Old QBs Give Montana Nod as Today’s Best

Fifteen former NFL quarterbacks disagree on what makes greatness in a signal caller. But they have no trouble naming the best in the game today--Joe Montana.

The former quarterbacks, in the final day of the first Quarterback Club gathering, were asked to rate the top five active quarterbacks in the National Football League.

Montana, said Hall of Fame member Otto Graham, is “a smart football player.”

“He’s different than most quarterbacks today. Everybody wants to throw the long ball. He throws the ball 10 to 20 yards long, and he does it all day and scores touchdowns,” Graham said.

“That’s the way it should be. But it’s a team sport. I don’t remember throwing any touchdown passes lying flat on my back.”

Montana has led San Francisco to four Super Bowl victories.

The 15 raters, including Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas and Super Bowl MVPs Jim Plunkett and Doug Williams, ended up with a top five of Montana, Miami’s Dan Marino, Denver’s John Elway, Philadelphia’s Randall Cunningham and Houston’s Warren Moon.