Top 5 Worst NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

You know, roughly 19 times a year, I overhear this debate; Who is the greatest NFL QB of all time? Montana or Elway? Brady or Manning? Favre or Unitas? Marino or Bradshaw? The debate has gone on longer than a buffet line at a Jenny Craig Convention. Who has the most Superbowl rings? Who had the best receivers? Who put up the best stats? Blah blah blah blah blah till we're blue in the freaking face and I'm sick and tired of it people!!!!

Personally, I'm tired of the Tom Bradys and the Joe Montanas with their supermodel girlfriends. I'm Sick of Eli and Peyton Manning with their endless TV commercials, the Bradshaws and Youngs with their cushy NFL broadcasting deals and the Marinos and Favres with their Hollywood movie cameos. There is absolutely no way in hell I can identify with these people.

You know what I want to hear about? I want to hear about the losers like myself. I want to hear about men who had promise and talent. Men who had the world by the tail and then, inexplicably, completely washed out and failed time after time. These are MY guys. Guys who I could sit down and have a beer with. Guys who I understand because, let's face it, I myself have screwed the pooch far more often than I've ever succeeded.

I also want to hear from you; true NFL fans. Who are your picks for the Top Five WORST QB's ever to start an NFL game. Let's stay in the modern era, say, after 1970 and use QB's who've had at least one full season under their belt. Here are my picks, MY guys who most closely resemble my own failure and futility. Be sure to register yours;

5. Joey Harrington - "Joey Heisman" came to the Detroit Lions in 2002 and was hailed as the next savior of the Lions. The "Savior" led the Lions to a 3-13 record his first year and then improved the team to 6-10 the next year. This would be the pinnacle of his career. He was benched in year three after the team got off to a dismal start and traded in year four to the Miami Dolphins. Despite his lackluster play and futility, he always remained cheerful and upbeat, which caused Detroit sports fans and writers to sarcastically dub him "Joey Blue Skies" and "Joey Sunshine". Harrington finished his Lions career with a record of 15-37 (which might actually seem like the glory days compared to the current version of the Detroit team). In Miami he played 11 games and led the team to a 5-6 record before being replaced by future Hall of Fame QB, Cleo Lemon (that's more sarcasm). He was traded to Atlanta and had two solid games for them, proclaiming that the change in his play was due to "his confidence and that he was now ready to take on the offense of this team." Atlanta felt differently and released "Joey Sunshine" that August. Been there Joey, been there. Career QB rating of 69.4. Not good when a perfect rating is 158.3. Almost halfway there Joey! Just like me, you'll need to keep trying.

4. Rick Mirer - Drafted from Notre Dame by the Seattle Seahawks in 1993 and dubbed as "The Next Joe Montana", Mirer is actually scientifically rated as THE worst QB of all time on one website. I disagree. He actually had ONE good year in his rookie season where he won AFC Rookie of the Year. Then something clicked in Mirer's head (and not in a good way). He got nervous, started looking confused, took way too many sacks and his next three seasons were horrific. He was subsequently traded to Chicago for a first round draft pick; a coup of monumental proportions for the Seahawks. It only took the Bears one year to see the error of their ways and they quickly traded him to The New York Jets, who traded him to Green Bay who traded him to..... you get the picture. As a Seahawk fan, Mirer gave me one more reason to hate Notre Dame as he finished with a career QB rating of 63.5. Joe Montana's rating was 92.3. So in a way; he was "2/3 of The Next Joe Montana". Or, much like myself, sort of like Joe Montana without a left leg.

3. Chris Weinke - Only one of two quarterbacks at Florida State to have his jersey retired (can you name the other?), this guy set every passing record in the book at FSU. And that's where he should've stayed. Yes his name is pronounced "Winky" and that's all the draft personnel at the Carolina Panthers should've had to hear in 2001; but no, they went ahead and drafted him anyway because he was available in the 4th round. He quickly took the reins of the Panther offense and won his first NFL game ever. The problem was that in the NFL that year, there were 15 more games to play. The Panthers proceeded to play those games and lost all of them, finishing 1-15. Weinke became the first (and only) NFL QB to lose 15 games in a row. The team began looking for a new QB the very next year, which they found in Jake Delhomme. When Delhomme was injured for one game that year, Winky came in and pulled the game out, winning his second and last victory ever in the NFL. Career QB rating of 62.2, throwing nearly twice as many interception as touchdowns. But if you think HE was bad...

