I think Roethlisberger is a definite HOFer. He probably isn't a first ballot guy, but he will get in. Phillip Rivers and Matt Ryan, to me, are the biggest question marks in terms of recent QBs. I've never thought of either as top five QBs over the course of their careers, especially when compared to Brady, Peyton, Brees and Rodgers. I don't think you can just look at the career numbers of each of them since it's such a different game than it was even twenty-five years ago.
I loathe the Steelers, but Big Ben is a HOFer.
Let's see, Rivers has:
- a better record as a starter (only 11 more career games)
- a much better passing pct (64.9 vs 60.3)
- nearly 7K more passing yards (in only 11 more starts - that's some damn good passing)
- led the league in passing yards once (Eli never) and TDs twice (Eli - never)
- gone 3-0 vs Eli head-to-head
So let's see.....when a guy has a better record, more passing yards, is a better pct passer and led in good stats, you know what we say?
HE IS THE BETTER QUARTERBACK!!!
So if Rivers is not in the Hall of Fame, Eli damn sure isn't.
Put Rivers on the Giants and what happens?
As for Eli, you can't ignore the two super bowl victories,
I agree, you can't ignore them.
But you CAN put them in proper context. Rings should neither be ignored nor exalted as the be all/end all. That's my problem with the Eli debate.
Jim Plunkett was also a .500 QB and won two rings.
He's not in the HOF.
Why not?
Is it because he only led the leagues in picks once?
particularly, who the Giants beat, both times. Eli wouldn't sniff the HOF without the two rings, but right or wrong, NFL QBs' HOF resumes start with how many super bowls did they win.
Again, nobody has ever said Jim Plunkett belongs.
And he doesn't.
Plunkett LOST THE STARTER JOB early in 1983 to Marc Wilson and came back when he got injured.
The Raiders won SB 18 because of Marcus Allen not because of Plunkett.
And the Giants won SB 42 largely because of their defense, not because of Eli Manning.
(I give Eli complete credit for SB 46, he played great. So did Plunkett to win the MVP in 15).
I think Eli had a good enough career coupled with the two SB wins to get in.
I just don't see how this is possible.
Subtract those two seasons and he has as losing overall record.
Funny to me how he gets all that credit for the two wins but none of the blame for when his team sucked.