Kick's thread on Danny White, and The Aikman/Staubach thread gave me the idea for this. I believe that with the likes of Meredith, LeBaron, White, Aikman, and Staubach (and hopefully someday Romo) that we have the richest QB tradition in NFL history.

However, a good case could be made for many teams whom have had some really good QBs over the years. San Fran, San Diego, Miami, Baltimore/Indy, Cleveland, Oakland, Washington to name a few.

What do you think and why?

I voted yes, but just to be fair, we should probably clarify the competition:

Dallas: Don Meredith, Craig Morton, Roger Staubach, Danny White, Troy Aikman, Tony Romo.

Pittsburgh: Bobby Layne (end of career), Terry Bradshaw, Neil O'Donnell, Kordell Stewart, Ben Roethlisberger.

Baltimore/Indianapolis: Johnny Unitas, Earl Morrall, Bert Jones, Jim Harbaugh, Payton Manning.

San Francisco: John Brodie, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia (who was a Pro Bowler).

Miami: Bob Griese, David Woodley, Dan Marino.

Oakland/L.A. Raiders: Ken Stabler, Jim Plunkett, Rich Gannon.

San Diego: John Hadl, Dan Fouts, Stan Humphries, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers

Green Bay: Bart Starr, Brett Favre.

[updated]:

Washington: Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer, Joe Theismann, Mark Rypien, Doug Williams, Jay Schroeder.

Cleveland: Otto Graham, Frank Ryan, Brian Sipe, Bernie Kosar.


The closest team to the Cowboys, I think, is San Francisco. Here is the real competition between the two:

Meredith vs. Brodie
Staubach vs. Montana
White vs. Young
Romo vs. Garcia

If Alex Smith continues to develop into a top flight quarterback, I think we have a tough debate on our hands. But for now, I'll take Dallas quarterbacks any day.

I can think of maybe four (If their right!?):

Dallas, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman

San Francisco, Joe Montana and Steve Young

Oakland, George Blanda and Jim Plunkett

Washington, Sonny Jergenson and Joe Theisman

Steelers: Bradshaw, O'donnell

There is a similar thread just created on this topic by Starbuck.   Check it out.

http://blog.dallascowboys.com/forums/thread/615392.aspx

I agree with Kick that our closest competition is with San Francisco, however I would put it this way:

Meredith vs. Brodie
Staubach vs. Montana 
Aikman vs. Young 
White vs. Garcia

What sets us apart in my opinion are the other QBs; Craig Morton and Eddie LeBaron.  The Cowboys have had more impact QBs than the Niners.   I agree that if Alex Smith continues to develop into a top flight QB the debate could really begin.  However, we also have a developing QB of our own in Tony Romo that I hope offsets that.  But for now, the Cowboys clearly have the edge. 

Ween22:

I agree with Kick that our closest competition is with San Francisco, however I would put it this way:

Meredith vs. Brodie
Staubach vs. Montana 
Aikman vs. Young 
White vs. Garcia

What sets us apart in my opinion are the other QBs; Craig Morton and Eddie LeBaron.  The Cowboys have had more impact QBs than the Niners.   I agree that if Alex Smith continues to develop into a top flight QB the debate could really begin.  However, we also have a developing QB of our own in Tony Romo that I hope offsets that.  But for now, the Cowboys clearly have the edge. 

When I wrote that this morning, I was thinking that given the matchups I included, Aikman puts us over the top--but I failed to mention him. Young and White are pretty close in terms of overall success, except that Young has better numbers and the one Super Bowl title. I generally throw statistics out for this one, because Young and Montana played in a system that beefed up stats more so than any system that Dallas has used.

MBIII:

Steelers: Bradshaw, O'donnell

I can't see where Neil Odonnell could make a rich QB tradition.lists. He was an average QB at best. He had 1 good season and got the Steelers to the SB to play us and he played like Neil Odonnell and threw it to Larry Brown who took it to the house. He's wasn't that good. Maybe a good backup off the bench but as a starter, he sucked.

Gabacho:

I can think of maybe four (If their right!?):

Dallas, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman

San Francisco, Joe Montana and Steve Young

Oakland, George Blanda and Jim Plunkett

Washington, Sonny Jergenson and Joe Theisman

Miami also had two in Greise and Marino

Longhorn_9:

Gabacho:

I can think of maybe four (If their right!?):

Dallas, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman

San Francisco, Joe Montana and Steve Young

Oakland, George Blanda and Jim Plunkett

Washington, Sonny Jergenson and Joe Theisman

Miami also had two in Greise and Marino

Don't ferget Oakland also had Kenny Stabler.

starcrazy5:

Longhorn_9:

Gabacho:

I can think of maybe four (If their right!?):

Dallas, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman

San Francisco, Joe Montana and Steve Young

Oakland, George Blanda and Jim Plunkett

Washington, Sonny Jergenson and Joe Theisman

Miami also had two in Greise and Marino

Don't ferget Oakland also had Kenny Stabler.

Stabler is not in the HOF  the rest are all in either the College HOF or the NFL HOF

 

I voted you bet. But something tells me your a little crazy. Like literally crazy. JK I think we have a great QB history and have been extremely fortunate. I know Quincy was a bump in the road, but he had the skills to be next in line. Maybe it was just too much for him to handle. But Romo appears to be the guy right now, we'll sure find out this year. He actually feels more "hollywood" than the others though.

I think there's a lot to consider in deciding which team had the richest QB tradition.

Obviously, Super Bowls/NFL Championships would be a consideration. I'd hate to bring up this team, but Washington won each of its Super Bowls with a different starting quarterback; in fact, if I'm not mistaken, I think they hold the Super Bowl record for most different starting QBs winning them (three of them, with Joe Theisman, Doug Williams (who was the first black QB to start in a Super Bowl, and to this day, remains the only black starting QB to win a Super Bowl, and win the Super Bowl MVP), and Mark Rypien), though I think Theisman and Williams may be astericked, because they won those SBs on strike seasons. I would say the Colts, but they've only won championships during the eras of two quarterbacks; Johnny Unitas and Peyton Manning, and that pretty much sums up the QB tradition of the Colts.

If one were to factor in quarterback controversies, I'd definitely say San Fran, mostly due to the Montana/Young controversy back in the late 80s/early 90s. Aside from that one, I'm totally unaware of any other QB controversy that involved two HOF quarterbacks, which is why I rank that controversy the greatest quarterback controversy of all time.


As far as how quickly a successor to a franchise QB is found, I'd say it's pretty close between San Francisco and the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. Both franchises found successors to their franchise quarterbacks almost immediately. Warren Moon received his successor only two years after he was traded, and Steve McNair received his only a few months before he was traded. Likewise, Joe Montana's successor donned a 49er uniform for the first time roughly five years BEFORE he was traded (which probably caused the quarterback controversy to begin with), Jeff Garcia was signed by the Niners about a year or two before Steve Young received a career-ending concussion, and Alex Smith was drafted by San Fran almost immediately after Garcia left. Miami, by sharp contrast, is STILL looking for the successor to Dan Marino, even after all these years!

MBIII:

Steelers: Bradshaw, O'donnell

uhh...replace O'Donnell's name with Roethlisberger, por favor? O'Donnell's got NOTHING on Ben Roethlisberger.

MBIII:

Steelers: Bradshaw, O'donnell

 

Well O'Donnell will always be special to me he helped us win that SuperBowl but I doubt if Steeler fans are quite so high on him!!!!!!!!!!!!

Overall the Cowboys probably have the best QB tradition and I would add Running Back tradition as well.