I've been wondering if having an "elite" stat-making QB is really that important.  With the rules Goodell has put in place, it's easier than ever to play the poisition if you don't ask them to do too much..  Lately we've seen guys like Flacco, E. Manning (2), Roethlisberger (2), win SBs.  

Common thread here is that they just manage the game.  Get good line play, run the ball, take the easy throws, throw to guys who are wide open or mismatched so only the WR can make a play on it.  Don't take high risk throws and don't turn the ball over in the playoffs.  They also tend to have fast, if not particulary skilled WRs to go down the field to.  They don't try to thow receivers open.  

QBs who are asked to do more for their teams, we all know the names... win some, lose some but the scales don't seem to be tipped in their favor like you'd think.  Obviously you aren't ever going to win long term with a Sanchez, Fitzpatrick, or Vick turning the ball over every other series and making high risk throws, but you also don't seem to need an elite QB either.

All the elite QBs do exactly what you said in the first part of the comment it is exactly what makes them Elite. It also helps that they have better than average RBs and WRs. As well as a decent defense.

guys like Sanchez, Freeman, Vick, etc.... Have not learned How to manage the game as you stated. Once a QB tries to do too much they will lose in most cases.

In response to JimfromFlorida's comment:

I guess it depends on how you define elite then.  Not really trying to get into that, but the degree of difficulty in what these guys do is not the same as what the elite guys (in my mind) do. 

It doesn't seem like you need an elite guy to win.  You can win with a guy who doesn't play like an idiot if he has a very good team around him even if he doesn't have quite as much skill as an elite guy.  The elite QB doesn't trump all, which seems to be the perception.

flacco had 11 td's and zero int's in this years playoffs, yes its important.

 

we have an elite qb, too bad he hasnt played like one in the playoffs for a few years.

TB be is a great QB. Not sure he is elite any more. And stop shoving stats at me to prove his eliteness. Stats don't always equate.  Elite QBs figure out how to win SB games. He, along with the Pats have failed to do so for many years now.  

Not elite...what you need is a CLUTCH QB to win it all. Ya know what Brady used to be in playoffs with 14 TD and 3 picks in his 10-0 start in playoff games. Since then he has almost as many INTs as TDs in his 7-7 playoff record....

In response to ccsjl's comment:

IMO, being a clutch makes you elite.

Call me crazy,

but excelling in the post season is more impressive than piling numbers against dumpy teams in the regular season

Flacco is a very good QB with a ton of offensive weapons.  If you gave TB that set of receivers to throw to his postseason numbers would be comparable.

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In response to nyjoseph's comment:

Brady has very good weapons. Before this post season, you would probably take Brady's weapons over Flacco's.

Brady also had great weapons in 2007 and didn't put numbers remotely close to what Flacco did.

 

In response to RockScully's comment:

I agree with this 100%. "Elite" has become a very vague phrase nowadays when talking about QBs. As long as you have an above average QB who can make most of the throws and (this is key) not turn the ball over, you can go far and maybe win it all. 

I also think if you surround a QB with the right WRs and TEs, they can excel above their level. Look at what Boldin and T. Smith did for Flacco.

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The problem with an elite QB is the elite price tag.  The Pats had more money to work with, under the cap, when Brady was making the salary of a sixth round pick.  The money could be used to meet other needs. 

Of course Brady is still elite but now they pay him as such and there is a lot less money to go around.  Simple economics, really.

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Any ideas on who would be an ideal team (or teams) for Alex Smith? 

In response to RockScully's comment:

 

Here's why I think it is still important:

The concept of elite may get thrown around WAY too much and too fast now because the media is tired of complimenting the Manning, Brady, Rodgers types.  That's true.  They're always going to look for the next name they can talk about just so it's new to them to do so.

But, also, the rule changes have deepened the crop of good QBs in the league, too.  So, if you don't have a solid/decent one who may grow into a good or even great one, you're still in trouble because so many teams will have one now.

Look at the Jets and Sanchez. They tried your approach and if you aren't talented, you still aren't going to make it even with Goodell's rule changes.

So, I don't know it "elite" is the need, but abover average and consistent, absolutely.  The Dilfer, Brad Johnson, etc, QBs aren't winning SBs ever again.

 

 

 

 

This is pretty much my point.  All you need is a solid guy if you have a solid team.  A guy who may not turn a bad team good but a guy who can just keep a good team good.  You can win with this.  Consistency and decision making is key.  I don't think you need a top 4 guy and having one guarantees nothing. 

 

The Jets, though, did the opposite of my approach.  They overrated a guy who wasn't that good, paid him too much and asked him to do things he and the team around him wasn't capable of. 

On a side note...while I believe Brady has just been bad in the past few postseasons (aside from Denver last year and Houston this year), seeing Boldin make a couple of those catches yesterday made me  want a tall, physical WR who can go up and catch it even more.

 

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In response to markrahobeth's comment:

So what's going to happen to Baltimore now that Flacco reportedly wants Drew Brees money?

Go figure.  When TB was just a "game manager", they won.

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In response to RockScully's comment:

In response to redsoxfan94's comment:

Too bad the team around him hasn't showed up so he could play at an elite level. Learn the game Rusty Clone.