Favre is unique. Statistics don't tell his story. There was no more exciting playing in the NFL than Favre, who always gave 100 percent on the field and seldom if ever made excuses. Ordinary fans could identify with him because all of the money and adulation he received didn't seem to effect him. He still wanted to be back in Mississippi mowing his lawn. I'm grateful to have seen him play a half-dozen times at Lambeau. The NFC won't be the same without him.

Favre is overrated. He's not even the best QB in Packer history. Starr's records are way better than Favre's, including his 9 championships and 2 Super Bowl victories. Brett won 1 and lost 1. Sorry, Brett's not in my top 10, or even my top 15 of all-time great QBs.

I think it depends on whether or not you ask someone from Wisconsin ;)

Brett Favre is, if nothing else, an example of a solid QB who knows how to hold a team together, set a good example, and be a decent person in the off season. (An Art Monk kinda guy.) In the current age of flashy, egocentric players, that contribution shouldn't be ignored.

And can someone please tell me why Tom Brady is mentioned as a top 5 QB? He has a good team around him and excellent coaching in Belichick. And this year, he had Randy Moss (a flawed individual but undeniably gifted football player) to act as receiver. Many of his "career bests" happened this year with Randy Moss to receive for him.

How can you name him in the same breath as Joe Montana, who still managed to be excellent when changing teams near the end of his career...with injuries? I'm not sure I see Tom Brady excelling on another team - I don't know that he's that much of a team leader.

I'm not a Patriot-hater or anything, I just think he's the Flavor of the Month, QB speaking. (Note how the press stopped talking about him and started talking about Eli Manning after the Super Bowl.)

I think the media hyped him up because they couldn't take the whole "we're a team with no star players" ethic the Pats had a few years back. There had to be *someone* they could pin the "most valuable Patriot" label upon, and the young, handsome QB with the supermodel girlfriend(s) was a good choice.

I agree with Chasmosaur. The other issue I have with Mr Brady being on the list (and Mr Manning, for that matter) is that they are still active. As great as Brady and Manning are, it's difficult to judge their rank on the all time list based on uncompleted careers. What if Manning surpasses Farve's records? Then he might rank higher than #5.
My personal opinion is that the list should include inactive players only. Active players should be ranked separately because their rank is based on NOW and could change in the future.

Montana, Bradshaw{very underrated}, Brady, Manning,Mariano, Starr, Sammy Ball,Farve,

I'd put Favre in the top five. I'll consider Manning and Brady, both superb, when they retire. Certainly for love of the game Favre is near the top or the top. I generally just prefer saying "top 10" versus using a specific ranking, anyway.

Brett Favre? Best ever. Overall, there is no other to compare him with. Overrated? I think not.

Farve was a fantasic player. He always gave 100%. But when comparing who is the greatest of all time. Remember, todays QB's are comared to this in the past. Johnny Unitas set the standard for today's QB and he was never compared to anyone. He also held 23 passing records when he retired in 1973. The 47 consecutive games throwing a TD pass still stands today.

Maybe Favre isn't a top 5 QB...but, if he's not, then Marino shouldn't be either. What did Marino accomplish that Favre didn't?

Further, I think currently playing QBs should be excluded from the list. What if, for the second half of their careers, Manning and Brady stink up the joint and get benched in favor of, say, Joey Harrington. (True, that doesn't seem likely.) That won't diminish their Super Bowl wins and super seasons, but it's unfair to compare retired players' entire careers, decline and all, with players in their prime.

My top 5 would be Montana, Unitas, Young, Elway and now Favre -- moving Aikman off the list.

Thank you for the nice comments about Brett, but....

"His longevity and durability produced his passing records."

I'm from Wisconsin, so I'm biased, but we here don't consider his passing records his greatest achievement.

His longevity and durability are what makes him the greatest. He has started EVERY Packer game since 1992. All of them.

How many other quarterbacks have started during the Favre era? How many have started for even one team? (Hint: Use the Chicago Bears as a comparison)

He is a three time NFL MVP, and was a joy to watch.

When they put the term "Football Player" in the dictionary, Favre's photo should be included.

We will miss him.

He's up there, but his problem is that he didn't win consistently enough and his stats are more a result of longevity. Montana has him beat on winning; Marino (and someday Manning) has him beat on stats. Maybe better all around, though.

Come on there about 25 teams in the NFL that would have loved to have him wear the uniform. Except for a few teams, anyone who thinks that their team wouldn't be better off with him calling the plays is just kidding themselves.

He was probably the most fun guy to watch play the game. He always seemed to have the wry grin on his face at some point during the game. Personally I'm going to miss that.

come on, haters. Brett is the best. Seriously, how can you diss his longevity when the man has played with every possible injury and played well. I can't see Brady leading a mediocre team to victory throughout and entire season with a broken thumb. Marino played the same number of years, and favre has numbers on him, and everyone else in the game for that matter. He consistently led mediocre teams, with the exception of the late 90's when the went to two super bowls, and made average receivers (javon walker 04) look like pros. He played through more hardship than any of the above quarterbacks, and got it done anyway he had to in order to win. The toughest, the best numbers, and unquestionably the quarterback who was most important to their team, ever.

folks let get one thing right here Brett Favre is top five QB in this league if we are talking about retired QB's then manning's and Brady's name has to remain out until they are done playing and i don't care how many rings Brady has won and I think that this is where the mistake is being made my top 5 BQ are in this order
here is why reason is simple when these QB's played the game was different and in the Manning and Brady's era the game has changed to the point where the QB's can't get hit these days and I don't think if Brady or Manning played in Montana ot Bradshaw or Aikman era simply they won't last as long brady will be crying can anyone imagine either Neil Smith, or Howie Long or Greg Townsend hitting manning or brady he's be crying to his momma.
1 unitas
2 Bradshaw
3 Elway
4 Farve
5 Aikman

Whenever a great QB retires we get this discussion. When you look at the three rings, four superbowl trips (I can't believe we lost that game), 5 AFC title games, the leadership, skill and toughness of Brady - and he's only 30 - I can't see how you can't put him on the list.

As I remember Montana also had a spectacular receiver or two and a pretty good coach to work with.

Anyway, my top five (and I leave out the old timers that I never saw like Baugh, Luckman, Blanda, tittle, and Unitas) are

1) Staubach
2) Montana
3) Brady
4) Marino
5) Aikman, Young, Manning (tie)

And I hope I'll be able to move Tom to the top of the list with another ring or two and 5 or 6 more great seasons.

you people are silly.

top 5 all-time, easily, w/out bias - but - bias included? the GOAT.

Rank does not matter. What matters is the day after Brett tosses a underhanded pass to his receiver in his game, 2 other quarterbacks try to do the same thing the next day, both in playoff games. Thats Bretts influence. He did things no other quarterback did before or could get away with doing in NFL games.