I love tournaments. You love tournaments. I love football. You love football. I think quarterbacks are important. You think…okay you get the picture.

But who’s the best quarterback in the NFL? And not just “the best (Peyton Manning),” but who would you want for your franchise’s future, starting right now. Contracts versus contracts. Potential versus previous success. It’s all so exciting.

We’ll look at the primary QBs for each of the 32 NFL teams, going forward this season, but with some common sense. Tim Tebow is likely not the starter in Denver next year. Just like Shaun Hill and Jon Kitna aren’t the starters for Detroit and Dallas. And for Tennessee, why not go with Rusty Smith (besides the obvious fact being that he’s terrible)? In the curious case of the Carolina Panthers, who are starting a fresh pile of manure every week at QB, let’s just go with Jimmy Clausen for the heck of it (sorry Keith Null). And for Minnesota, are you convinced that Brett Favre isn’t coming back?

Each quarterback will be seeded 1-8, in four different regions with the seeding being based upon their team’s current record in the NFL. So with the Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens (we’re going to alphabetical in instances of tied records because figuring out the tiebreaking scenario between 7 teams for the sake of a blog post, isn’t exactly a wise use of time) being our top 4 teams, Matt Ryan, Mark Sanchez, Tom Brady, and Joe Flacco get our number one seeds. And so on, and so forth. Each region will be named for a great QB of the past. Analysis where necessary.

Round 1
Steve Young Region
1.) Matt Ryan (ATL)
vs.
8.) Jimmy Clausen (CAR)
Matt Ryan wins this easily. Nothing I’ve seen from Clausen in his rookie year lends itself to future success. Meanwhile, Ryan is quickly evolving into a top 7 QB.

4.) Matt Cassel (KCC)
vs.
5.) Donovan McNabb (WAS)
Cassel wins because of youth and because he seems to be evolving into a better QB, while McNabb just exists.

3.) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
vs.
6.) Colt McCoy (CLE)
I really think this is closer than I ever would have expected. Roethlisberger makes big money (12 million per). McCoy makes little money ($1.25 million per). It’s hard to believe, but Big Ben is only 4 years older than Colt. Big Ben has also won 2 Super Bowls. But Big Ben is also one misstep away from a year long suspension. Meanwhile, McCoy has shown flashes of near-brilliance in his rookie campaign. Call me crazy, but for my franchise’s future, I’m taking Colt McCoy.

2.) Jay Cutler (CHI)
vs.
7.) Troy Smith (SFO)
Jay Cutler, as mistake prone as he is, gets a good draw here and advances.

John Elway Region
1.) Mark Sanchez (NYJ)
vs.
8.) Matthew Stafford (DET)
I think Stafford is the better QB, but Stafford has also shown himself to be less than durable. Meanwhile, Sanchez is a winner and he’s healthy. And a little cheaper. And more marketable. Tough break for Stafford, drawing Sanchez.

4.) Eli Manning (NYG)
vs.
5.) Rusty Smith (TEN)
If there’s a bigger mismatch on here, Lord help us. Rusty Smith was an inferior college QB. He lacked the tools necessary to be elite at Florida Atlantic. Why an NFL team drafted him, I’ll never know. How he’s starting for an NFL team as a rookie, I don’t want to know.

3.) Josh Freeman (TBB)
vs.
6.) Derek Anderson (ARI)
You see that bandwagon driving by with Josh Freeman’s face on it? I’m driving.

2.) Aaron Rodgers (GBP)
vs.
7.) Brett Favre (MIN)
Funny how this draw happened. This is actually a pretty huge mismatch too, no offense to Rusty Smith.
Otto Graham Region
1.) Tom Brady (NEP)
vs.
8.) Carson Palmer (CIN)
Carson Palmer’s inflated numbers, put up in garbage time, aside, Tom Brady is and always will be, superior to Carson.

4.) Chad Henne (MIA)
vs.
5.) Matt Hasselbeck (SEA)
This is a can’t win matchup. In that it “can’t win” the next round. I’ll take Henne because of his youth.

