The Top Ten Quarterbacks in the NFL Today

Once again, I was asked to partake in the ranking of the Top Ten Quarterbacks in the NFL by Kenny and the Sports Fan Journal Crew. There was only one caveat: Peyton Manning was ineligible since he didn't take a single snap all season.

The list is a pretty good one that's hard to argue with, so go check it out. Here's my list below.

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Tom Brady
3. Drew Brees

Quick note, I think you can pretty much put those three in any order, and they are the top three quarterbacks that just seem to be on another plain than everyone else.

4. Ben Roethlisberger. I don't particularly care for Ben Roethlisberger, but there's no denying the toughness, leadership and ability of Ben Roethlisberger. He played a large majority of the season hobbled, like he always does, and still willed the Steelers to the playoffs. Even when he's visibly well less than 100 percent, he still finds a way to get it done. I have to respect that.

5. Eli Manning. I absolutely hate to put Eli this high. In fact, earlier this year I put him in the good but not great category. As an Eagles fan, I watch him play regularly, watch him make terrified faces and launch ducks off his back foot, and I see a guy that I just really wouldn't want to have to trust as my team's quarterback. But the thing is, you can trust Eli, and you should. He's proven time and again that he is not only tough — getting up from vicious hits regularly — but he's also clutch, breaking the NFL single-season record for 4th-quarter touchdown passes. Eli wanted to be regarded as an elite quarterback like his brother. Then he went out and proved that he is.

6. Tony Romo
7. Matt Ryan
8. Michael Vick. The Eagles offense could not even function without him, save for one fourth quarter where Vince Young actually looked like an NFL quarterback again. With him, though he had a terrible year with turnovers and couldn't stay healthy, they still managed to put a lot of points and go 5-1 in division games.
9. Matthew Stafford
10. Cam Newton. There's a very strong possibility that he'll shoot up the charts as early as next year. Almost put him higher, but need a few more wins and another strong season to have him leap the guys ahead of him with more extensive resumes.

Dropping out: Philip Rivers. Once upon a time, our very own Kenny Masenda claimed that Philip Rivers was better than Drew Brees. Then Rivers went out and threw 20 picks while playing some of the worst football I've ever seen before finally righting himself after it was already too late for the Chargers. I do expect Rivers to rebound and once again get firmly entrenched in the top 10, but he's not making the cut after that horrific 2011 season.

Also, Peyton would clearly be in the top 4 if he was healthy.

Paul Jones Redshirted

Coming off another 11-win season in 2009, the burning question for Penn State's 2010 campaign was who will replace Daryll Clark at quarterback. Seeing as Kevin Newsome was the backup last year as a true freshman, all signs pointed to him being the starter in 2010.



The thing is, Newsome didn't look all that great last year in limited time, and he hasn't pulled away from the pack yet. So Penn State went into the summer with a four-man competition at quarterback — Newsome, Matt McGloin and a pair of highly touted recruits, Paul Jones and Robert Bolden. After watching Newsome struggle and witnessing his funky mechanics, I think most Penn State fans felt the way I did, that they'd like to see either Paul Jones or Robert Bolden beat out Newsome and McGloin. Well, one thing we know for certain now is that it won't be Paul Jones under center in 2010, because the coaching staff has decided to redshirt hiim.



Now it's a three-man race between Newsome, McGloin and Bolden, and by all accounts, Bolden has been the most impressive of the bunch. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rooting for him, if for no other reason that I'm weary of Newsome's ability to throw the ball given his mechanics. Not that I'm rooting against Newsome. In fact, the only one I don't want to see under center is McGloin. With three highly recruited running backs on campus, the last thing I want to see is the one no one wanted leading the team. I'd rather give Bolden or Newsome a chance to get a year of experience and grow with this relatively young team.



Black Shoe Diaries did a three-part series on the quarterback competition. The biggest revelation from that tremendous breakdown is that, just like Pat Devlin, one of these guys is probably going to transfer. With Paul Jones getting redshirted, it may be him. Then again, if Bolden loses out to Newsome, it could be him. Regardless, it's a nice problem to have. Too many talented quarterbacks is much better than none at all.

By the way, Pat Devlin was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List.







It would be really nice to have him under center this year.