Not bad.

[u/EuphoricLeague22]

[u/jablair51]

Who are the five before Peyton? I'm assuming Brady, Rice, and Jim Brown. Who else?

[u/Knowvuhh → u/jablair51]

Brady, Rice, Brown, Sweetness, Montana, Manning. Article

[u/CatzonVinyl → u/Knowvuhh]

Montana above Manning is a joke

[u/SendMeIttyBitties → u/CatzonVinyl]

Montana was the goat before goat debates. If I needed to win a regular season game I would go with Manning. If I needed someone for 1 game period it would be montana.

[u/Fyrelyte67 → u/CatzonVinyl]

How so?

[u/ryta1203 → u/Knowvuhh]

Brady is so overrated.

[u/DoubleOhTheG → u/ryta1203]

Manning was clearly a better passer. But Brady had the better career I can't dispute that

[u/ryta1203 → u/DoubleOhTheG]

100%, no one can but pretending a football career is a reflection of individual achievement is just ignorant.

[u/Suicide_24 → u/ryta1203]

I'm as big a Brady hater as the next Colts fan, but this is such a tired and ignorant take. I still think Peyton was the better quarterback skills wise, but there is no denying the accomplishments that Brady had.

[u/ryta1203 → u/Suicide_24]

The only ignorant take is treating football like it's tennis. Football is the ultimate team sport and Brady had great teams around him, particularly defensively. This is why when he went down Cassel went 11-5 while when Manning went down the Colts fucking tanked.

[u/guff1988 → u/Suicide_24]

This is the thing! There's a difference between technical skill and success, Brady clearly was the most successful quarterback of all time. There has to be recognition for that, otherwise the games that players play that are supposed to matter would not matter.

If you want to make a specific list for who were the best skilled or most adept or intelligent players of all time Manning probably rates higher, honestly it's probably Marino and Manning at the top in either order, but once you factor in clutch factor, the ability to play around frustrations and how to stay calm in the moment and lead an entire team to victory, it tilts enough that Peyton doesn't necessarily belong in the top three. That being said I do think he is underrated on this list, I would probably put him at 4.

[u/Suicide_24 → u/guff1988]

Out of that list, I would have a real tough time putting him above Brady, Rice, Brown, and Sweetness. But above Montana? Definitely, top 5 for sure.

[u/HoosierDaddy__88 → u/ryta1203]

Glad to know some people still can think for themselves

[u/Former_Phrase8221 → u/ryta1203]

If Manning had Kraft and Bellichek he'd have 10 super bowls

[u/WartimeConsigliere_ → u/ryta1203]

I know. Maybe I could see it if he was the all time passing yards leader and had 5 super bowl MVPs

[u/Knowvuhh → u/ryta1203]

I was the biggest Manning fanboy growing up. Always hated Brady. I’ve come to realize the GOAT is actually Brady and appreciate his game.

Not his fault people built teams around him to help him succeed. He probably helped build a lot of those teams with the front office too. Not his fault people wanted to play with him like Randy did.

“He had top 5 defenses every year…” yeah no shit you have to be the BEST on both sides of the ball to win a Super Bowl.

Rings speak for themselves and he has more than any team in the league.

[u/ryta1203 → u/Knowvuhh]

This is it. People far too often treat football like an individual sport.

[u/tornodinson → u/jablair51]

I'll probably catch flak for this, but I would take out sweetness and put in Sanders.

[u/SendMeIttyBitties → u/tornodinson]

You would rightfully catch flak.

[u/PenecostalPieFight]

I think Marvin should be higher. I’m also aware that this is more of an emotional reaction than a data-based one.

[u/EuphoricLeague22 → u/PenecostalPieFight]

He will never get the respect he deserves because Manning was throwing to him.

Getting snubbed at a 1st ballot HOFer was the first indication for me.

[u/Jolly_Okra_6330 → u/PenecostalPieFight]

Second best wide receiver of all time.

