Football's immaculate position

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Kevin Solmes

EMC Sports - It would be a valid argument to state that the pro football quarterback is the most perilous job opportunity on the face of this planet we call Earth, unless, of course, you consider the daily employment hazards of being the standing human target for a rookie knife-thrower in a traveling carnival act.

This weekend's Super Bowl XLVI staged at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, will be a rigorous test for both the New England Patriots' Tom Brady and the New York Giants' Eli Manning with the final outcome of the pigskin spectacular securing the winning Q.B. a spot in the NFL history books. There have been many prominent pass throwers who have solidified their legacies while performing admirably on the glorious gridiron turf and the following is a Solmer Says list of the top-ten NFL quarterbacks of all-time:

10. Roger Staubach -The undeniable leader of the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 to 1979, Staubach captured two league championships and was the MVP of Super Bowl VI. (Dallas cheerleaders were not too hard to look at either.)

9. Fran Tarkenton -Even though the 6-foot 190-pound Minnesota Vikings field general was relatively small in comparison to most play callers of his era, he still fashioned a rifle for an arm and passed for over 47,000 yards in his 17-year NFL career.

8. Brett Favre -No comeback attempt in 2011-12 from the resurgent number 4 who seems to have more lives than Sylvester the cat. However, there is absolutely no denying his ability to win key games and toss a precision-like football pass!

7. Dan Fouts -Will go down as one of the most prolific forward passers of all time throwing for over 43,000 yards and 254 touchdowns in 14 seasons with the San Diego Chargers.

6. Warren Moon -Starred in both the Canadian and U.S. style gridiron game recording over 70,000 yards passing in career combined stats throughout his 20 seasons of professional football stardom.

5. Dan Marino -The star-studded snap receiver is without doubt the most gifted quarterback to never win the "big one" while racking up 61,361 yards passing in 16 campaigns with the Miami Dolphins.

4. Johnny Unitas -The iconic "Johnny U" is definitely a blast from the past having achieved his all-pro playing status during the 1950s and 1960s. He orchestrated a victory in what is often referred to as the greatest game ever played when his Baltimore Colts claimed the 1958 NFL championship by defeating the New York Giants 23 -17 in sudden-death overtime.

3. Tom Brady -With a win this Sunday, the New England Patriots leader will cement his position near the top of any MVP list and has already moved into a tie with John Elway for the most Super Bowl appearances by a starting Q.B. with five (and his rugged good looks are delicious bits of eye-candy for interested football females ... Mrs. Solmer Says included!).

2. John Elway -The Denver Bronco offensive wizard who starred in 16 seasons with 51,475 passing yards and 300 touchdowns, delivered a series of come-from-behind highlight reel wins in the face of legitimate late game deficits and took his club to the NFL's big show on five separate occasions while winning two Super Bowls.

1. Joe Montana -The athletic San Francisco 49er star captured the elite Super Bowl title on four different attempts and was named MVP for three of them. The perennial pro-bowler amassed over 40,000 career passing yards and teamed up with swift wide receiver Jerry Rice to form one of the best pass/ catch duos in the annals of professional football.