ESPN‘s John Clayton ranked the NFL quarterbacks today:

I divide the league’s quarterbacks into three categories — The Elite, the Chad Penningtons and the Hit-or-Miss quarterbacks. This year, I have 13 elites. Although I am criticized for putting a Matt Schaub or a Joe Flacco in the same category as a Tom Brady or a Peyton Manning, I do it for a reason.

Elite quarterbacks are the ones who usually make the playoffs, so I categorize the elites as the ones who give their franchises the best chance.

The league has 12 playoff spots, and usually 10 or 11 of the elite quarterbacks fill those positions. To be elite, a quarterback must have 4,000-yard potential, complete 60 percent of his passes and score more than 20 points a game.

Mr. Clayton’s Top 5:

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

3. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

5. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers – Roethlisberger barely made the top 10 in the new QBR ratings. He concedes statistics to Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan, but he has two Super Bowl rings and a 10-3 playoff record. In fourth quarters and late in games, he’s dangerous.


You can read all of Mr. Clayton’s rankings here.



And from Sports Journal Business Daily this evening:

After winning Super Bowl XLV, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and LB Clay Matthews had the top two-selling jerseys on NFLShop.com from April 1-Aug. 30.

Rodgers, who owned the No. 2 best-selling jersey as of March, claims the top spot for the first time in his career.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger saw the biggest jump among players in the top 20 in the previous rankings, moving from No. 16 to No. 5.

The Top 5 in jersey sales:

1. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

2. Packers LB Clay Matthews

3. Steelers S Troy Polamalu

4. Eagles QB Michael Vick

5. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger


You can see the Top 25 here.


Thank you Steelers fans! The support you have shown has been amazing!