The Smashmouth Football League or we usually call the SFL is going to enter its fourth season. The first 3 seasons have brought us 3 different champions in each season, with the Rams claiming the title in 2002, the Ravens doing it in 2003, and the latest the Redskins surprisingly pulling it out in the 2004 season. Behind each of these 3 Super Bowl winning teams, beside a GM, there was also a quarterback (QB) which played a crucial part on the team success on their trip to the Super Bowl. In the previous article, I discussed about the top 10 GMs with the most wins in the SFL, which has stirred up some interesting discussions (or debates if roughly put) among the fellow members of our small but wonderful community. And one of the famous but still debatable opinions is the correlation between the presence of a quality QB in a team with the success in a GM's career. This time, I have gathered some data related to SFL QBs to compile a list of 10 winningest QBs in the young history of our beloved league. To make it a fair ground for all QBs, this list only counts the records in the regular season. Can this list prove or confirm what has been the common knowledge about QB quality and GM's success? You may find out the answer you are looking for by reading through the article. Enjoy the read!
Note: To be eligible, the QBs must have been playing for at least 1.5 season or more with at least 24 or more total regular season games played ( half of all possible regular season games from 3 seasons which is 48 ).Index: GP (Games Played); W (Win); L (Loss); PF (Played for)1st. Brett Favre | 3 seasons | Green Bay PackersGP: 32 W: 26 L: 6 .PCT: .813 PF: GBIf you are looking for the examples for the phrase 'old but gold', Favre is probably a good one for it. He may be one of the oldest QBs in the league that are still playing. At the age of 36 in his 15 seasons as a pro quarterback, he still looks great to continue instilling his winning mentality to the youngsters in Green Bay. He even could be able to improve his winning percentage in his SFL career if he can get healthy all season long, the problem which has been haunting him and GM Gary Hickman these past three seasons. From the 3 SFL seasons, he only played all 16 regular season games once, which was last season.
2nd. Tom Brady | 3 seasons | New England PatriotsGP: 46 W: 36 L: 10 .PCT: .783 PF: NEThis name would probably be in this kind of list for years to come. Yup, the QB whose fullname is Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr. is identical with winning whether it is in real life or in madden universe. Having only played for 5 years as a pro in SFL, Brady will surely still have a long career ahead. The funny thing is, he did not have to play that special to be the second winningest QB in three seasons of SFL. He is currently ranked 11th, 16th, 18th and 17th in total career passing yards, total career passing touchdowns, pass completion percentage and career passer rating respectively among active eligible QBs in the league. But sooner or later that may change along with the time.
3rd. Peyton Manning | 3 seasons | Indianapolis ColtsGP: 44 W: 32 L: 12 .PCT: .727 PF: INDJust like Brady, Peyton Manning is also almost identical to winning and every team that will face him and the Colts knows that Peyton equals half the team and hopes he is not under center due to injury. Because only injury to Manning that will increase the winning chance of the opposing team significantly. Unlike Brady, Manning is the backbone of his team and his performance determines how the Colts will play as a team. Currently, Manning is the career leader in at least 4 passing categories, which are total passing yards, total passing touchdowns, total passing attempts, and total passing completions. That is why he is almost always in the conversation for league MVP in every season.
4th. Steve McNair | 3 seasons | Buffalo BillsGP: 46 W: 32 L: 14 .PCT: .696 PF: WASThe defending Super Bowl winning QB, Steve 'Air' McNair probably was not being talked about enough in the first 2 seasons of the SFL. But then he proved that he got the mentality and skills to win in the biggest stage of the competition. The Bills GM who is currently one of the GMs on the hot seat this upcoming season realized McNair's capability to win games now and that could save his career in Buffalo. That's why he traded for him from the Redskins. McNair probably still got few seasons left before he calls it a career and the Bills must make use of it maximally by surround him with dependable receiving corps and protection.
5th. Kurt Warner | 3 seasons | St. Louis RamsGP: 29 W: 20 L: 9 .PCT: .690 PF: STLThe Super Bowl winning QB of the inaugural season of the SFL, Kurt Warner only played for 29 games from the possible 48 regular season games in 3 seasons. That's just merely 60%. He has not play in a full season either. That is why I would like to call him as "the Man of Glass". Just like one the Dutch greats in soccer, Arjen Robben, who used to be called as the "Man of Glass", Warner's tendency to get injured is as high as his impact for his veteran presence on the field for his team. When he is healthy, it is almost impossible to stop the Rams passing game. Even though he is already 34 years old now, he is still 7 years pro in the league. So I think he's still got at least 5 years left on his career before retiring. The Rams GM Justin Walstead does not need to rush Warner's successor into the line up instead must focus on bringing more talent to put around Kurt in order to make another Super Bowl run.
