What about Brett?

There's a lot of talk that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are the two best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL and we are oh so fortunate to see them play at the same time. I have to agree that they are definitely among the very elite, but I don't know if we can so quickly annoint either one of them as the best ever. Consider the candidates:

Joe Montana: Two-time MVP, eight pro-bowls, four Super Bowl rings, three-time Super Bowl MVP. Eighth all-time in passing TDs and ninth all-time in passing yards.

Tom Brady: Three SB rings, two-time SB MVP, three pro bowls, not in top 20 in either passing TDs or passing yards.

Peyton Manning: Seven pro bowls, two MVPs, one SB MVP, one SB ring, eleventh in passing yards, tied for fifth in passing TDs.

John Elway: Two SB rings, one SB MVP, nine pro bowls, fourth in passing TDs, third in passing yards.

Dan Marino: No SB titles or MVPs, first all time in passing yards, second all time in passing TDs, nine pro bowls, one MVP.

Brett Favre: Eight pro bowls, three MVPs, one SB, first all-time in passing TDs, second all-time in passing yards.

So when you weigh all of these QBs, you can't discount the ageless wonder. Brady is the youngest and has the most modest numbers to date but his team success is only second to Montana. Super Joe had the best career from a team standpoint, with very good, but not excellent stats. Marino never won the big one, despite his personal stats. Manning will probably finish with the best personal stats and at least one SB ring. Elway was great, but not the greatest.

That leaves Favre. Consider the fact that he won three straight MVPS, won a SB ring and set tons of passing records with very little talent around him. Only Marino can say the same about the talent that was around him, and for him, the SB ring is a big issue. While Brady has not had stellar weapons around him, he has had Bill Belichick and that is enough to make a very average QB look superhuman. Would Tom Brady be "Tom Brady" if he played on the Arizona Cardinals? Doubtful.

But Brett Favre has had a lot of coaches and won a lot of games. Through all the years, what was his biggest weapon? It wasn't a RB or a WR. It was his arm and his gunslinger mentality.

So before you annoint the next guy as the best QB ever, don't forget Brett Favre. His personal numbers are better than anyone's and he's accomplished everything you can in the sport.