2. Mike Phipps - His career started off bad. In 1970 the Cleveland Browns traded their star receiver and future Superbowl winner, Paul Warfield, to acquire the rights to draft Phipps. His first year in the NFL he only started one game which was a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The next year he started only one game, which was a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In year three he actually started the majority of snaps for the Browns and led them to the playoffs but his five interception game spoiled any chance of victory. The following year he threw for nine touchdowns and TWENTY interceptions and the year after that, after leading the Browns to a 4-10 record, he was briefly replaced by QB, Brian Sipe. Still holding out hope for their "star" QB, the Browns allowed him on the field as their leader where he courageously, yet ineptly led them to a 0-9 record. But with three straight victories to end the season, the Browns found hope for next year in Phipps...whaaaaa??!! Fortunately for the Browns, Phipps broke his collarbone in the first game that next year and was permanently replaced by Sipe. He was traded to Chicago where he started a few games but ended his stint in the NFL with a career QB rating of 52.6, throwing 55 TD's and a whopping 108 interceptions! Miserable stats indeed, only to be eclipsed by....

1. Ryan Leaf - Remember the draft debate in 1998? Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf? Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning? Who should the Colts choose? Hmmmm.... that's a toughie. Especially when many NFL scouts predicted that Leaf would be a better QB than Manning. Those scouts are now, like me, unemployed. Leaf's career spanned only four years. Four years that were marked by constant injuries, poor play on the field and a media circus off the field. To get Leaf as the second pick, The Chargers gave up two first round draft picks, a second round draft pick, a reserve linebacker and three time pro bowl running back Eric Metcalf. The Chargers signed Leaf to a four year, 31 million dollar deal. Leaf then declared, "I'm looking forward to a 15 year career, a couple of trips to the Superbowl, and a parade through downtown San Diego." Leaf has seen a few Superbowls, although he had to pay to get in. The parade is still on hold.

After winning his first two games, the proverbial Leaf hit the fan. His third game found him completing one out of fifteen passes for four yards and fumbling three times against the Chiefs. In his next seven games he threw 2 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions and was benched. After ten games his passer rating was 39.

And who can forget Leaf's off the field antics such as screaming at a reporter in the locker room after a game, "Just fucking don't talk to me, all right??!! Knock it off!! Just knock it off!!" And his having to be restrained after lunging at a heckling fan at a practice session. Two coaches had to escort the hot head off the field after that incident.

The next year he totally missed because of a shoulder injury but still made headlines when he got into a shouting match with GM Bobby Beathard. He then went on to lie about an injury so he could get out of practice and go play golf. Later, while he was "rehab-ing his shoulder, he was caught on video playing flag football at the beach and the Chargers sued him for breach of contract. In 2000, Leaf started the first two games but threw only one touchdown to five interceptions. Following even more poor performances and injuries, he was released by the Chargers with a grand total of four wins in three years as a starter.

Leaf was claimed by the Buccaneers who later released him, then he tried a comeback with the Cowboys and lastly the Seahawks, where he did what he does best; quit the team just before training camp with no explanation, later citing injuries as his reason for retirement. He is now known as the biggest draft day bust, not only in the history of the NFL, but in the history of organized sports. His career QB rating is 50.0 and his touchdown to interception ratio is 14/36. Over 2 interceptions for every touchdown thrown! He is now the golf coach at West Texas A&M University. Imagine that. I wonder if any of his team members feign injury to go play football?

So there you have it. My five worst starting QB's ever in the NFL. Guys that make me proud to be a loser because, let's face it, although they spent millions of dollars of NFL money in losing, I lose for little or no money at all. Anything you'd like to add? feel free to go right ahead.