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Jeff Merron

  (4:02 PM)

Hi everyone. Hope most of you have a day off and are enjoying it. Let's talk QB's.

Dave Cincinnati OH

How can you omit both Unitas and Graham? The article title was "Best Playoff Quarterbacks" but you restricted it to Super Bowls.

Jeff Merron

  (4:04 PM)

For all you folks out there asking where the heck are Otto Graham and Johnny U, I've gotta tell you -- we plugged this list a bit inaccurately. The list is of greatest playoff QBs of the Super Bowl era. Our bad.

mike

For the top ten Playoff QBS What about Jim Kelly, 4 years in row going to the super bowl has to show an impressive record in the playoffs

Jeff Merron

  (4:05 PM)

I loved watching the no-huddle offense, Kelly was great, and you have a good point, Mike, about him taking the Bills to the SB four times. But: overall 9-8 playoff record (thanks, in large part, to those Super Bowl defeats). Just my opinion, but that 0-4 Super Bowl record looms pretty large, just as if he'd won at least one or two that would count big time, too.

Audrey

How can you omit the quarterback of the only undefeated team. Greise accomplished something no other quarterback has or will. He by far deserves the rank of best....

Robert.Florida

Are you nuts. Griese is and was by farthe best. Any of your choices go 17-0 ?

Jason, Stratham, NH

Based on the way you size up your QB's, their records, rings etc... Brady should rocket to number 5 or 6 if they win in 2 weeks against the Panthers. He would be a perfect 6-0 in playoffs with 2 rings.When are you number junkies going to learn, that the defense's of today's NFL would have crushed most of the old day offenses, QB's and teams. QB's like Brady are the way of the future, quick on their feet, smart play calling at the line and able to withstand pressure.Peyton Manning is a prime example of how the press can't change with the times. He reminds me of another QB who was a press darling and had great numbers, Dan Marino and oh he doesn't have a Super Bowl ring either.

Jeff Merron

  (4:09 PM)

#18Jason -- I'm not exactly sure what your point is, but I'll try to respond:1) Records, rings, and stats are important (ask any player). 2) Yes, today's defenses would have crushed the teams of 30 years ago. Just as today's offenses would have ripped apart the defenses of 30 years ago. It's hard to compare across eras, but you've got to try. That's part of the fun, isn't it?3) I'd say it's still a little early to start talking about Manning not having a SB ring.

Scott (LA)

How could Bart Starr not be your #1 post season quarterback? He had the best record by far in terms of winning percentage and number of titles. He was very efficient and made few mistakes. I believe you are biased to the more modern players in your memories of the Super Bowls and dazzled by the gaudy numbers the modern quarterbacks put up with today's pass offense. Joe Montana #1? Remember his post-season try with the Chiefs?!

Russ (Santa Rosa, CA)

It's completely shameful that not only you, but everyone else seems to have forgotten what a great quarterback Kenny Anderson was. I'm not sure if that's because Collinsworth and Boomer get all the credit because they're both still in the public's eye and Kenny's sort of quiet and comfortable being in the background, but it's not right. For shame.

Eric Tampa FL

Where the hell is BRADY?? Brett Farve!!! Please

Ross, boston

I was fine with yor list until I saw the "honorable mention" of Kurt Warner. He took the rams to a superbowl victory, ok, but he choked in next years playoffs and got embarrassed in the first 3 quarters of the second super bowl. Brady took his team to the super bowl and won as an underdog and now has a perfect playoff record. Warner has 2 losses. Poor decision

Jeff Merron

  (4:18 PM)

Ross -- Warner had a 5-2 playoff record, and he "choked" his way right into two SBs in three years. Everyone (including myself, once in a while) has fun piling on Warner these days, but for those few years, he was great. And -- read the intro. I didn't consider Brady for the list at all. He sparked the idea, though -- and got props for it.

Jeremy Parsons

where does Marino fall if you expanded the listnot his fault he never had a running game

Jeff Merron

  (4:20 PM)

Hard to say, Jeremy -- hard to remove him from the team he played on. Great QB, awesome playoff numbers, but the Dolphins passing game couldn't elevate Marino to the top 10. Maybe 15th?

Jay

I noticed that Favre is the only active QB on the list. That in itself should be enough to move him up in the list because the others are done and Favre can still continue with his post-season success.

Jeff Merron

  (4:24 PM)

Well, who knows, Jay? It's hard enough to research and think and then rank the greatest QBs of the past 37 years without dealing with what-ifs. For all we know, Favre will never play another down in the postseason. Then again, he could do an Elway and retire with a couple more SB trophies to his credit.

Matthew, Ohio

I know he never ever gets any credit because he had the disadvantage of playing in a golden era for QB's, but BERNIE KOSAR put up fine postseason performances (record setting, in fact). And if hadn't been for a miraculous drive by your #5 man, John Elway, and a play so inept it's simply referred to as "The Fumble", Bernie could have a 2 more rings to go along with the one he picked up the the Cowboys towards the end of his career.

Russell S. Falmouth MA

Jeff, IF the Pats win the SB, does Tom Brady warrant inclusion on the List?