3.) Peyton Manning (IND)
vs.
6.) Sam Bradford (STL)
Here is the most fascinating matchup of Round 1. Two #1 overall QBs. One is 34 years old. The other is 23 years old. One has won a Super Bowl, multiple MVPs, and is widely regarded as the best QB of this generation, or perhaps any. The other is a rookie, throwing to guys whose wives don’t recognize them on the street. And yet he’s still on pace for 3500 yards passing and 20+ TDs, while keeping his INTs down. The other guy threw 28 INTs in his rookie season. Look, I’m going to level with you here. Manning, today, is a much better QB than Sam Bradford is. But is he necessarily always going to be better than Bradford ever could be? What this boils down to is Peyton Manning for the next 4 or 5 years or Sam Bradford for the next 14 or 15. I want Bradford. A franchise quarterback is terribly valuable. Especially one as marketable as Sam. Especially one as smart as Sam. Sounds a lot like Peyton, no? I almost feel bad not taking Manning, but his career isn’t going to last forever. Bradford’s potential is limitless.

2.) Drew Brees (NOS)
vs.
7.) Kyle Orton (DEN)
This is far easier than the previous one.

Dan Marino Region
1.) Joe Flacco (BAL)
vs.
8.) Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF)
This is closer than you think. I’ll take Flacco for now.

4.) Jason Campbell (OAK)
vs.
5.) Phillip Rivers (SDG)
Moving on….

3.) David Garrard (JAX)
vs.
6.) Matt Schaub (HOU)
Moving on….

2.) Michael Vick (PHI)
vs.
7.) Tony Romo (DAL)
Another fascinating matchup and by far this region’s most interesting. Vick is 30. Romo is 30. Vick is due to make some serious change. Romo already makes serious change. Vick has been questioned his entire career. Romo has been questioned his entire career. Vick spent two years in prison for running a dogfighting ring out of his home. Tony Romo dated Jessica Simpson. Vick makes a living with his feet and can throw really well. Romo makes a living with his arm and can run pretty well. I’m going to take Romo as my franchise QB. He might not be “a winner,” but neither is Vick, frankly. I’m not sure how to market Vick. Reformed monster? Electric superstar who’s one strike away from career expulsion from the league and almost got there this summer? It’s a hornet’s nest. Vick might be the most exciting player in the league, but they don”t give trophies for that.

Round 2
Steve Young Region
1.) Matt Ryan
vs.
4.) Matt Cassel
In the battle of the Matt’s, the better one wins.

6.) Colt McCoy
vs.
2.) Jay Cutler
FoxSports.com says that Jay Cutler makes $22 million per season. I’ll take Colt McCoy.

John Elway Region
1.) Mark Sanchez
vs.
4.) Eli Manning
Funny how this worked out with the two New York QBs facing each other. If either of these two played in Kansas City or Seattle, they’d be regarded as elite QBs. Instead, the word “shaky” is used to describe them. And yes, at times, both can be shaky. Sanchez “suffers” from being super attractive. Because he’s so attractive, people will have a hard time taking him seriously as an NFL QB. Eli suffers from being Peyton’s younger, dopier looking brother. Because of that, people have a hard time taking him seriously. Both guys are paid quite a lot of money. I’m going with the younger guy and the guy who I like more: Sanchez. He has a moxie that Eli clearly lacks. Sanchez is funny and engaging and marketable. Eli sells rich people’s watches because he plays for the Giants and has a familiar last name. I also think Sanchez is ahead of Eli’s career curve at this point.

3.) Josh Freeman
vs.
2.) Aaron Rodgers
I love how far Josh Freeman has come along. But I am not insane.

Otto Graham Region
1.) Tom Brady
vs.
4.) Chad Henne
I’ve talked a lot about age here and made it the determining factor between two QBs who are close in potential vs. previous success. This is not one of those instances.