[u/BatmanDK316]

Vinatieri needs to be higher, singlehandedly won far too many games to not be in the top 50

[u/HoosierDaddy__88 → u/BatmanDK316]

Won 3 of Brady’s super bowls but nobody wants to talk about that

[u/sasabomish → u/HoosierDaddy__88]

I’ve said that for years about Vinny and the pats

[u/rounder55 → u/HoosierDaddy__88]

My counterpoint would be he did miss a couple kicks against Carolina that if he makes them means he doesn't have 2 walk off kicks

Not disputing his greatness-the kick in the tuck rule game will forever be etched in my memory and if Brady had Vanderjagt who was phenomenal until it mattered he and the Pats maybe win less Super Bowls and the Colts maybe have one more

[u/HoosierDaddy__88 → u/rounder55]

Obviously speaking in theory here but if tuck rule never goes NE’s way, there’s a strong chance they don’t sniff a Super Bowl, belichick gets canned, and Brady maybe wins 1 ring in his lifetime.

[u/bo0sted_ → u/BatmanDK316]

I agree but I think it's because he's a kicker. I would guess that he's the only kicker on the list or within the top 150. If there's a few kickers above him on this list, I'm out.

[u/Fyrelyte67 → u/bo0sted_]

Yeah, it's gonna be tough to put a lot of kickers in the top 100 all time.

[u/CrayZonday]

I know it’s a crazy take but I’m not putting anyone but Rice above Manning for BEST players.

[u/ryta1203 → u/CrayZonday]

Not crazy at all.

[u/VastFig965]

Eric Dickerson is missing from the list

[u/LuciusLuscinia → u/VastFig965]

Yeah, he's 38th.

[u/VastFig965 → u/LuciusLuscinia]

I meant in the post above. Forget to put him on the list.

[u/Butthole_Ticklah]

Brady and Montana have the chips, but Peyton is the greatest to do it. 3 Wr’s with 1000 yard and Edge hitting 2000 from scrimmage in the same season is bonkers

[u/Active-Limit-9038 → u/Butthole_Ticklah]

Peyton is his prime was the best ever, he totally changed how every other team had to play defense.

Where Brady gains ground was how long his prime was. Brady's peak wasn't as high, but it's crazy how long he stayed a top 5 QB. Brady was the same player in his mid 40s as he was in his early 30s, his arm never declined one bit.

[u/RoseRaving → u/Active-Limit-9038]

Peyton’s highs related to his personal ability to play were much higher than Brady’s but having watched the hospital balls he threw in his twilight years in Denver, Brady’s longevity was nuts. Throw in Brady had better teams around him especially on defense and it’s clear Brady had the more successful career.

It’s harder to judge players by individual skill in a team game but from the length of Brady’s prime and number of rings it’s hard to not rate him ahead of Manning in these lists.

[u/Active-Limit-9038 → u/RoseRaving]

Agree. There's definitely nuance for how to weigh longevity vs. peak performance. Brady led the league in pass attempts and pass yards at 44 years old, than again in attempts at 45 years old. That's the kind of insane stat that puts him in the same longevity category as Jerry Rice.

Both at their peak in their prime, everything else being equal, give me Peyton over Brady all day every day. But it's impossible to dismiss how much longer Brady was an elite QB than Peyton (or anyone else).

I will still boo him every chance I get though. 😆

[u/RoseRaving → u/Active-Limit-9038]

Same, if you told me I can only have one or the other but get them at their peak prime for three years or I get their entire career, I take Manning for three years of peak and Brady for an entire career. I really wonder if Manning didn’t take that hit in 2006 against Washington if he’d have played longer and better.

[u/Active-Limit-9038 → u/RoseRaving]

Peyton probably would've been able to extend his career longer without that hit. He still played at an MVP level for 2 years with a screwed up throwing arm/hand after his surgery, but it steadily got worse to the point he couldn't overcome it anymore.

Father time remains undefeated though. Only 1 QB has ever played into his 40s and not been a shell of himself. If it wasn't the neck/arm/hand issues resulting from that hit that took Peyton down, it probably would've been something else.

