Why Tom Brady isn't the best QB in the NFL....

As an avid viewer and coach of the Quarterback position, I love to watch the battles that take place mentally and physically on the field of play. Last night was no different, I was enthralled by the passion, pressure, and execution of the game. Two great QB's and offenses were battling by using match ups to exploit the defenses, and making great throws to lift their teammates to the pinnacle of the NFL, Super Bowl Champions. Tom Brady came up as the victor last night, and he's not the best Quarterback in the NFL. In fact, it's not even close.


The truth is Tom Brady, isn't the best QB in the NFL. He's the BEST QB TO EVER PLAY THE GAME. Let's take a look at it for a moment. Generally, when talking the best QB's of all time, the same names come up every time. Joe Montana, John Elway, Dan Marino, and Payton Manning are almost always mentioned amongst the all time greats. However, I think that most level headed fans agree that Joe Montana is the greatest of all time. So I thought I would do a few comparisons of note, and then use an overall feel to decide.


Before making this comparison, please note that I think Joe Montana is phenomenal. With that being said, let's take a closer look.

When comparing these two QB's. They are almost exactly the same.

• Tom Brady is 21-8 (.724) in the playoffs. Joe Montana is 16-7 (.696)
• Tom Brady has a career playoff passer rating of 89. Joe Montana is a passer rating of 95.6
• Tom Brady has a career playoff completion percentage of 62.9. Joe Montana is 62.7
• Tom Brady has 53 career playoff TD's. Joe Montana has 45 TD's.
• Tom Brady has a 13/3 TD/Int ratio. Joe Montana has an 11/0 TD/Int ratio.

As you go through the statistics, there are definitely a couple of "Wow" moments for me. There should be for you as well. These two QB's are off the charts as far as statistics go. Their NFL playoff stats are better than most QB's career stats. 

Joe Montana was simply incredible. If you are too young to remember Joe Montana, check this out. 

Joe Montana Super Bowl Drive

Tom Brady has some phenomenal super bowl moments as well. 

Tom Brady Drive vs St. Louis Rams

Tom Brady wins Super Bowl 49

So as I look at it, all I can do is go by feel. I feel like Tom Brady is the best. Here's why. 

1. Tom Brady has two game winning drives in a Super Bowl. Joe Montana has one.
2. Tom Brady came back from the biggest Super Bowl deficit ever (10) in the 4th quarter, only to go 13/15 with 2 TD passes including the game winner with 2 minutes to go. Tom Brady was 8/8 on the final drive, and the game looked easy. It also looked easy when he went 5/6 to upset the "Greatest Show on Turf" in 2002. Joe Montana has a great drive as well, going 8/9 for 93 yards and a game winning TD to John Taylor. I'll never forget that drive. 
3. Tom Brady won 4 super bowls over a 14 year span of Free Agency. That means different players, coaches, and eras. Joe Montana won 4 super bowls in 8 years with virtually the same players every year. That builds continuity and timing. Something that isn't as easy for the modern QB. 
4. Tom Brady, in all his years in the league, has had 1 Hall of Fame Caliber WR in Randy Moss. Throw in Wes Welker if you like. Joe Montana had the greatest of all time in Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Dwight Clark, and Roger Craig. 
5. Tom Brady has made it to 6 Super Bowls. Won 4. If it weren't for David Tyree, he would have 5 Super Bowl rings, and the title of the QB of the Greatest Team Ever.

I am sure you can come at me with other statistics that are convincing for Joe Montana, however, its time for me to shift my vote to Tom Brady, Greatest Quarterback of all time, at least for the moment. Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers may have something to say about it before it's all said and done. 

It's all about the Frame.

Every once in a while, I feel like life teaches me some important lessons. Some of the lessons are worth sharing, some aren't. This latest lesson is one that I have pondered a lot over the past years, and one that I think is more and more true every day.

Typically, we choose how to describe our lives to others in various forms. The way we present these things can have an auxiliary affect on our lives as well. We see it everywhere from every day conversation, to Facebook, to Instagram, to Twitter. People are constantly giving us clues to their lives and how they feel about their own lives. Positive or negative, we constantly get feedback on people's lives.

I am constantly bombarded with these messages. Here are a couple of examples.

Me: "Hey man, long time no see...How are you?

Friend: "Oh you know, just trying to make it through." (My Friend chose to present his life as a victim)

Here is another scenario.

Me: "Hey, how's it going? It's been a while."

Friend: "It's going great. Seriously. It's a good life."

Me: "I wouldn't expect anything else out of you, how's your cute wife?"


Friend: "Riley, she's awesome. We've been married for over 25 years now, and it just keeps getting better. I am a lucky man." (My friend chose to present life in a positive light).

I am not sure how to illustrate this better than with my own life.

Scenario 1: I am a 40 year old man who is married with two kids under the age of 3 and I have bounced around to 3 different jobs in the last  calendar year. I have struggled mightily in life that has included disastrous events like being benched my senior year at  Utah State University as the Quarterback. I have had over 7 jobs in 16 years. I have been overlooked for leadership jobs in the past because I was single,  and I didn't even get married until I was 37 years old! I am way behind in life because I didn't even purchase a house until the age of 30! Life has been difficult, and when I look around, there are a lot of my friends that have a leg up because their parents can help them with connections, networking, and monetary advantages.  At present, my wife is working, and I am taking care of the kids to help ends meet. I am not sure where my next job is going to come from, and quite frankly, it seems that every time I start to get some momentum, life kicks me in the face. I just can't seem to get a break. Why do bad things happen to good people?

Scenario 2: Am I ever a lucky man? At present I am a husband to a beautiful wife and two children. My wife is an unbelievable supportive woman who is smart, intelligent, kind, and funny. I have been blessed with outstanding parents. They have been huge "Riley" fans. They are always there with a supportive word, encouragement, and belief in me. There are a lot of people with loving parents, but none like mine. I fulfilled a lifetime dream of playing Quarterback in college at Utah State University where I  graduated cum laude and debt free. This has been a source of constant blessings in my life. Some of my jobs, contacts, and networking have been, at least in part, because I was able to play football in college. At present, because my wife is so outstanding, and because the Lord is good, I have been pushed to pursue co-ownership of a company called Mountain West Elite in a full time manner. There are so many opportunities with this company. I am blessed that my wife has a full time job and I am able to work from home. This gives me ample opportunity to grow my business and be the husband and Father I have always wanted to be. The future is bright. Gratitude is abundant in my life right now.

So you tell me, which scenario is true? Scenario 1 or 2? The truth is that both scenarios are accurate. At the time of this publication, I choose to frame my life as scenario 2. What good does scenario 1 do me? Absolutely nothing. I choose to be happy. I choose to be grateful. I choose to be content. I choose to frame my life in a way that uplifts others and myself. How do you frame your life? It is ALWAYS your choice how you decide to describe your life. You can describe your life as a horror film or a love story. I choose love. Every time.