6.) Sam Bradford
vs.
2.) Drew Brees
I took Bradford because of his youth and near limitless potential against Peyton Manning. And here I am stuck with the same battle. Brees is three years younger than Peyton. But Peyton is a better QB than Brees. But this isn’t about Brees vs. Manning. It’s about Brees vs. Bradford. And I’m taking Brees. Barely. But I’m taking Brees because he’s the ideal face for an NFL franchise right now and for the next 8 years. He might not have Sam’s measureables. But he’s a franchise face right now; not in two or three years. It’s very close and Bradford is probably going to prove me wrong in 5 years. But today, Brees just edges him out.

Dan Marion Region
1.) Joe Flacco
vs.
5.) Phillip Rivers
This isn’t close at all. Rivers in a landslide. Flacco’s “potential” continues to decrease every game, seemingly. Rivers’ grows.

6.) Matt Schaub
vs.
7.) Tony Romo
Schaub is cheaper, but I’m not sure that he has ever spoken and he has never shown himself to be a winner. Romo has taken teams to the playoffs and Romo can lead a team. I refuse to believe that Romo is to blame for Dallas’ underachieving during his tenure as starting QB.

Round 3
Steve Young Region
1.) Matt Ryan
vs.
6.) Colt McCoy
Colt McCoy’s dream run had to come to a close some time. This was the time. I’ve been so impressed with Matt Ryan’s development. Once he starts consistently winning road games, he’ll catapult into the top 5 in the NFL. He has that much skill. McCoy may never be a top QB.

John Elway Region
1.) Mark Sanchez
vs.
2.) Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers has tools that few other QBs have. He’s mobile, nearly perfect in accuracy, vocal, but not too vocal, easy to root for, and not terribly expensive. Sanchez is going to be very good, but perhaps not elite like Rodgers is.

Otto Graham Region
1.) Tom Brady
vs.
2.) Drew Brees
By far the most difficult of these matchups. Brady has won 3 Super Bowls. Brees has won 1. Brees is two years younger than Brady. Both are already elite QBs and show no signs of letting that fade. I’m going to take Brady here. The previous knee injury worries me a little, but not much. The reason why I’m going with Brady is because he’s a proven, repeated winner. And he’s done it with awful teams. Not subpar. Awful. Antoine Smith? Deion Branch? Benjamin Watson? These are the guys that Brady has won with. Almost in spite of. This is no slight to Brees. He’s great. Brady, though, is an almost perfect QB. And perfection is hard to turn away from.

Dan Marino Region
5.) Phillip Rivers
vs.
7.) Tony Romo
Phillip Rivers hasn’t reached his full potential yet. That’s really scary.

Final Four
1.) Matt Ryan vs. 2.) Aaron Rodgers
At first, I thought that I should labor over this decision. I shouldn’t. Rodgers is only a year older and is much closer to reaching his full potential, which I think is greater than Ryan’s, ultimately. This really isn’t too difficult.

1.) Tom Brady vs. 5.) Phillip Rivers
This one is. Well, until you remember that Phillip Rivers’ career playoff record is 3-4 and he’s thrown more INTs than TDs. Brady is 14-4 in the postseason. And his TD/INT ratio? Nearly 2:1. Brady might be four years older, but I’m not totally stupid. Rivers has had a great season and put up historic numbers. But he’s not the winner that Tom Brady is. And who knows if he’ll ever get there.

Championship
2.) Aaron Rodgers vs. 1.) Tom Brady
Rodgers has started one career playoff game and threw for 4 TD and over 400 yards. He only threw one INT. He lost that game. So Brady has the better career postseason winning percentage. But Rodgers is 26 years old. He has at least a decade ahead of him, maybe more. Rodgers is already an elite QB in just his third season as a starter. He doesn’t make mistakes and throws for a ton of yards.4000 yards in your first season as a starter is wildly impressive. Rodgers did it. Just three years ago. Brady doesn’t need me to write any glowing words about him. He’s a surefire Hall of Famer, 5 years to the day of his retirement. He’s one of the five best QBs of all-time. But this is Aaron Rodgers’ time. And he may very well be in that top 5 with Brady some day. I’m willing to bet the future on it.