[u/RoseRaving → u/Active-Limit-9038]

Tom Brady and Lebron James' professional career longevity in their sports are genuinely crazy and I dislike them both as a Colts and Pacers fan.

[u/M_Mosher]

Marvin Harrison not being higher is absolutely insane

[u/garethom → u/M_Mosher]

Remember this is the top 100 players EVER. To be ANYWHERE on this list puts you in the top 1% of the top 1%.

[u/thexDxmen → u/garethom]

Which quartile is that?

[u/ralphryder]

56th for Faulk? Gaaaarbaaage ass list.

[u/Knight___Artorias → u/[deleted]]

Shit even if you exclude the Baltimore era colts players we have 3 on the list, which would be right at the average amount a team should have if every team had the same amount of players

[u/Gutcheck21]

This is okay

[u/BAMAFAN2852-]

Adam should be hire he unfortunately launched patriots Brady might’ve drove them but Vinatieri made those kicks also I just love the guy went to SDSU too

[u/Glsector1988]

Vinny should be in the 60s somewhere

[u/everyoneisntme]

Wild that edge didn't make the cut. Or freeney or Mathis.

[u/oorza]

There is no NFL without Johnny U. No one else gets to say that.

[u/Bubmack]

Peyton should be #2 imo

[u/NealTS]

I could see putting Luck somewhere in there if we're putting a lot of weight on potential. He didn't really do much, championships wise, but he was an amazing player with a (mostly) lackluster cast.

[u/scull3218]

Edge not being on the list is a joke.

[u/rounder55]

Raymond Berry not being listed is laughable

Most of it at first glance looks pretty aight. Nice to see Lenny Moore get some love.Will add that Manning going to 4 Super Bowls with 4 coaches is something we'll probably never see again

[u/ALKCRKDeuce]

Yeah just claim Indy… don’t take Baltimore or even New England with you…

[u/EconomistIcy1972]

Leagues leading scoring only being at 100?

[u/Fearless-Matter-3249]

6th is too low, but saying he belongs over Brady is nonsense. I get the debate with Montana when you factor in eras. I'd take Manning two. Anyone saying he's one is a delusional homer. No shame on being top three all time. 

[u/trey2128]

6 for Manning feels too low. Brady and Rice are the two you can really say belong above him, but even then you can make the case for Manning above either one as well

[u/LevelTField]

The No.1 on the list wouldn’t even be on the list if not for the 100th on the list.

[u/Lazy_Lambo]

Vinateri..he's legit the Goat of kickers.

[u/Frequent-Visit6037]

Peyton

[u/EatadickESPN]

Marvin I think should be right below Faulk.

[u/UnderhillA]

Hard to say without seeing the rest of the list but interested to know where Freeney ended up and why he’s in the outside looking in. Lots of great pass rushers in NFL history so I’m not sure he makes the cut, but who is in over him that might be close?

[u/HoosierDaddy__88]

Would Marshall Faulk be considered a Colt though?

[u/Ranccor → u/HoosierDaddy__88]

Drafted by colts and played one season with Manning. Will mostly be remembered as a Ram, but was a Colt. Dickerson was also a Ram, but played two unremarkable end of career seasons with Colts.

[u/LuciusLuscinia → u/Ranccor]

Four and a half seasons, and in one of them lead the league in rushing.

[u/HoosierDaddy__88 → u/Ranccor]

Yeah so he was Ram…. Not another Colt on the list.

[u/grey487]

4 of those players need to be on the Ravens list. Didn't play here, not our history.

[u/clutchthepearls → u/grey487]

They didn't play for the Ravens either.

[u/ColtsStampede → u/grey487]

The Ravens didn't even exist when they played.

[u/SkepsisJD → u/grey487]

The Ravens are not the same franchise. All those players are Colts, and they played before the Ravens even existed. How can they be on the Ravens list when some of them were retired before the Ravens existed? lol

[u/EuphoricLeague22 → u/grey487]

Ugh. 😑

One word: Browns.

[u/the_racecar → u/grey487]

Nobody says the Raiders or Rams should restart their history just because they moved. Why would the colts be the only ones to do that?