Joe Montana / Tom Brady: Namath Speaks

[Alvin York]

For over a decade the debate has been between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. This year finally I reluctantly admit that ship has sailed. Now the debate begins anew but this time its Tom Brady and Joe Montana. As I type this thread I know the careers of these two superstar NFL quarterbacks will linger through time.

Montana was fortunate to enjoy a storied college career at Notre Dame winning a National Championship while Brady, an unsung almost invisible player, struggled to even remain a starter at Michigan.

NFL​

We'll forego their stats in the regular season and go straight to their post season Super Bowl records.

Super Bowl Championships
Joe Montana: 4
Tom Brady: 4

Super Bowl Record
Joe Montana: 4-0
Tom Brady :4-2

Super Bowl TD/Int
Joe Montana: 11/0
Tom Brady: 13/4

Super Bowl Completion Stats
Joe Montana: 83 of 122 for 1,142 yards
Tom Brady: 164 of 247 for 1,605 yards

Super Bowl QB Rating
Joe Montana:127.8
Tom Brady: 95.3

Super Bowl MVP's
Joe Montana: 3
Tom Brady: 3

Now we go from the objective (stats) to the subjective.

Joe Montana played in the pre free agency era when an wealthy owner and smart GM could keep the nucleus of a championship team together. Also nobody can deny Joe had a better fleet of receivers such as Jerry Rice, John Taylor and an all pro tight end.

Tom Brady played during the free agency era that made it almost impossible to build and keep a dynasty team. Brady also played in six Super Bowls. The two Super Bowls the Patriots lost to the New York Giants Brady did his job driving the Patriots for the go ahead touchdown late in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately for him and his Super Bowl legacy he had to sit on the bench and watch two Eli Manning engineered winning touchdown drives in the last 3 minutes of the 4th quarter in Super Bowl 42 and Super Bowl 46 including arguably the most unbelievable play in Super Bowl history involving a Houdini like escape by Manning and Hail Mary Pass to David Tyree miraculously holding the football against his helmet. Without that improbable Manning escape and Hail Mary miracle Tyree catch the New England Patriots and Tom Brady enter posterity as an undefeated NFL team in the free agency era.


I'm just saying..............

In the next 1-3 years Brady could put another notch on his holster. That would end the debate. Wouldn't it be the ultimate last hurrah if he ended his career as a 40 year old quarterback winning his 5th Super Bowl.

 

[AlexDaGator]

Brady.

Montana also played in an era where one conference was totally dominant over the other.

A better comparison might be Montana's stats and record in NFC championship games (which pretty much were the real Super Bowl back then).



Alex.

 

[AlexDaGator]

1981–82	San Francisco 49ers (1)	28	Dallas Cowboys	27
1983–84	Washington Redskins (3)	24	San Francisco 49ers	21
1984–85	San Francisco 49ers (2)	23	Chicago Bears	0
1988–89	San Francisco 49ers (3)	28	Chicago Bears	3
1989–90	San Francisco 49ers (4)	30	Los Angeles Rams	3
1990–91	New York Giants (2)	15	San Francisco 49ers	13

Here you go. You've got 6 games and Montana goes 4-2

Crunch those.

Alex.

 

[deuce]

Big Sky has been my favorite QB since the first time I saw him complete a wobbly pass at ND!

 

[Born2beagator]

This thread is now about beautiful gator gals. get lost chipmunk.

 

[Since65]

Well, Joe's favorite receiver apparently used illegal equipment for multiple seasons. So maybe the rule bending equals out.

 

[WobbleGator]

For over a decade the debate has been between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

Incorrect. There never was a debate.

 

[MJMGator]

Incorrect. There never was a debate.

 

[TheDouglas78]

Brady.

Montana also played in an era where one conference was totally dominant over the other.

A better comparison might be Montana's stats and record in NFC championship games (which pretty much were the real Super Bowl back then).



Alex.

Montana also played in an era where Defense was Defense.

 

[MJMGator]

Montana also played in an era where Defense was Defense.

Yeah, an argument could be made for either. I like Brady more simply because I was never a Niners fan, but Montana was awesome.

 

[TheDouglas78]

Yeah, an argument could be made for either. I like Brady more simply because I was never a Niners fan, but Montana was awesome.

It really is picking between two of the top quarterbacks of all time, arguments could be made for either.

 

[PastyStoole]

This thread is now about beautiful gator gals. get lost chipmunk.

This is a sure fire way to drive Alvin out of any thread just as posting beefcake photos is a sure way to lure him in. But he started this one, and deserves to continue it as he's already admitted that Manning is an overrated choke artist scumbag.

 

[Alvin York]

This is a sure fire way to drive Alvin out of any thread just as posting beefcake photos is a sure way to lure him in. But he started this one, and deserves to continue it as he's already admitted that Manning is an overrated choke artist scumbag.

The media thinks otherwise. They continue to sit and worship at Manning's feet just like they do Eldrick Woods. Don't blame me and 10aC .

 

[WobbleGator]

The media thinks otherwise. They continue to sit and worship at Manning's feet just like they do Eldrick Woods. Don't blame me and 10aC .

Manning won media "championships". Brady won actual championships.

 

[GatorJB]

A few stats that you forgot to mention is that Brady holds the following post season records: wins, completions, yards, touchdowns, and superbowl appearances. But that is just the post season. If you compare their career stats Brady has more/better: Pro Bowls, pass attempts, completions, touchdowns, TD-INT ratio, and passer rating.

Brady > Montana

 

[Alvin York]

A few stats that you forgot to mention is that Brady holds the following post season records: wins, completions, yards, touchdowns, and superbowl appearances. But that is just the post season. If you compare their career stats Brady has more/better: Pro Bowls, pass attempts, completions, touchdowns, TD-INT ratio, and passer rating.

Brady > Montana

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

What astonishes me is Montana's average QB rating of 127.8 along with 11 touchdowns with no interceptions. I don't think those records will ever be broken.

 

[aka]

This is good. Love Montana but I think Brady gets this. Passes to INT's in SB's, Montana was 122-0 though Brady was 206-3, both in 4 games.

 

[Alvin York]

It's impossible to debate QB's from completely different eras. The Brady/Manning conversation is far more appropriate and I'd take Brady, Brees, Rothlisberger, Rodgers, Eli, Flacco, or Wilson, before I'd even consider Manning.

By your list you are confirming the Colts should not have dropped Peyton for Andrew Luck. Interesting.

 

[AlexDaGator]

Another issue is that Montana benefited from a system that was way ahead of everybody else.

Settle down, I'm now saying Montana was a system QB. He would have thrived on any other team in the NFL during his era (or any other era).

BUT...he did have the advantage of being in this system that revolutionized passing offenses in the NFL. It really wasn't until the advent of the zone blitz scheme and the Tampa Cover 2 defense that defenses caught up with the West Coast offense.

When Bill Walsh first rolled that thing out it was unstoppable.

Additionally, Montana had Jerry Rice and Roger Craig. Both perfect for that offense. Even on defense he had Ronnie Lott.

Brady won Super Bowls with a lot of average talent around him but he played in an NFL with a lot of average teams in it. Montana was on a great team that had to play against a few other great teams.

The only way to answer this question is to reverse their roles, imagine Tom Brady as the Niners QB in the 80's and 90's and Joe Montana as the Pats QB in the 00's and 10's.

I think Brady does the same or a bit better as a Bill Walsh Niner. I think Montana does a shade worse as a Belichik Patriot.

Alex.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Where is Ox to fix this title? Colon? Do they even teach grammar to those Inbreds? IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIFFIN'S!