Is Eli In The Same Class As Tom Brady?

Eli Manning doesn’t lack for hubris, that’s for sure. When asked if he was in the same class as Tom Brady, here’s what Eli had to say:

“I consider myself in that class,” Manning said. “Tom Brady is a great quarterback, he’s a great player and what you’ve seen with him is he’s gotten better every year. He started off winning championships and I think he’s a better quarterback now than what he was, in all honesty, when he was winning those championships.

“I think now he’s grown up and gotten better every year and that’s what I’m trying to do. I kind of hope these next seven years.”

Eli has been criticized for his answer. To that I say, what was he supposed to say? That he sucks? I want my quarterback believing he’s the best. Now, onto the pressing question. Is Eli in the same class as Brady?

The general accepted version of the Top 3 QBs goes like this: Brady, Peyton, Brees. That order is debated. After that there are a bunch of other QBs who are in contention to be next in line. Eli is one of them. Let’s compare Brady and Eli.

Eli:

CAREER STATSMORE Season Team Passing Rushing Fumbles G GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate Att Yds Avg TD FUM Lost 2010 New York Giants 16 16 339 539 62.9 4,002 7.4 31 25 16 117 85.3 32 70 2.2 0 7 5 2009 New York Giants 16 16 317 509 62.3 4,021 7.9 27 14 30 216 93.1 17 65 3.8 0 13 8 2008 New York Giants 16 16 289 479 60.3 3,238 6.8 21 10 27 174 86.4 20 10 0.5 1 5 2 2007 New York Giants 16 16 297 529 56.1 3,336 6.3 23 20 27 217 73.9 29 69 2.4 1 13 7 2006 New York Giants 16 16 301 522 57.7 3,244 6.2 24 18 25 186 77.0 25 21 0.8 0 9 2 2005 New York Giants 16 16 294 557 52.8 3,762 6.8 24 17 28 184 75.9 29 80 2.8 1 9 2 2004 New York Giants 9 7 95 197 48.2 1,043 5.3 6 9 13 83 55.4 6 35 5.8 0 3 1 TOTAL 1,932 3,332 58.0 22,646 6.8 156 113 166 1,177 80.2 158 350 2.2 3 59 27

Brady:

CAREER STATSMORE Season Team Passing Rushing Fumbles G GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate Att Yds Avg TD FUM Lost 2010 New England Patriots 16 16 324 492 65.9 3,900 7.9 36 4 25 175 111.0 31 30 1.0 1 3 1 2009 New England Patriots 16 16 371 565 65.7 4,398 7.8 28 13 16 86 96.2 29 44 1.5 1 4 2 2008 New England Patriots 1 1 7 11 63.6 76 6.9 0 0 0 0 83.9 – – – – – – 2007 New England Patriots 16 16 398 578 68.9 4,806 8.3 50 8 21 128 117.2 37 98 2.6 2 6 4 2006 New England Patriots 16 16 319 516 61.8 3,529 6.8 24 12 26 175 87.9 49 102 2.1 0 12 4 2005 New England Patriots 16 16 334 530 63.0 4,110 7.8 26 14 26 188 92.3 27 89 3.3 1 4 3 2004 New England Patriots 16 16 288 474 60.8 3,692 7.8 28 14 26 162 92.6 43 28 0.7 0 7 5 2003 New England Patriots 16 16 317 527 60.2 3,620 6.9 23 12 32 219 85.9 42 63 1.5 1 13 5 2002 New England Patriots 16 16 373 601 62.1 3,764 6.3 28 14 31 190 85.7 42 110 2.6 1 11 5 2001 New England Patriots 15 14 264 413 63.9 2,843 6.9 18 12 41 216 86.5 36 43 1.2 0 12 3 2000 New England Patriots 1 0 1 3 33.3 6 2.0 0 0 0 0 42.4 – – – – – – TOTAL 2,996 4,710 63.6 34,744 7.4 261 103 244 1,539 95.2 336 607 1.8 7 72 32

Brady’s been around longer, so he’s going to accumulate more stats. That said, Eli’s completion percentage is 58.2, Brady’s is 63.6. Not too far off. Brady has a better passing rate. Brady has thrown for 1.8 touchdowns a game in his career, .72 interceptions a game. Eli has thrown for 1.48 touchdowns per game, 1.07 interceptions per game. No doubt there’s a difference there. Eli throws way too many interceptions. But he’s close in touchdowns, in accuracy. He’s not far off. But he’s not with Brady.

If I had to rank the QBs in the NFL, based on what I think and nothing else, it would go like this:

1. Brees
2. P. Manning
3. Brady
4. Rodgers
5. Vick
6. Roethlisberger
7. Rivers
8. Eli
9. Ryan
10. Freeman

Guys like Flacco, Romo and Schaub would come next. I think Brees is the best QB in the game, for what he does for the Saints. Manning and Brady are close behind. Look at this list. Look at the people with rings: Brees, Brady, both Mannings, Big Ben and Rodgers. That’s it. Eli is one of the few QBs with rings. Rivers doesn’t have one.

Eli gets a bad rap, mostly for interceptions, mostly for being the younger Manning, and for that “aw shucks” look he has. But Eli is good. Really good. He’s not in Brady’s class. But only two are. He’s right behind them. And that’s okay. There are only a few QBs I would rather have than Eli. He’s not the best. He’s elite. He’s not Tom Brady. Not many are. That top 3 of Brees, Peyton and Brady are pretty much untouchable. Rodgers is the closest. I think no matter how you look at it, Eli is a top 10 QB. And people are upset about that? I would take a top 10 QB any day of the week. Doesn’t hurt that he knows how to win and is money in clutch situations. I’m quite happy with Eli as my QB. His comments might have been a bit over the top, but I’m glad he’s finally showing his confidence.