QB Power Rankings

[KaseKlosed]

QB Power Rankings: Is Joe Flacco elite?

ESPN.com revealed its most high-profile and perhaps controversial Power Rankings to date on Tuesday. This week we ranked the glamor position of quarterback, which always makes for a heated debate.

[+] EnlargeJoe Flacco

Brett Davis/US PresswireBaltimore quarterback Joe Flacco threw 25 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions last season.

Two AFC North quarterbacks made the top 10. Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a no-brainer. He's played in three Super Bowls, winning two. Roethlisberger finished No. 5 in the rankings behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. I voted Roethlisberger fourth and Rodgers fifth, but you can make a strong case for both quarterbacks, who are at the top of their game.

But what is debatable is whether Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco deserves to be on this list.

Is Flacco a top-10 quarterback? He was tied for the final spot with Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys to make the cut. I've watched more Flacco games in person than anyone on the panel and he didn't make my top 10. I had Flacco rated No. 12 on my ballot behind Romo (No. 10) and Matt Schaub (No. 11) of the Houston Texans.

In three seasons, Flacco has yet to beat the Steelers when Roethlisberger is at quarterback and needs to perform better in the postseason. Therefore, I cannot consider him elite. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome recently echoed these sentiments.

But I've liked Flacco's skills from Day 1, and I believe he's ready for a breakthrough season in his fourth year. He has a lot of natural ability, and once he combines that with more consistency and big-game performances, he will be dangerous.

Flacco also is showing more edge and leadership in the past year, which I think is needed for any starting quarterback. Flacco has the tools. He just needs to put it all together in 2011.

ESPN.com's Quarterback Power Rankings

1. Tom Brady, Patriots

2. Peyton Manning, Colts

3. Drew Brees, Saints

4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers

5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

6. Philip Rivers, Chargers

7 (tie). Michael Vick, Eagles

7 (tie). Matt Ryan, Falcons

9. Eli Manning, Giants

10. (tie) Joe Flacco, Ravens

10. (tie) Tony Romo, Cowboys

Walker's Quarterback Power Rankings

1. Tom Brady, Patriots

2. Peyton Manning, Colts

3. Drew Brees, Saints

4. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

5. Aaron Rodgers, Packers

6. Philip Rivers, Chargers

7. Michael Vick, Eagles

8. Eli Manning, Giants

9. Matt Ryan, Falcons

10. Tony Romo, Cowboys

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/39679/qb-power-rankings-is-joe-flacco-elite

[jtm]

No way he is elite but you could make an argument that he is tied with Romo. Only a couple qb's are elite.

[teeray]

I don't know what elite consists of. What is the crtieria of being "elite"? I know Joe Flacco is one of the best QBs in the NFL and is still young and progressing. I personally think he is better than Romo but that is just my opinion.

[thefuzz]

Elite:

Manning

Brady

Rivers

Brees

Rodgers

Everyone else is either good, or serviceable.

[CarolinaNut]

i think roethlisberger is elite.

[TheRealDeal]

Elite:

Manning

Brady

Rivers

Brees

Rodgers

Everyone else is either good, or serviceable.

This

i think roethlisberger is elite.

Well you are wrong, he's not

[Mother Grabber]

This

Well you are wrong, he's not

Agreed. He's big, I'll give him that.

[CarolinaNut]

Well you are wrong, he's not

gotta love when someone tells you your wrong and then doesn't even elaborate why.

[TheRealDeal]

gotta love when someone tells you your wrong and then doesn't even elaborate why.

How much time do you have?

[CarolinaNut]

How much time do you have?

i'm all ears...tell me how he isn't one the elite QB's in the NFL

[thefuzz]

i'm all ears...tell me how he isn't one the elite QB's in the NFL

Can the Steelers win with him on the bench?

What is his overal QB rating compared to the others listed?j

Elite QB's do more than play in games, they are also leaders and role models, he does neither.

TDs vs. INT %.

Come on man, that bling on his finger has everyone cross eyed.

[Darth Biscuit]

Brady should be behind Manning and Brees IMO... maybe even Rodgers, but he's still top 5. Flacco is good, about right on those lists, but no, not elite. I mean, what is elite? Top 3? Top 5? We're only talking 32 spots here... so top three is the top 10%.

[thefuzz]

Brady should be behind Manning and Brees IMO... maybe even Rodgers, but he's still top 5. Flacco is good, about right on those lists, but no, not elite. I mean, what is elite? Top 3? Top 5? We're only talking 32 spots here... so top three is the top 10%.

I don't care about the number of elite QB's, and Brees or Brady, or Rivers could fall off that list at any time.

What I care about is, can that player be replaced?

Brees IMO is the closest one to being off this list, as I think that he could be swapped out for Matt Ryan or Ben and the Saints would still be productive.

Manning, Brady, Rivers, and Rodgers could all switch teams and not miss a beat, I don't think that anyone else in the NFL could play for their teams and do as well as those 4.

[OchoNueve]

Can't see myself picking anyone over Manning or Rogers with the top 2. Brees and Brady are both elite, but I think Rogers has surpassed them both with last seasons play and potential moving forward.