6th. Trent Green | 3 seasons | Atlanta FalconsGP: 41 W: 28 L: 13 .PCT: .683 PF: KC/ATLGreen was on fire last season and on pace for an MVP performance before getting injured on his shoulder and had to miss the remaining games of the season. He has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks playing for different teams in the SFL for the past three seasons. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the inaugural season of SFL before being traded to the Falcons in the 2003 offseason. Without him under center, the Falcons struggled to finish the season with a playoff berth even though Elvis Grbac almost did them a favor. The team was never be the same when Green was not on the field. There is a high possibility that this season could be his last dance in the SFL judging by his already 35 years of age and 13 seasons as a pro. If he chooses to retire at the end of the season, the Falcons will be hard to find his equal replacement. But until then, the Falcons will surely be one of the favorite contenders in the NFC.
7th. Jeff Blake | 3 seasons | Baltimore RavensGP: 48 W: 32 L: 16 .PCT: .667 PF: BALAnother veteran QB that possibly playing in his last season as a player, Jeff Blake of the Baltimore Ravens was the Super Bowl winning QB in 2003 season. He has brought the Ravens to back to back two AFC championship game appearances in 2002 where they lost to the Colts and in 2003 where they beat the Dolphins and eventually won the SB against the defending champions the Rams. With him not getting any younger, GM Norbert is possibly going to run all out this upcoming season to make maximum use of what's left on Blake. Blake himself is a very tough QB who has never miss a single regular season game throughout the young history of SFL (even though his INJ rating is only 80, see... it has nothing to do with injuries). SO it is actually an impressive number for a QB who wins two-third of a 48 games span.
8th. Jeff Garcia | 3 seasons | Oakland RaidersGP: 41 W: 27 L: 14 .PCT: .659 PF: SFGarcia was the vital part of the 49ers offense in the past three seasons before being traded to the Raiders this offseason. I don't know exactly why GM Peter Fenger gave up on him but it could possibly because of his not too strong arms (only 88 THP) and his already 35 years of age. The Raiders themselves already got a franchise QB in Aaron Brooks but I guess Garcia is intended as an insurance policy in case something happens to Brooks in the middle of the season. You know what the people say, there's never enough good QBs to have. Especially, if the Raiders are going hard for a Super Bowl run this upcoming season.
9th. Chad Pennington | 3 seasons | San Diego ChardersGP: 46 W: 30 L: 16 .PCT: .652 PF: NYJ/SDChad played for the Jets in 2002 and 2003 seasons and successfully took them to back to back double digit wins and playoff berths. But GM Kevin Mullendore surprisingly traded him to the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 offseason. Without Pennington under center, the Jets finished the season with .500 record and coincidentally the QB also finished the season with the same record playing for the Chargers. Looks like the move didn't quite work out well for either the Jets or Pennington himself. Pennington might bounce back this year considering he is one of the most productive QBs in the league in terms of touchdowns scored with 100 passing touchdowns in 3 seasons behind only the great Peyton Manning.
10th. Kerry Collins | 3 seasons | Carolina PanthersGP: 44 W: 28 L: 16 .PCT: .636 PF: CHICollins was red hot last season, leading the Bears offense which boasting as one of the most explosive units in the league. However after 3 seasons playing for the Bears in SFL, GM Brent Lachapelle surprisingly traded him to the Panthers this offseason and hinted that the Bears were in full rebuilding mode. We will have to wait and see how this move will turn out for both parties. Collins is highly likely to get the starting spot in Carolina, considering Carolina's last season QB Mark Brunell is entering his final season(s) as a pro. With 2 quality QBs on their roster and Steve Smith's return to the team for new contract, the Panthers will fight hard this season for the Super Bowl title, and Kerry Collins could be the one that helps them to reach it.
That is all about the top 10 QBs in the SFL with the most wins. This list is just made for entertainment so don't take it too seriously but if you can't help it just leave your comments or thoughts below. Otherwise, if you can find something useful from it that would be my pleasure as the writer. See you all on the next article. LONG LIVE THE SFL!!!
