Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and the Manning brothers went into a bar

[Landshark]

To watch the Super Bowl!!!!

[Brian Fein]

I'm sorry, is that supposed to be a joke?

[Landshark]

I'm sorry, is that supposed to be a joke?

Partly.  It's also pointing out that the superstar quarterbacks are watching two relatively unknown quarterbacks play in the big game.

Not to knock anything Joe Flacco, and Colin Kaepernick have accomplished thus far.  But at the beginning of this season, did anyone expect them to be facing each other in the Super Bowl?

[Brian Fein]

Some would argue that Joe Flacco belongs in that same list of QB's.

Some would also argue that the 49ers were always the NFC favorite.

[Sunstroke]

Some would also argue that the 49ers were always the NFC favorite.

Not if they'd seen the odds on the Packers-49ers playoff game, as the Pack was favored by between 3-5 points, depending on which book you're reading.

[Landshark]

Some would argue that Joe Flacco belongs in that same list of QB's.

Some would also argue that the 49ers were always the NFC favorite.

If Smith is the starter, I don't see them getting past the Packers in the playoffs.  And Flacco was always in that second tier until this year

[Brian Fein]

^^ You just said that "all the elites QB's are watching from home" and then said "...until this year"

So, which is it?

[Landshark]

^^ You just said that "all the elites QB's are watching from home" and then said "...until this year"

So, which is it?

Because nobody expected him to do what he did.  And even when the playoffs began, people had their doubts.  His performance against Denver and New England are what shut the mouths of a lot of skeptics.  And if he regresses next season, that will get them talking again.

You don't have to be elite to be a Super Bowl quarterback.  Just ask the likes of Mark Rypien, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, and Jeff Hostetler.

[Brian Fein]

^^ well documented, but you can't look at his play and say that he is riding the coat-tails of great defenses like the jabrones you named.

Flacco out-played both Manning and Brady to get here and deserves the credit as such.

[Landshark]

^^ well documented, but you can't look at his play and say that he is riding the coat-tails of great defenses like the jabrones you named.

Flacco out-played both Manning and Brady to get here and deserves the credit as such.

And look where Baltimore started.  At a seed that had Flacco playing in Manning's house and then in Brady's house.  That's tough for even a great quarterback to overcome.  He gets full credit for beating both those guys on their home turf, but he also had a hand in putting his team in a position where they had to beat them on their home turf to get to the Super Bowl.

He is a free agent this year, and it's looking more likely that the Ravens will re-sign him to a long term deal after his performance in the playoffs.  What he does from here on out will determine if he can ascend to that elite status.

[bsmooth]

^^ well documented, but you can't look at his play and say that he is riding the coat-tails of great defenses like the jabrones you named.

Flacco out-played both Manning and Brady to get here and deserves the credit as such.

So that defense had nothing to do with it? Flacco carried the team despite the defense?

[Sunstroke]

I'm obviously a wee bit biased, but I believe that by this time next year, any conversation about the league's "elite QBs" will have Kaepernick's name involved.

[MikeO]

The list of "elite" is short and I don't see anyone else jumping into this category right now or anytime soon. The list is

Brady
Rodgers
Eli
Peyton
Brees

That's it. There are others who are on the list of "very good" but aren't elite.  And that list is a lot longer!

[Landshark]

The list of "elite" is short and I don't see anyone else jumping into this category right now or anytime soon. The list is

Brady
Rodgers
Eli
Peyton
Brees

That's it. There are others who are on the list of "very good" but aren't elite.  And that list is a lot longer!

I agree with that list 100%.  Although if Kaepernick can do what he's done on a consistent basis, he should be added to that list at the end of next year

[MikeO]

I agree with that list 100%.  Although if Kaepernick can do what he's done on a consistent basis, he should be added to that list at the end of next year

Takes more than a couple good years to make that list. Hell Big Ben has 2 rings and he isn't even on the list!