When someone mentions the best quarterbacks in the NFL, players like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady come to mind.
They are undoubtedly game-changing quarterbacks with the ability to make even the most unlikely miracle happen. Many of the above have produced countless fourth-quarter comebacks within the game’s dying seconds to snatch wins. This is what you would expect from a top quarterback, a leader in all circumstances. What you really need is consistency. What good is a quarterback who throws interceptions instead of completions when he’s under pressure? You need a quarterback who delivers, and does so day in and day out.
Most previous quarterbacks have been to Super Bowls and come back and proven themselves, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to mistakes.
Take Eli Manning. Eli led the Giants to a third Super Bowl title against the previously undefeated Patriots thanks to the help of David Tyree’s helmet just three years ago. But the Giants have missed the playoffs the past two seasons showing a decline in their form. Last season, despite throwing for 4,000-plus yards, 31 touchdowns, he also threw 25 interceptions, his most so far since being drafted in 2004. Maybe he was taking more risks, but the stats suggest they were unnecessary. The offensive line gave up just 16 sacks last season, just over half from the previous season, suggesting they were buying time for the quarterback — he was simply making the wrong decisions.
Even riskier, Drew Brees threw 33 touchdown passes, but they came at a cost: The Saints’ leader was intercepted by the opposition 22 times. Brees is an incredibly experienced quarterback and he also has the luxury of having experienced wide receivers around him, so 22 interceptions is a surprise.
Everyone praised Peyton Manning, the ‘Field General’ who produces results with his young receiving team. The Colts struggled heavily with injuries, but still managed to make the playoffs for the ninth straight season. He again threw well, for more than 4,700 yards, but that’s always expected of a quarterback with such a high reputation. His overall quarterback rating for the season was incredibly low compared to other top quarterbacks, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers and Michael Vick.
In my opinion, a player who deserves more recognition in the 2010-2011 season is Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman. In what was only Freeman’s second season, and his first full one, he led the Bucs from a 3-13 team to an impressive and positive 10-6 record. Unfortunately, the Bucs narrowly missed out on the playoffs, but Freeman threw for more than 3,400 yards and 25 touchdowns. And at what cost? He only 6 steals, same as Michael Vick. It’s true that Freeman had a bumpy start to the season with 5 picks in the first 9 weeks, but he ended up shooting just 1 pick in the remaining 8 games, showing that he’s a fast learner and builds on his mistakes. Freeman also led the Bucs to 4 remarkable comebacks last season that showed his poise and maturity under pressure.
The Bucs rely heavily on rookie players offensively, much like the Manning situation. The longest tenured wide receiver is Maurice Stovall in his sixth year. What Freeman managed to pull off was definitely an impressive second season for such a young quarterback. For a team with very few consistent, game-changing wide receivers, Freeman produced inspiring results and it’s amazing how this talent went so unnoticed amidst the euphoria of Vick’s comeback season success.
Freeman has surely raised what some fans believed was a sinking ship in Tampa and the Bucs will be unlucky enough to miss the playoffs again.