Jeff Merron

  (4:27 PM)

Oh yeah, Russell. I'd say any QB who can lead his team through the gauntlet of playoffs and to two SB wins, especially in these days of parity, is something special.

Grube - ATL

Aikman doesn't belong within ten yards of this list . . . he is in the league of QBs like Billy Kilmer, Danny White, maybe even as good as Earl Morrell. At best he was the "administrator", the "overseer", of that offense. He was always only as good as the personnel around him. To his credit, he was good enough never to be the reason for a loss . . . but I would be hard pressed to remember many games that he actually **won**.

Angus, Pt Richmond, CA

I agree with most of your assessment, but I would have included Ken Stabler over Theismann. Stabler had two of the most dramatic postseason comebacks ever in the "Ghost to the Post" playoff against the Baltimore Colts in 1977 and a 1976 comeback from a 21-10 decifit against New England on the way to SuperBowl XI.

Jeff Merron

  (4:32 PM)

I don't know. Stabler was a close call -- maybe No. 11? You're right about the dramatic comebacks, Angus, and the fact is, Stabler was very, very good come playoff time.

Drew- Dayton, OH

Elway #5? Yeah he ended with 2 consecutive titles and a 7 game winning streak (so prior to that he was 7-8, clutch?), but I think I could have QBed those teams to victory. There was just no stopping those teams.

Jeff Merron

  (4:35 PM)

You must have been a pretty good Div. 1 QB, Drew! Maybe I gave Elway a few extra props because of the way he went out, but he earned the glory.

Roger Manteca, CA

At work but the boss aint looking! Winning percentage makes Starr and Plunk numbers one and two.

Jeff Merron

  (4:37 PM)

Finally, someone mentions Plunkett! He's mostly remembered for being the comeback old-man and that 1980 win, but he was very effective in many games.

Terence Pologe, Beacon, NY

Why are many of you complaining about Brady? This is only his 2nd postseason. He has the best defensive coach in the NFL and one of the better D's in the NFL that can make any QB look bad. Brady has not played all that great in either postseason, yesterday the Pats scored merely 1 TD, and only 2 vs. the Titans. Special teams and defense also won Brady the super bowl in 2001. We'll see if Brady wins in Houston, or if Vinatieri wins it for him again.

Joey (Detroit)

Do you think I'll ever be on your list? Do you think I'll ever even be in a playoff game?

Jeff Merron

  (4:39 PM)

No. And no. C'mon, Joey, you're not gonna see the playoffs if you're hanging out in chat rooms when you should be working out! Your season ended, what, a month ago?

Jon (Phoenix, AZ)

Steve Young does not belong in this company for "big game-ness." He led a team that was as good as any in the league for about 7 years and managed only one SB appearance. Of his three postseason 300-yard games, two came in games his team lost and his offense failed to score more than 20 points. It's bad enough to put him ahead of Stabler, but ahead of Staubach (12-6)? Ouch.

Devin (Green Brook, NJ)

Any reason Phil Simms doesn't get at least an honorable mention? He only won 1 Superbowl, but his numbers in that game were unbelievable.

Jeff Merron

  (4:41 PM)

I thought about giving Simms a nod, because of that great SB performance. But, career-wise, he doesn't belong on this list.

Graham - Monte Sereno, CA

I am surprised that you only put Elway at no. 5. He has the most come from behind victories in the NFL.

Jeff Merron

  (4:45 PM)

Coming from behind may be exciting to watch for the fans, but if you're going to give a QB props for coming from behind, you also have to blame him for being behind in the first place.

Joe (Sacramento, CA)

Thanks for finally putting the List in reverse order. I can't stand it when I see the number one person/team/event first. It kills the drama. Keep doing it this way, please.

Jeff Merron

  (4:46 PM)

Will do, Joe.

Chris, Cincinnati, Ohio

Jeff,Excellent list, great topic...one thing....give me your rationale for placing Roger Staubach behind Joe Thiesman...no this isnt one of the those Cowboy-Redskin things, but, come on....for sheer drama, wins and excitement, no way is Roger behind Joe Thiesman....have to say you are on target with rest of the list, but missed that one....

Jeff Merron

  (4:48 PM)

Chris, thanks for the compliment. I really do try hard to be fair and accurate and thorough with these lists, and I dig the compliment.As for Staubach vs. Theismann? Hmmm. It's a tough call.

Jason, Kentucky

Joe Theismann?! If you're dying to pick a Redskin quarterback, why not go with Doug Williams. His run was equally as impressive as Theismann's

Jeff Merron

  (4:53 PM)

C'mon, Jason, be serious. Williams had that great Super Bowl, really one great *quarter*. Are you really impressed by 68-for-169 with 9 TDs and 11 picks?

charlie, missouri

when it comes to crossover quarterbacks, what about those who went to the superbowl at the end of their careers, such as morrall and dawson?

Rob (Dallas)

Did you go to Notre Dame with Theezman on the list and Montana #1?Bradshaw is #1, he won 4 in 6 years against the best competition.

Jeff Merron

  (4:59 PM)

No, Rob, I went to Bennington. So if I cared about giving props to my alma mater, I'd have put Dali on my list.

Jeff Merron

  (5:00 PM)

I'm going to sign off now, folks -- thanks for a good chat.Jeff