Top 5 Greatest NFL Quarterbacks in the Game Right Now

Second only to United States President, NFL Quarterback is the most glamorous, if not, important job in all of America. The term "quarterback" carries an aura of mystique that is the fusion of intelligence, brawn, speed, and charisma. Professional football teams, let alone entire fan bases, and cities are willing to lay it on the line and run through walls for elite quarterbacks.

Certainly, even casual football fans will appreciate the spectacle heading into the draft and leading up towards the initial weeks of the 2009-2010 NFL regular-season. The New York Jets, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were all willing to mortgage the future and sell their souls to land kids that had shown enough flashes in college to compete for the chance to start in the NFL.

Starting quarterbacks within today's game fall into three separate levels. First, game managers are simply asked to hold down the fort, avoid bonehead mistakes, and not lose the game. Secondly, franchise quarterbacks command the job as The Man, and are above any and all controversy at the position per the draft or player trades.

Lastly, the elite quarterback triumphs over all, and is an icon-representative of his city and regional way of life. Great NFL quarterbacking combines the sheer talent to throw the football, alongside sharp decision-making, and a "feel" for "it."

"It" is best described as the knack for the greatest to win ball games.

This article is concerned with identifying and analyzing the methods of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now. We will not muddle the playing field by overtly comparing the exploits of Tom Brady to Joe Montana, or grainy footage of Otto Graham. We are not concerned with stories and accounts of the time Granpa bumped into Johnny Unitas patronizing Smitty's corner market at West Side Baltimore.

The greatest quarterbacks in the game right now are intent upon polishing off and submitting Hall of Fame resumes. Far from game managers, these signal callers currently operate from the prime of their respective careers and combine experience with athleticism to make plays, attack the defense, and perhaps above all else, avoid injury.

Certainly, the raging backlash in regards to whittling the field of 32 legitimate starting quarterbacks towards the top-5 will be paramount. NFL fanatics must remain objective, and recognize the fact that ascending The Pantheon as the elite man under center is more than just pretty mechanics.

Just win, baby!

#5 Greatest NFL Quarterback in the Game Right Now: Drew Brees

Drew Brees is just not good enough. Drew Brees is too short. Drew Brees does not have the arm strength. Drew Brees is an injury risk. Drew Brees is coming off shoulder surgery. Drew Brees is too old. Drew Brees is not Philip Rivers.

Silence.

Drew Brees passed for 5,069 yards in 2008 - 16 yards shy of breaking Dan Marino's 5,084-yard record. Although commentators identify the New Orleans Saints quarterback as the master of the short to intermediate throw, Brees led the NFL with 16 completions totaling over 40 yards. Indeed, the Texan has demonstrated marked improvement upon his long-range bombs since entering the NFL.

Drew Brees simply maintains a "feel" for the game. This signal caller represents the primary reason behind the uncanny ability of the New Orleans Saints organization to pick up wide receivers off the veritable scrap heap and manufacture overlooked talent into solid contributors.

Devery Henderson, Lance Moore, Marques Colston, and Terrence Copper prove that Brees is more than capable of spreading the wealth and making those around him better. Certainly, the Drew Brees trade to the 2006 Saints and revitalization of the franchise to 10-6 and the NFC Championship Game in the wake of Hurricane Katrina represents one of the more inspirational sports fairy tales of all time.

Still, the Saints have been shut out of the NFL Playoffs since 2006, operating out of the brutal NFC South division. The ball is foist into Brees' hands often, as Reggie Bush is a non-factor as an every down back, and New Orleans' pathetic running game ranks as 28^th in 2007 and 2008.

Drew Brees attempted a ridiculous 652 and 635 passes over the last two seasons. The quarterback also demonstrates the eerie propensity to lock onto receivers under duress and set them up to get blasted by menacing safeties and linebackers.

The fact that the Saints play 9 games upon a fast track carpet (8 at Superdome + 1 in Atlanta) and 2 outdoor away games within the Sun Belt; alongside their execution of a present day version of the run and shoot offense are tailwind boons to Drew Brees' stats.

For all this talk about a record, Dan Marino threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns upon 564 attempts (71 less than Brees), and had to travel to Buffalo, New England, Pittsburgh, and The Meadowlands to do so.

#4 Greatest NFL Quarterback in the Game Right Now: Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers quietly went nuts in 2008.

Lost behind the glare of Drew Brees' march towards Dan Marino's 5,084-yard mark, Aaron Rodgers - Brett Favre, Matt Ryan, and the late-season heroics of Peyton Manning, was the fact that Philip Rivers put together the most efficient campaign of any NFL quarterback - by far.

