The first group of quarterbacks are athletic running quarterbacks. They're often referred to in the modern day as quarterbacks with high ceilings. They're considered gifted or talented because they can move like a running back. And at the very least have a substandard arm at worst.
The second group is known for their intelligence. How well they can process things. They're also known for being statues. They may be considered to have a higher floor but they're also considered to have a lower ceiling in the modern era due to lack of (physical) talent.
We hear all the time that athletes have to train to all the time to be at the physical level they're at. We also hear all the time that the second group will never attain the physical talents of the first group. We hear how the second group has to continuously sharpen their mental abilities to make up for their physical abilities. So why is knowing how to use mental gifts not considered a talent?
The cast of First things first said "most talented doesn't mean best career." And "greatness depends on the criteria used."
There are some that will say Aaron Rodgers, John Elway and Patrick Mahomes are the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Then there is a group that says Peyton Manning, Brett Farve, and Dan Marino are the greatest to ever play.
And finally there are those who consider Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Terry Bradshaw as the greatest quarterbacks ever.
The first group is rated on Talent, that group has guys like Cam Newton and Michael Vick in it. The second group is all about stats. The third group is about winning percentages and championships.
Ever notice the guys like Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and even Mac Jones are considered game managers or system quarterbacks? Their intelligence is looked down upon. A game manager does what's needed to win without trying to be flashy. They play smart and don't try to be reckless with the ball in order to make the big plays. They are criticized because of that.
I appreciate mobility but in a quarterback I want a guy who can stand in the pocket and make intelligent decisions with the ball. That includes knowing when to leave the pocket. There's a mobile journeyman quarterback in Houston currently that doesn't get appreciated because he plays like that and is considered too conservative.
I'll ask this, what good is physical talent if you don't know how to use it? This season, we have seen teams take away Patrick Mahomes's deep ball, and last year teams came up and forced Cam Newton to throw the ball. We saw both quarterbacks struggle.
Physical talent can only take a person so far. Intelligent players find a way to make careers work even without physical talent because they learn how to beat players with their minds. This doesn't just apply to quarterbacks or football but it is one of the best examples.
It's time we acknowledge mental gifts as talents and what criteria we use when determining how we determine elite and greatness. With that said, I believed that Mac Jones was the best quarterback in the draft followed by Fields and then Lawrence. And I still believe Mac will have better career in terms of stats, wins, and championships between the quarterbacks of this latest draft class.
Oh and one more thing. Some people are going to say Bradshaw wasn't good he was lucky. I hear his name mentioned in that group and I hear that arguement. My friend Ray says "you gotta be good to be lucky." I also hear Bradshaw only won so much because of his defenses. Montana and Brady benefited from good defenses, along with many other of the quarterbacks mentioned. Bradshaw like Montana has the rings and that pisses people off. Bradshaw might not of been a stat quarterback but he did his job and that's all that matters.
Is Bradshaw one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, that again depends on your criteria. For those that base it on rings, he's right there with Montana and Brady. Just like for those who base the best quarterbacks on wins, Mac Jones is the best quarterback from this draft class at the moment.
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