The Top Five: Best Quarterbacks Heading into 2010 Season

While every position can inspire some heated debate, none become more heated than the discussion of who is the league’s best quarterback. It’s partly due to the homer-effect, and partly because there is no set way to judge how good a quarterback actually is.

For nearly every other position, it’s based solely on stats and individual achievements. For quarterbacks, however, the success of the team is almost always taken into account.

Steven Jackson is still considered a top five running back even though his team doesn’t do a whole lot of winning, but find a quarterback who throws for 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, but only wins two games, and he’s not going to enter the conversation a whole lot.

So with all things considered, let’s take a look at the best five signal-callers heading into the 2010 season.

5. Donovan McNabb (Washington Redskins)

Say what you will about McNabb, but the man does a whole lot of winning and, at least early in his career, did it with almost nothing around him in terms of a supporting cast. He’s a big-play type of guy who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and especially won’t make the mistakes when it counts the most.

Even though he’s getting up in years (34 years old), he’s still elusive inside and outside of the pocket and always has a great field awareness. With the support of a running game in Washington, McNabb could do great things for that team right away and have them at least in contention come December.

4. Tom Brady (New England Patriots)

Fourth might seem a bit low for a three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but it’s more about the guys ahead of him than it is a knock on his play. In fact, his play was right on par for what he’s done for his entire career sans his phenomenal 2007 season.

And considering he was coming off a knee injury that took away his entire 2008 season, it’s very impressive that he was able to muster the numbers he did. Granted, Brady isn’t exactly without some firepower on the outsides, but if we look at the stats of Wes Welker and Randy Moss, it becomes quite clear that Brady helps them as much as they help Brady.

The Patriots might not be legitimate contenders this year with a lot of question marks on the defensive side of the ball, but you can rest assured Brady will at least have them in a position to win every week.

3. Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings)

For Favre to come back and not just have a great season, but have perhaps the best season of his Hall of Fame career at 40 years old, is nothing short of incredible.

His name usually is met with a grown and an eye-roll today because of the offseason drama, but there’s no denying that Favre is still one the best in the game today. He turned Sydney Rice into a Pro Bowl receiver, turned Visanthe Shiancoe into an impact tight end, and turned Greg Lewis into a hero with his game-winning catch against the 49ers.

The Vikings are a good team without Favre, but with him they instantly become, in my eyes, the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl — something they would have done last season had they not been fleeced by the officials and caught a severe case of fumblitis.

It’s going to be hard to top his ’09 season, but if anyone can do it, it’s Brett Favre.

2. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)

Brees is, without a doubt, the most accurate passer playing today and could wind up going down as the most accurate passer of all time. Since his rookie season, Brees has had only one year (2003) when he didn’t complete at least 60 percent of his passes. And since 2004, Brees has not completed less than 64.3 percent of his passes.

Over that same period of time, Brees also has no less than 24 touchdowns, including back-to-back seasons in ’08 and ’09 with an impressive 34 touchdowns. Brees also came less than 20 yards away from breaking Dan Marino’s single-season passing yards record in ’08.

And now that the stats have a ring to accompany them, Brees has cemented his status as the runner-up best quarterback in the NFL.

1. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)

No surprise here. Manning has been the best quarterback in the league for quite some time and it’s not about to change now. Even though he lost the Super Bowl to the Drew Brees-led New Orleans Saints, he’s catching far too much heat for Tracy Porter’s pick-and-go that ultimately cost them the game.

Yes, Porter seemingly read the play. But why is that on Manning? I put the blame on Jim Caldwell and the offensive coordinator for A) not realizing the Saints were picking up on the calls and B) allowing Manning to call the offense.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: Manning is a quarterback, not an OC. If he was allowed to do only his job his numbers would be even higher than they already are.

Also, why is Reggie Wayne so lackadaisical about stepping in front of Porter? The route calls for the receiver to box out the corner and make the play. Manning threw it to the spot, so it’s on Wayne to get there and make something happen.

But even with all that aside, Brees is going to have to continue to win and put his team in the playoffs (at the very least) before he can bump Manning out of the top spot. Manning might only have one ring, but no one has been better at consistently getting their team into the postseason and setting them up for success.

So until further notice, Manning remains the best quarterback in the league.