Flea Flicker Top-15 Quarterbacks

Finally, the quarterbacks. The players that get too much of the credit and too much of the blame. They also get most of the money.

Continuing the Flea Flicker Top-15 series and passing the time before training camp, here's a look at the Top-15 Quarterbacks entering the 2016 season.

15. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
Bridgewater had to make my list. The talking heads tend to position Bridgewater behind some of the top young quarterbacks in the league. Derek Carr and Blake Bortles in particular. In a league that's all about wins Bridgewater is the only one of the three youngsters from the QB rookie class of 2014 to lead his team to the playoffs. Let alone a winning record. Those that say that the Vikings wins and playoff appearance were in spite of their quarterback weren't watching the games. Bridgewater has simply, quietly, and stoically led his team to Super Bowl contention status in just under two years. Whether the supposed experts want to admit it or not, Bridgewater's play and potential is a big reason for that contending status. He has to improve. He has to work on some things. Most quarterbacks going into their third NFL season do. If the Vikings can find that splendid balance between Bridgewater's passing and Adrian Peterson's running this team can really be something special.

14. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens and Flacco just have to look at their 2015 season as one that never happened. A run of injuries the likes of which I've never seen wrecked it. Flacco is a terrific quarterback with a beautiful deep ball. Maybe he can connect with free agent addition Mike Wallace like Ben Roethlisberger once did. The Ravens offense is so much better when the ability to strike deep on any play is a threat.

13. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
When healthy, Romo is one of the best. He just has to stay healthy.

12. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
A few seasons ago it felt like Ryan was on the fast track to elite status. Then wins became hard to come by for the Falcons and Ryan drifted back a bit as a result. Losing Tony Gonzalez to retirement seemed to hurt more than anyone admitted. Ryan is still an excellent quarterback and one of the most dangerous at the end of the games.

11. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton was having his best season last season until a thumb injury ended it. He's been a solid quarterback for the Bengals since his rookie season. He just has to get that first playoff win.

10. Eli Manning, New York Giants
Manning gets a lot of criticism and maybe this is a little high but he is an excellent quarterback. His Super Bowl runs were some of the most clutch postseason quarterback play I've ever seen. With Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Sterling Shepard, and a healthy Victor Cruz, Manning has the most talented receivers he's ever had. His next few years could be his best.

  9. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Rivers is still one of best quarterbacks and leaders in the league despite his silly mechanics. He's fun to watch. It will help his game a lot if emerging receiver Keenan Allen is healthy and stays healthy.

  8. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
Palmer was approaching elite status over a decade ago with the Bengals. He's back to that level of play with the Cardinals. He was in MVP conversations through most of last season. Palmer and head coach Bruce Arians are a scary combination and the Cardinals are Super Bowl contenders as long as they are running the offense.

  7. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson was brilliant down the stretch last season. In a brutally cold playoff game in Minnesota he wasn't so brilliant. Except for one play. The Vikings defense contained Wilson and the Seahawks defense all day. Then there was an errant snap. Wilson's ability to dash back to the bouncing ball, corral it, get up, find, and connect with an open receiver saved his team that day. If that snap was on target the Seahawks might have lost that game. The Vikings were pretty much stopping every one of the Seahawks scripted plays. Wilson's ability to make a play like that is why he's at #7 on this list. It will be interesting to see how he and his offense performs with Marshawn Lynch enjoying his retirement.

6. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
After 15 years, 300-yard, 4-TD games seem routine for Brees. Young receivers like Brandin Cooks and rookie Michael Thomas should help Brees maintain those numbers. He's still one of the best.

  5. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
The only reason that Roethlisberger isn't at #3 is the youthful age of the two quarterbacks ahead of him. It doesn't seem right to say that Roethlisberger is underrated as he's been considered one of the best since he started winning Super Bowls. It's just that he often seems to be on the outside of conversations about the elite quarterbacks in the game. The conversations that usually include Rodgers, Brady, Brees and the recently-retired Manning. Roethlisberger should be in those conversations. This could be a special year in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have an excess of offensive weapons.

  4. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
The best thing about Newton's MVP 2015 season was that he was far better at the end of it than he was at the start. His team's rise mirrored his own. He's a very unique football player and quarterback.

  3. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts had Super Bowl dreams last season. Instead, it was a disaster. Injuries to Luck were a big reason for that. A giant new contract and bad memories of last season should be motivation for Luck to be the quarterback that he has the skills to be. One of the best. He has it all.

  2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Wins are really the most important statistic for quarterbacks and few have ever won more consistently than Brady. His passing statistics are impressive as well.

  1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
2015 was a down year for Rodgers. Anything less than outstanding is considered a down year. Losing receiver Jordy Nelson in preseason and a less than stellar season from running back Eddie Lacy seemed to throw the offense out of sync. Rodgers is still the standard at the position. Incredible arm. Incredible accuracy. Incredible movement in the pocket. At least twice each season I wish that he wasn't doing this quarterback gig with the Packers.

It doesn't feel right to think of the top quarterbacks in the league and not think of Peyton Manning. I miss him already.