Rivers completed the 2008-2009 NFL season with a 105.5 quarterback rating - 8.1 points higher than the second rated Chad Pennington. The physical tools and fiery leadership of this Southern gunslinger all came together last season, as #17 completed 65% of his passes for 4,009 yards and 34 touchdowns, against 11 interceptions.

Beyond this efficiency, Rivers is characterized per his toughness and high-profile feud with ex-division rival Jay Cutler. The Charger loves to up the ante by scowling and talking smack to the opposition as if he were a raging linebacker.

Philip Rivers earned the respect of his locker room and the NFL at-large by battling through torn ligaments to challenge the New England Patriots during the 2007-2008 AFC Championship Game. Rivers revealed afterwards that he had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery one week before the match up.

San Diego's starting quarterback was to regroup last season to complete his best performance as a 27-year old pro. The 6-5 228 pound athlete throws a beautiful deep ball and his twelve completions that went for over 40 yards in 2008 tied him for third place behind Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers.

LaDainian Tomlinson is slowly handing the leadership keys over to San Diego Chargers franchise quarterback Philip Rivers.

Still, Philip Rivers and his San Diego Chargers must emerge as the class of the AFC for Rivers to receive his proper due. The Bolts have lost to New England twice and Pittsburgh at the divisional and championship rounds en route to the Super Bowl with Rivers at the helm.

The bitter losses are amplified considering that the San Diego Chargers always field one of the most talented rosters in all of football. Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson are fixtures amidst the greatest of all time debate per their respective positions, while Michael Turner, Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson, and Lorenzo Neal were all Pro Bowl caliber players during Rivers' time at San Diego.

The AFC West is weak and San Diego is a lock for the playoffs as division champion. Philip Rivers must get to the Super Bowl - beyond the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots to cement his name further amongst the elite.

#3 Greatest NFL Quarterback in the Game Right Now: Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger is a winner. Period.

The doughboy quarterback towers over the line of scrimmage with a physique that is more so befitting of a flag football veteran, takes too many sacks, and puts up minimal statistics - yet Ben always makes plays.

Of course, Big Ben has been blessed to operate behind the tradition of the Steel Curtain at Three Rivers. For these very reasons, the uninformed will continue to degrade Roethlisberger as a "game managing" quarterback.

Managing the game is not engineering game winning drives at the final moments of the Super Bowl and throwing a perfect strike to the corner of the end zone to Santonio Homles at wide receiver.

Ben Roethlisberger is arguably the most underrated quarterback in the NFL by the casual fan. Certainly, knowledgeable experts upon the intricacies of football recognize the young man's merit as a stellar quarterback.

Indeed, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the only club to win six Super Bowls, and one of the most well regarded franchises in all of sports has rewarded Big Ben handsomely, in step with his exceptional value.

Big Ben is signed to an eight-year $102 million contract, with $36 million in guarantees that effectively eliminates any potential for controversy going forward. Ben Roethlisberger will retire as the franchise quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This kid is the Gold Standard per which all young quarterbacks are measured. The 11^th overall choice in the 2004 NFL Draft (behind Rivers and Eli Manning) was thrown into the fire as a rookie signal caller and led the Steelers to a 15-1 record. Further, his 2004 98.1 quarterback rating established the record mark for all first-year pros. Still, Ben showed his youth at the 2004-2005 AFC Championship Game and tossed 3 picks to the New England Patriots.

The Steelers returned next season to defeat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

Ben Roethlisberger has already won two Super Bowls, played in three AFC Championship Games, and entered the NFL Playoffs 4 out of 5 seasons at the age of 26. Ben's lone "off" season should be written off by the fact that the man almost died in a motorcycle accident going into training camp.

The Steelers have continued to expand the playbook - often going single-back / three or four-wide to allow the maturing quarterback to scan the field and deliver the football. Roethlisberger puts up big numbers when given the chance, as evidenced by his 2007 season (32 TDs / 104.1 QB Rating), Super Bowl drive, and his solid playoff numbers.

2008-2009 was a defining moment per the career of Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steeler offense represented Pittsburgh football in name only, last season. Big Ben took gruesome shots behind a porous offensive line, while the injured Fast Willie Parker and journeyman third-down back Mewelde Moore combined for the 23^rd ranked rushing attack in the NFL, a far cry from old school Steel City physicality.

