Flawed Brackets

NFL.com, certainly inspired by March Madness, is asking fans "Who is the Greatest Quarterback of All Time?" They have selected 32 quarterbacks from four different eras and set up brackets. The 32 quarterbacks are separated as such:

Right Now:
Tom Brady
Eli Manning
Drew Brees
Ben Roethlisberger
Aaron Rodgers
Philip Rivers
Peyton Manning
Russell Wilson

Millenials:
Brett Favre
Rich Gannon
Kurt Warner
Donovan McNabb
Steve Young
Steve McNair
Troy Aikman
Drew Bledsoe

Generation X:
Joe Montana
Boomer Esiason
Jim Kelly
Warren Moon
John Elway
Dan Fouts
Dan Marino
Phil Simms

Baby Boomers:
Johnny Unitas
Bob Griese
Roger Staubach
Joe Namath
Bart Starr
Fran Tarkenton
Terry Bradshaw
Otto Graham

These things are done in fun. I shouldn't let it bother me. I just get frustrated when great players are ignored because they played before most fans were born. Most people seem to think that the NFL started with Super Bowl I. Nearly half of the NFL's history came before the Green Bay Packers played the Kansas City Chiefs. The problem with the NFL.com "greatest quarterback" quest is the brackets. It forced them to include quarterbacks that really shouldn't be a part of the debate. Russell Wilson may one day be considered the greatest quarterback to ever play. He's had a real nice start to his career but he isn't in the debate right now. These manufactured brackets forced the inclusion of very good quarterbacks like Wilson, Rich Gannon, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, Drew Bledsoe, Boomer Esiason, and Phil Simms. These are high quality quarterbacks. Simms won a Super Bowl and was one of the most efficient throwers of the 1980s. None of these quarterbacks should be in the debate as the greatest ever. Even in a fun little contest like this. They shouldn't be included at the expense of Sammy Baugh, Sid Luckman, Y.A. Tittle, and Bobby Layne. Baugh and Luckman, in particular, should be a part of every "greatest quarterback" discussion. Baugh is one of the greatest football players of all time.

I would create brackets that include quarterbacks that are legitimately in the discussion of the greatest ever. Of the current quartebacks, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are certainly in the conversation. Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are welcome. Brett Favre, Steve Young, and Troy Aikman from the "Millenials." From "Generation X," Joe Montana, John Elway, and Dan Marino are certainly included. Warren Moon, Dan Fouts, and Jim Kelly deserve some consideration. All of the "Baby Boomers are in the Hall of Fame and all will get some mention in the discussion. Unitas and Graham should both get a lot of mention in the discussion. Either one could walk out of the discussion with the grand recognition of "greatest ever." Throw in Baugh, Luckman, Tittle, and Layne and there's 25 quarterbacks. I'd throw in Dutch Clark, Ace Parker, and Paddy Driscoll. They played quarterback in an entirely different era but they were great quarterbacks. All-time greats. Add Sonny Jurgensen, Norm Van Brocklin, and Bob Waterfield and maybe Kurt Warner to fill out your brackets with 32 great quarterbacks. With these quarterbacks you might be missing the cute little brackets but you have a much better representation of the greatest quarterbacks.

Note: This is simply one football fan's opinion.