Elite Quarterbacks

Icon said
The definition of "elite" has become watered down. So basically, "above average" is the new "elite".

2001 Tom Brady was not elite.....neither was 2005 Ben Roethlisberger. Obviously both would prove to be elite later on, but when they won their first SB titles, notsomuch. But somewhere around the time Joe Flacco won a SB, it became decided that SB win = elite QB.

I think that being an elite QB is something demonstrated with top tier success over a period of years. It's not a single-season thing. And just because a QB is "very good" doesn't mean he's elite. Joe Flacco isn't elite on anyone's list that has the definition correct. And people often confuse "franchise QB" with elite. There are certainly QBs that anchor your franchise for years - and those QBs are often very good, but they're not always elite.

Brady is clearly elite, as is Drew Brees and it definitely included Peyton. Ben is more of an argument for me - he's certainly at the top of that "very good" level just below elite, but is he truly elite? Some will say so, and clearly at times he is a top 5 QB in the league - but he isn't nearly as consistent as the three undisputed elites. Ben has just two seasons over 4,300 yards and they were in 2009 and 2014. He has thrown more than 28 TD's just twice and he has never thrown more 32. Part of that is injuries and part of that is system.

Ben is indisputably very good and a textbook franchise QB. Is he truly elite? I think you could make the case either way. I think most would fall on the site of elite and I can see that for sure. But his production isn't in the same atmosphere as the other elites.