Big Ben has been forced to air it out to a receiving corps that is far from dynamic. Yes, Hines Ward is a Steeler great, but Ward is a possession receiver that has never been known to stretch the field. Yes, Santonio Holmes is explosive, but Holmes lacks the "give me the ball" chutzpah of a number one.

Of course, critics will sneer that Roethlisberger's second Super Bowl deserves an asterisk. Santonio Holmes was rewarded with the Most Valuable Player Trophy, while the Patriots were out of the mix with Tom Brady shut down for the season to rehabilitate his shredded ACL.

This wayward chatter will only serve as motivation for Ben Roethlisberger.

#2 Greatest NFL Quarterback in the Game Right Now: Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning has been so good, for so long, he is simply boring.

Last season, the student of the game arguably put together the most impressive performance of his career. Manning put a beleaguered 3-4 MASH Unit of Indianapolis Colts through the paces to rattle off nine-straight wins end complete the regular season at 12-4.

The 9-game march proved that the Indianapolis Colts always have a chance to win with Peyton Manning at the controls.

Vintage Manning overcame a 14-24 deficit at Jacksonville to control the fourth quarter with his arm and earn a seventh-straight playoff birth to emerge with a 31-24 victory. Peyton Manning finished the night with a virtuoso 29 for 34, 364-yard, and 3-touchdown performance. Commentators largely point to the game as the launch pad for Manning's third AP NFL MVP award.

Manning, 33, shows no signs of slowing down.

The "aww shucks" cerebral flame-thrower has slapped together 3,500-yard+ and 26-touchown+ lines during every season of his 11-year career with the Indianapolis Colts. In addition to his Zen relationship with Marvin Harrison, the Tennessee Vol has worked magic with Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley, Dallas Clark, and Ben Utecht. Manning is a coach-on-the-field type that calls his own plays, and just happens to carry a rocket launcher for an arm.

Certainly, Anthony Gonzalez will appear as the latest Colts receiver that just "happens" to appear at the right place, right time.

45,628 passing yards plus one Super Bowl MVP prove that Peyton Manning is a surefire Hall of Famer, right now. Still, Peyton Manning must win the Heisman, beat Florida, and outduel Tom Brady to claim The Throne.

No, Life is not Fair.

#1 Greatest NFL Quarterback in the Game Right Now: Tom Brady

Tom Brady is this generation's Joe Montana, combined with Broadway Joe Namath.

Brady is arguably the coolest athlete of all time that wins Super Bowls, dates and marries super models, and serves as the cover boy for GQ. The California kid has emerged from the forgotten man at Michigan and NFL Draft Day afterthought into the most decorated professional football player upon today's gridiron.

This signal caller has elevated his Game and polished his image from that of a scrappy gym rat, into the certified star of the moment by possessing the character of a winner. NFL veterans must acknowledge the fact that Brady has won three Super Bowls alongside a supporting group of castaways at Foxborough.

Tom Brady has spent the majority of his career throwing flares to Troy Brown, working the flats to Kevin Faulk, hitting Ben Watson down the seams, and handing the ball off to his Corey Dillon - Antowain Smith feature back of the moment.

Who in the world are these guys?

Antowain Smith and Corey Dillon topped 1,000 yards rushing at New England, while Troy Brown tallied 1,199 receiving yards in 2001. Besides this production, Deion Branch and David Givens had their moments for the Patriots, before signing fat contracts and fading into black - without Brady.

Even Mike Vrabel bought into the act as a viable short-yardage tight end per #12 calling the shots.

The New England Patriots could not maintain this rag tag group throughout eternity and were finally thwarted at Indianapolis in the 2006-2007 AFC Championship. Patriots brass reloaded by bringing Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth into the fold for 2007.

Tom Brady, Bill Bellichick, and company, appeared to take sick pleasure within unleashing the hounds and beating the opposition into a pulp that season. The results translated into a 16-0 regular mark, and 4,806 yards to go with a record 50 touchdown passes for Tom Brady.

Still, the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII forcefully checked the Pats swagger at the door. Tom Brady must live down four quarters of harassment in the pocket, alongside his inability to make plays towards the dreaded 18-1.

Joe Montana would have never let that happen.

Top 5 Greatest NFL Quarterbacks in the Game Right Now, Sources:

Pro Football Statistics and History, http://www.pro-football-reference.com/

The NFL, http://www.nfl.com/

Wikipedia, Quarterback, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarterback

New York Times, Greatest Quarterback by the Numbers: Peyton Manning? http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/greatest-quarterback-by-the-numbers-peyton-manning/