Is Big Ben the best QB drafted in the last 10 years?

[fordfixer]

Around the League




Is Big Ben the best QB drafted in the last 10 years?

By Marc Sessler NFL.com
[url]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82848a6c/article/is-big-ben-the-best-qb-drafted-in-the-last-10-years[/url]

Twenty-seven quarterbacks have been selected in the first round of the draft over the past 10 years.

Around the League ranked them from top to bottom. The core criteria is a mix of career achievement and future potential (for instance, Cam Newton at No. 5? You bet, based on what we've seen and what we expect to see).

Rosenthal and I engaged in a furious two-minute debate over IM, shifting some guys around, generating some consensus, disagreeing in other areas. We thought we'd throw it your way.

You're an NFL general manager. Who do you want leading your team? Here's our list:

1. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (No. 11, 2004)
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (No. 24, 2005)
3. Eli Manning, Chargers (traded to Giants) (No. 1, 2004)
4. Philip Rivers, Giants (traded to Chargers) (No. 4, 2004)
5. Cam Newton, Panthers (No. 1, 2011)
6. Matt Ryan, Falcons (No. 3, 200
7. Matthew Stafford, Lions (No. 1, 2009)
8. Jay Cutler, Broncos (No. 11, 2006)
9. Carson Palmer, Bengals (No. 1, 2003)
10. Sam Bradford, Rams (No. 1, 2010)
11. Joe Flacco, Ravens (No. 18, 200
12. Mark Sanchez, Jets (No. 5, 2009)
13. Alex Smith, 49ers (No. 1, 2005)
14. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers (No. 17, 2009)
15. Jason Campbell, Redskins (No. 25, 2005)
16. Vince Young, Titans (No. 3, 2006)
17. Tim Tebow, Broncos (No. 25, 2010)
18. Rex Grossman, Bears (No. 22, 2003)
19. David Carr, Texans (No. 1, 2002)
20. Byron Leftwich, Jaguars (No. 7, 2003)
21. Matt Leinart, Cardinals (No. 10, 2006)
22. Kyle Boller, Ravens (No. 19, 2003)
23. Brady Quinn, Browns (No. 22, 2007)
24. Joey Harrington, Lions (No. 3, 2002)
25. Patrick Ramsey, Redskins (No. 32, 2002)
26. J.P. Losman, Bills (No. 22, 2004)
27. JaMarcus Russell, Raiders (No. 1, 2007)

[Shoe]

It's for sure debateable. Voters in GB will say Rodgers, in NY they'll say Manning... Given that those three are the only ones with rings, it's pretty much a three-horse race. Ben has given the most though, in terms of length of great play. (Rodgers sat a couple years, Eli's only been really good this one year actually. Otherwise, he's just inconsistent.)

[hawaiiansteel]

haven't you heard, it's Joe Flacco!


Joe Flacco: I'm the best quarterback in the NFL

Tue, Apr 3
by DJ Gallo


Quick. Name the top five quarterbacks in the NFL.

Now name the best quarterback.

Bad news. You failed both questions. Because the best quarterback in the NFL is Joe Flacco. The Ravens quarterback has been trying to tell you about his greatness for eight months. You need to start paying attention.

Joe Flacco, July 27, 2011: "I think I'm pretty damn good. I don't need to go out and tell everybody that and show it on every given Sunday."

Joe Flacco, Dec. 15, 2011: "Last year we were a 12-4 football team. I mean we didn't win the division because Pittsburgh had a tiebreaker and we won a playoff game. Yeah it's not what everybody wants to hear and we didn't win the Super Bowl but it was a pretty good year by our football team and I had a pretty good football season myself."

Joe Flacco, Jan. 11, 2012: "If you look at the teams that won, yeah you can look at the quarterbacks, but that's just because you guys, ESPN, everybody wants to pump them up as being the best quarterback that year. ... You guys want everybody to be Aaron Rodgers and be Tom Brady, but you guys do realize, those guys' [teams] don't run the ball? If we try to do that, the criticism that we'd take around here would be ridiculous. ... You guys want an elite quarterback. You have to stop complaining when we go out there and throw the ball 60 times a game."

Joe Flacco, Jan. 14, 2012, on the perception that he played poorly in Baltimore's 2011 playoff loss to Pittsburgh (Flacco was 16-for-30 for 125 yards with a touchdown and two turnovers): "I played well all year, I played well in the playoffs and I played well in that game, I thought."

Joe Flacco, Jan. 18, 2012: "I'll be wearing a ring and holding the trophy and the perception [of me] won't change. I really don't care."

Joe Flacco, April 3, 2012, asked if he is a top-five quarterback, as his agent stated in February: "Without a doubt. What do you expect me to say? ... I assume everybody thinks they're a top-five quarterback. I mean, I think I'm the best. I don't think I'm top five; I think I'm the best. I don't think I'd be very successful at my job if I didn't feel that way. I mean, c'mon? That's not really too tough of a question. But that doesn't mean that things are gonna work out that way. It just means that that's the way it is, that's the way I feel it is, and that's the way I feel it should be."

So remember, don't use your eyes or even look at stats when considering who the best quarterback in the world is. Just ask Joe Flacco. Oh, I forgot. Also don't ask his teammates.


[URL]http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=7771685[/URL]

[SteelCrazy]

DJ Gallo really laid into Flacco....lmao

As to the OP, I think Aaron Rodgers is playing, right now, the best football at the QB position. However, his back up played even better in his absence, so it may be debatable that it is more so scheme and talent around the QB in Green Bay, then it is the QB. Ben hasnt had a good OL around him since 2006. If he could get a little protection he'd be considered among the best ever, so I'm going to say Ben is the best in the last 10.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Best part: Also don't ask his teammates.