By Kshell
This past Sunday the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 to win their fourth super bowl championship. In doing so quarterback Eli Manning defeated Tom Brady for the second time in the Super Bowl. Eli playing in the house that his brother Peyton[Manning] built etched his name amongst the elite quarterbacks today. Eli [Manning] also proved a trend that has been developing in today's NFL as well. This year in the NFL you saw three guys pass for over 5,000 yards including Drew Brees and Tom Brady breaking Dan Marino's single season record for most passing yards in a season. This was the year of the quarterback as 10 quarterbacks passed for over 4,000 yards and 20 over 3,000 yards. Three quarterbacks threw for over 40 touchdown passes, five went over 30 touchdowns and 14 over 20 touchdowns. All this without four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning who missed the entire season. The proof is in the pudding if you don't have an elite quarterback you aren't winning a superbowl.
Besides putting up big numbers these elite quarterbacks are also taking home super bowls. In the last five super bowls(two teams so 10 quarterbacks) here are the following super bowl quarterbacks: Tom Brady twice(2 regular season MVP, two first-team all-pro's, seven pro bowls, single season record holder for touchdowns in a season and two SB MVP's), Eli Manning twice( two pro bowls, two SB MVP's), Ben Roethlisberger twice( Rookie of the year, two pro bowls), Peyton Manning(four MVP's, five first-team all-pro's, 11 pro bowls, SB MVP), Drew Brees( one first-team all-pro, single season record holder for passing yards, six pro bowls, SB MVP), Aaron Rodgers(MVP, one first-team all-pro, single season QB rating record, two pro bowls and SB MVP), and Kurt Warner(Two MVP's, two first-team all-pro's, four pro bowls and SB MVP). As you can see that is an impressive list considering seven quarterbacks have combined won nine regular season MVP's, 11 first-team all-pro, 34 pro bowls and eight super bowl MVP's. Since 2003 the following quarterbacks have won a super bowl: Tom Brady(three times), Ben Rothlisberger(twice), Peyton Manning, Eli Manning(twice), Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers. As you can see this is a quarterbacks league the days of Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson winning super bowls are over. Those quarterbacks I listed unless they self destruct will be going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. This is why the Seattle Seahawks must act fast because currently they don't have that quarterback(you could argue that they never have).
The Seattle Seahawks came a long ways since last year having five pro bowl players to the zero they've had the last two years. The Seahawks finished with the same record as last year at 7-9 despite a defense ranked in the top 10 and a running back who went to the pro bowl in Marshawn Lynch. The reason for the Seahawks struggles to put it simply was they had no quarterback. While not being bad Tarvaris Jackson also proved he isn't good either. Jackson has never made a pro bowl in his career. Last season with the Seahawks Jackson passed for 3,091 yards(15 games, 14 starts) completing 60.2% of his passes with 14 touchdowns to 13 interceptions on the season. His quarterback rating was 79.2 which looking at these numbers aren't bad. The problem is those numbers aren't good and like the previous paragraph stated you need elite quarterback play to be winners. Jackson is the defination of average to below average. In his career his rating is 77.7, has a completion percentage of 59.4%, touchdown to interception ratio of 38-35 and a starting record that sits at 17-17. Jackson is a servicable quarterback who can be a spot starter if your franchise quarterback is missing one to four games. Anything more from Jackson and your season will be doomed. Which is why the Seahawks must take some chances this offseason on landing that elite quarterback.
The Seahawks this offseason have three choices at the quarterback position and only three options. The first option is through the draft whether you trade up, wait for a guy to fall to you or grab him later on in the draft. The next option is to go hard for quarterback Matt Flynn of the Green Bay Packers who is set to be a free agent this offseason. The last one has the best possible short term value but also could be the most disasterous which is signing Peyton Manning. The Colts have basically said they are drafting Andrew Luck and both they and Manning are working on the exit strategy. Tomorrow in a piece I'll be writing I'll further explore this very topic on what the Seahawks should do going forward with their quarterback problem. If this piece has taught you anything is that the days of game managing quarterbacks hoisting the lombardi trophy appear to be dead for now. Sure Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez and Joe Flacco can lead you to a title game appearance but those guys aren't playing on Super Bowl Sunday. Those guys aren't hoisting the Lombardi trophy either. The Seahawks franchise has already tasted title game appearances and super bowl appearances. We want the whole thing right now which is a Super Bowl championship trophy! If the Seahawks are to ever get that trophy they must find an elite quarterback or expect many more Super Bowl Sunday's where the confetti drops down and it isn't blue and green. If you want to win a championship you must acquire an elite quarterback there is just no way around it.
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