bledsoe
 
Are you only judging them based on their years in the AFC East, or any player who was ever in the AFC East? Had it not been for the 2002 realignment after the Texans were added, Manning would have to be on the list somewhere. Even in 2000, Manning led the league in yards and TDs. (This was back before the league went wildly pass-wacky)
 
BahamaFinFan78 said:
Forget Super Bowls; they are team efforts. You have to ask yourself, if you could remove a QB from a team or era and place him in another, how would he do? If Marino played on Brady's Pats teams or Greise played on Buffalo's 90's teams or Brady or Kelly played on the 72 Fins, who's your best QB then?
Click to expand...

This^

Super Bowls are team accomplishments. Brady is no where near the QB Marino was. Joe Namath sucked. If Brady played in the '70's or '80's he would have been a back-up...maybe.

---------- Post added at 07:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 PM ----------

I'd take Kelly over Everyone except Marino or Manning. I'd take Manning over Marino.
 
nyjunc said:
My top 10:

(remember Peyton did play in the AFC East for 4 seasons and Unitas played for 3)

1. Tom Brady
2. Dan Marino(if folks want to switch I have no problem but 2 last second SB wins gives Brady the edge for me- Shula made and wo SBs w/ other QBs, Belichick never even made a title game w/o Brady)
3. Bob Griese
4. Jim Kelly
5. Chad Pennington
6. Peyton manning(mainly b/c the QBs have stunk in this division)
7. Steve Grogan
8. Joe Ferguson
9. Joe Namath(he won SB in AFL, he was a beat up INT machine in the AFC East but again we don't have any choices)
10. Drew Bledsoe
Click to expand...

wtf @ Pennington over Manning...
 
Jared said:
Are you only judging them based on their years in the AFC East, or any player who was ever in the AFC East? Had it not been for the 2002 realignment after the Texans were added, Manning would have to be on the list somewhere. Even in 2000, Manning led the league in yards and TDs. (This was back before the league went wildly pass-wacky)
Click to expand...

When I made my list I was only judging years in the AFC east. I certainly didn't feel like 3 years of Unitas should make the list but I can understand the argument that 4 years of Manning might be reasonable. Especially given how week the bottom of the list is. Other than those two Colts quarterbacks, did they have anyone else who would rate?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom