Moon shines

When it comes to all-time great QBs, the list must be all-encompassing

Brett Favre is the only athlete in the four major sports to have started every game for the same team since Sept. 27, 1992. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Top 10 QBs Warren Moon   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 5,357 9,250 70,553 435 310 Johnny Unitas   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 2,830 5,186 40,239 290 253 Otto Graham   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 1,464 2,626 23,584 174 135 Joe Montana   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 3,409 5,391 40,551 273 139 John Elway   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 4,123 7,250 51,475 300 226 Dan Marino   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 4,967 8,358 61,361 420 252 Brett Favre   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 3,960 6,465 45,646 346 209 Fran Tarkenton   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 3,686 6,467 47,003 342 266 Jim Kelly   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 3,604 5,933 45,309 320 220 Doug Flutie   Comp. Att. Yards TD INT Career 2,975 4,854 41,355 270 106

The question was obtuse at best: Where does Brett Favre rank among the all-time greats? Entering his 13th season with the Packers, Favre continues to improve his credentials for Canton. But is he the best QB?

His resume is impressive for a guy whose first NFL completion was to himself, snaring his own deflected pass for minus-7 yards at Tampa Bay on Sept. 13, 1992:

• The NFL's only three-time MVP (1995-97).

• Ranks in the NFL's top five in four major passing categories: second in touchdowns (346), fourth in completions (3,960), fifth in attempts (6,464), fifth in yards (45,646).

• With a career record of 125-64, holds the fourth-highest winning percentage (.661) among starting QBs who have begun their careers since the 1970 league merger (minimum 100 starts).

• A remarkable 29-0 (36-1 including playoffs) at home when the game-time temperature is 34 degrees or below. His passer rating in those games is 96.0.

• Has started 189 consecutive games (208 including playoffs), an NFL record for a quarterback.

• The NFL's most accurate passer among those with at least 6,000 attempts, his 61.3 completion percentage is substantially ahead of No. 2 Dan Marino (59.4 percent).

• Tied with Fran Tarkenton for third place on the NFL's all-time wins list (125), trailing Marino (147) and John Elway (148).

• Has led the Packers to an NFL-best 125-64 record since taking over as the starter the fourth week of the 1992 season.

According to the Packers 2004 media guide, Favre is the only athlete in the four major sports to have started every game for the same team since Sept. 27, 1992. Excluding the NFL, Cal Ripken Jr. and Lou Gehrig are the only athletes in major sports history to start every game for their teams over a span of at least 12 seasons. Ripken started all 2,632 games of his streak, from 1982-1998, and Gehrig started every Yankees contest from July 1925 until his illness in 1939.

Because of frequent lineup changes and numerous variables, the NHL does not recognize consecutive starts streaks. The NHL record for most consecutive games played with the same team belongs to Steve Larmer (Chicago Blackhawks, 884 games, 1982-93). No one in NBA history has completed 10 consecutive years of starting with the same team. A.C. Green holds the record for most consecutive games played with 1,192 (1986-2001). Green played for four teams over that span.

All of the above is impressive, but none of this makes Favre the best. In fact, it's subjective as to what makes any player the best. To that end, I believe the Pro Football Hall of Fame should expand its parameters. After all, it's not the National Football League Hall of Fame.

My top 10 (chart, above right) has the players' career stats, including CFL and USFL numbers. Certain to rankle many NFL stalwarts, it's my opinion that the level of play is relative. Warren Moon proved that he could play at the top of his game in both the CFL and NFL. Ditto Doug Flutie, who also played in the USFL. Jim Kelly's USFL prowess did not diminish once he went to the Bills.

Moon led Edmonton to Grey Cup titles in 1978, '79, '80, '81 and '82, and almost a decade later was the AFC's Offensive Player of the Year (1990). He was a Pro Bowler in 1997 -- almost 20 years after his rookie season.

Flutie led the CFL in passing yards five times. He had seasons with 47 and 48 touchdown passes, and was a three-time Grey Cup MVP. Flutie's still around as the Chargers' backup QB -- almost 20 years after joining the USFL's New Jersey Generals.

Jim Kelly's lone SI cover: July 21, 1986. Ronald C. Modra/SI

Kelly also was a General, albeit briefly. Team owner Donald Trump engineered a merger with the Houston Gamblers (Kelly had already played two seasons with Houston) before the 1986 season, a campaign that was never to be. The league folded at the conclusion of the antitrust suit against the NFL that year.

And then there's Otto Graham, who spent four seasons with Cleveland in the All-American Football Conference and compiled a 52-4-3 record during that time. The NFL doesn't officially recognize stats from the AAFC, which tends to leave Graham overlooked when all-time great QBs are discussed. All Graham did was play in 10 consecutive title games, earning four AAFC and three NFL championships.

Mailbag

Here are some of the readers' top QBs -- and let the debate continue:

1) Dan Marino -- Name a stat he doesn't own, and who did he have to pass to?
2) Brett Favre -- Once again no huge, big-play receiver and no real running game until Ahman Green. Plays through pain and never gives up. Has a ring as well.
3) Fran Tarkenton -- The original scrambler/passer. Watch him and go wow.
4) Joe Montana -- If he didn't have Rice, he would have been No. 2. Oh yeah ... won a few Super Bowls, too.
5) Warren Moon -- What!?! MOON?!?! Take into account his days up in Canada and add those to his NFL days and you can see he deserves to be here. Never won a Super Bowl but won enough Canadian championships to count for something.
 -- Jason, Virginia, Minn.

When you judge a quarterback's play, you must consider what other teams have to do to stop him. Numbers don't mean much; rings are what players play for:
1) Joe Montana -- You can never count him out in any game. When he came to town, he guided his team better and longer than any other.
2) Joe Namath -- The leadership ability is 99.9 percent. Good arm, smart player.
3) Terry Bradshaw -- As good as they come, talent-wise.
4) Troy Aikman -- In his shortened career, had the numbers along with hardcore leadership to keep things intact to win rings under two coaches.
5) I hate to say this, but I'm not a big fan of him (no, I am not a Cleveland fan): John Elway -- Later in his years his leadership was remarkable, and he could have won another ring if he'd stayed another year.
 -- Matt, Lake Norman, N.C.

Five best QBs:
1) John Elway -- For all the fourth-quarter comebacks and Super Bowl appearances, and did more with less.
2) Brett Favre -- Similar to Elway, plus the consecutive games played streak.
3) Terry Bradshaw -- Four Super Bowl wins.
4) Joe Montana -- Consistent winner in a good system.
5) Dan Marino -- For all the yards.
 -- Brian, Minnesota City, Minn.

Since the United Kingdom didn't get the NFL until the 1980s, have only gone for QBs I've watched play in that time:
1) Joe Montana -- Nothing phased the guy. Preseason, regular season, playoffs all came the same to him. Great for teammates, depressing for opponents. Went 4-0 in Super Bowls. Should have gone 4-0 in Super Bowl MVPs, too. That last drive in XXIII was about as perfect as they come.
2) John Elway -- The man I'd want if my life depended on it, especially in the fourth quarter. Most games won, most comeback wins -- all despite being the most-sacked QB in history. Finally, the redemption at the end of a great career; two Super Bowl victories to erase those previous blowouts. And congrats on the HOF induction (yep, I'm a Broncos fan).
3) Dan Marino -- For sheer weight of numbers, has to be in the argument. Basically tore the record book up pretty much from Day 1. Unfortunately, never had the talent around him that Montana and Elway (later on) had, which is sad because his career definitely deserved a Super Bowl win.
4) Brett Favre -- Still the most enjoyable QB to watch currently playing. Multiple-time league MVP. I think of him being a lot like Elway -- never give up, always able to conjure something up when the opposition think they've finally got him beat. And probably means as much to Green Bay fans as Elways does to Denver fans.
5) Tom Brady -- One for the present. Was tempted to go for Peyton Manning, who probably is still the more marquee name. But two Super Bowl wins (both with MVP awards) in three years ain't bad.
 -- Martin, Ipswich, England

MAILBAG

I think the top five all-time quarterbacks are:
1) Brett Favre -- Easily the toughest, most competitive and versatile quarterback in modern football (and this from a Vikings fan). Favre has a never-say-die mentality and a natural ability to lead. I give Favre bonus points for headbutting opposing linemen.
2) Dan Marino -- The best pure passer in NFL history without a Super Bowl ring. Marino has thrown for almost 10,000 yards more than any other quarterback in history. Extremely impressive given that he never had a "super" receiver to throw to.
3) Warren Moon -- Another great pure passer. Between the NFL and the CFL, he threw for more than 70,000 yards, although with the exchange rate Canadian Football yards are not worth as much as NFL yards.
4) John Elway -- One of three passers with more than 50,000 yards, he also has two Super Bowl rings, and a Super Bowl MVP trophy. Elway was an expert at the come-from-behind victory, although the fact that opponents were sucking wind in the fourth quarter in Mile High Stadium might have helped there.
5) Joe Montana -- Over 40,000 yards passing, four Super Bowl rings, three-time Super Bowl MVP. Next to Troy Aikman, Montana is the most overrated quarterback in NFL history. Was he a great quarterback? Yes. Would he have been in the Top 10 without Jerry Rice? Hell no! With the talent that San Fran had at the time, Bernie Kosar could have put up the numbers Montana did.
Honorable mention to Slingin' Sammy Baugh for helping make the forward pass a major part of the game.
 -- Lance, Jacksonville, Fla.

My top five QBs:
1) Joe Montana -- Three-time Super Bowl MVP, four-time Super Bowl winner, seventh all time in TDs, eighth all time in passing yards, "The Catch" (the legendary hookup with Dwight Clark against Dallas). Amazing resume and ability to lead his team in the clutch like no other solidifies him as the No. 1 QB of all time.
2) Dan Marino -- Holds about every major passing record in the NFL. Would be in contention for No. 1 were it not for the fact that he never won the big game.
3) Johnny Unitas -- Great player, 40,000-plus yards. Greater than Peyton Manning in his ability to plan his own game. Wouldn't just call his own plays; he would draw a play in the dirt while in the huddle.
4) John Elway -- Overcame his crybaby image by showing that he could play. Led his team to five Super Bowl appearances. Could run the ball if he had to. Would sacrifice his body to win, as seen with his Super Bowl dive. Cemented himself with legend status when he orchestrated "The Drive."
5) Brett Favre -- Yep, he found his way on here. Could bypass the 50,000-yard mark with a great season or two good ones. Amazing leader. Can play through adversity, and quite well. The game after his father's death would have been amazing without that tragedy, and his ability to play with the broken thumb is astonishing. Another Super Bowl win moves him up on the list. Three-time league MVP is also pretty good.
 -- Spenser, Ellicott City, Md.

B. Duane Cross is a senior producer for SI.com.