As part of , several of us on staff were asked to rank .
My thinking in constructing the list was it is not a list for cable TV’s lifetime; it’s a list for ALL time.
With that in mind, here’s my top 10, with no “ties” added in simply to sneak an extra guy or two on to the list:
1. Johnny Unitas — Called his own plays and set the standard for the position. Unitas beat teams with his arm, preparation and the ability to raise his considerable game in the biggest moments.
Unitas won three championships, including Baltimore’s win over the Giants in 1958 that was dubbed the “greatest game ever played.” He led the league in touchdown passes in four consecutive years and also set one of those Mount Everest records in the league’s history with a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games, a streak that spanned from the 1956 season until Dec. 11, 1960.
The mark has not been seriously challenged for much of the past 50 years, until Drew Brees’ current streak, which opens the season at 43.
2. Otto Graham — Routinely doesn’t get the love of some others in a statistical-driven world, but took his team to 10 title games in 10 seasons, was 7-3 in those title games, and won 83.4 percent of his career starts.
3. Joe Montana — Though some will say he was “system” quarterback, his system was winning most of the time with four Super Bowl victories, and he did not throw an interception in any of those championship games.
4. John Elway — Many long-time personnel executives consider him the game’s best clutch player. He retired with two Super Bowl wins, as the league’s all-time leader in wins to go with a record 47 game-saving or game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime.
5. Bart Starr — Hall of Famer took his team to six title games in eight years and won five of those games, including Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II.
6. Terry Bradshaw — Went 4-0 in Super Bowl starts and was MVP of Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV.
7. Peyton Manning — Still going and already holds the league record for MVP awards (four), 4,000-yard passing seasons (11) to go with record for seasons with at least 10 wins (11). Has one Super Bowl win and holds record with eight 300-yard passing games in postseason. And in era when quarterbacks are often tethered to the coaches, he calls his own plays much of the time.
8. Tom Brady — Has fueled the Patriots dynasty to three Super Bowl wins — two of those coming with late drives from Brady — and two additional title-game appearances. Also authored the only 16-0 regular season in NFL history to go with a single-season record of 50 touchdown passes that year.
9. Brett Favre — The end wasn’t always pretty, especially his tenure with the Jets, but retired with most every significant passing record the league has to offer, including 508 touchdown passes, to go with one Super Bowl win.
10. Roger Staubach — He won just over 74 percent of his career starts and won two Super Bowls in four appearances in the championship game. The Hall of Famer also won four league passing titles.
If the list were a top 11, Hall of Famer Dan Marino, one of the best pure passers the league has ever seen, would be next.
And among active quarterbacks, if Brees, given his growing pile of success in these pass-happy times, can find a way to win another Super Bowl, his resume would be worth a long look when he concludes his playing career. And Aaron Rodgers, only in his eighth season and just his fifth as a starter, has an MVP award, a 15-1 season and a Super Bowl win already in hand; he could eventually get himself into the discussion as well if he has the good fortune of good health.
Jeff Legwold: jlegwold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jeff_legwold