Champion
Aaron Rodgers

I have 3 blog ideas and 3 days this week before the holiday. Seems like simple math, right? I want to rank the starting QBs in the NFL (a power ranking for the future, if you will), I want to do a full college football bowl projection (because I enjoy wasting your and my time) and finally I want to take inventory of the NFL season. Idea number 3 is the least interesting, so in the vein of how I live my life, we’re going with that one first.

Last month, I took a look at the NFC and believe I may have used the words “terrible,” “horrible,” “no good,” and “very bad” to describe it. That was actually very wrong of me. The NFC certainly has it’s holes (The playoff bound Chicago Bears, the NFC West, Brian St. Pierre, etc) but there’s a lot to be excited about there. Including three potential Super Bowl champions. But we’ll start with the AFC.

(Rankings 1-6 for who I think will make it to the playoffs)

AFC
1. New York Jets (12-4)
I’ve read a few scribes today downgrading the Jets because their last three wins came against the Lions, Browns, and Texans and were not done in convincing fashion. I understand that to a certain extent. I also understand that if you’re 8-2 after 10 games, you’re a pretty good football team. I also realize that the Jets beat the Patriots in their only game so far in 2010. I also realize that the Jets find a way to win their games, and are being led by a quarterback with 15 TDs, 7 INTs, and 2300 Yards passing. Yes, the Jets QB is on pace for a 26 TD, 11 INT, 4000 Yard season. And still, people criticize him like it’s a hobby. If the Jets were the Indianapolis Colts, we’d be going crazy, head over heels for them. But because it’s the Jets, we need to nitpick. I for one, am not nitpicking. They’re the best team in the AFC.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
You tell me who’s second best in the AFC: New England beat the Steelers and the Ravens. The Ravens beat the Jets. But the Jets beat New England. And the Ravens beat the Steelers. But the Steelers were playing without their starting quarterback. And the Steelers beat Atlanta. Who beat Baltimore. Who, yes, beat Pittsburgh. It all comes down to matchups. And Pittsburgh has some easy ones left on their schedule. Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Carolina. The other two games? Of course, the Ravens and Jets. The Steelers are an enigma. The losses to New England and New Orleans concern me. But the Ravens have the same record and despite a head-to-head win, may be more enigmatic than the Steelers.

3. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Sorry, I can’t commit myself to giving a David Garrard QB’d team a 3 seed in the playoffs. I don’t care if Jacob Tamme and Blair White are key targets for Peyton Manning. The South is very winnable for the Colts.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)
They’re undefeated at home and they’ve already gotten their hardest home test (San Diego) out of the way. All they need to do is find a way to win 1 or 2 road games and they’ll sneak in.

5. New England Patriots (12-4)
For what it’s worth, I think they finish in a tie with the Jets, but New York wins the tiebreaker and the bye. The offense is great. The defense, well, not so great.

6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Ray Rice has 3 TDs heading into Week 12. Joe Flacco has not developed into a 4,000 yard passer. Anquan Boldin may have been kidnapped a few weeks ago. And Billy Cundiff will have to win a key game for them down the stretch, right? But then again, remember when they shut out the Jets in the Meadowlands? And do you really trust Mark Sanchez to win a cold weather game?

Baltimore beats Indianapolis and New England beats Kansas City
Baltimore beats New York and New England beats Pittsburgh

AFC Championship: Baltimore beats New England (Shayne Graham misses a GW FG, and Billy Cundiff proves me wrong)

NFC
1. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
Green Bay plays at Atlanta this weekend, goes into the Georgia Dome, and punches the Falcons in the mouth.

2. Atlanta Falcons (12-4)
Green Bay plays at Atlanta this weekend, goes into the Georgia Dome, and punches the Falcons in the mouth. I know that Atlanta has been nearly unbeatable under Mike Smith at home, but the Packers look like they’re on a mission now that they’re healthy. And I don’t think the Falcons are a tough football team.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
I’m nervous every time Michael Vick runs to his right. Imagine how Andy Reid feels. Still, when they’re on, they’re more fun to watch than the 1999 Rams.

4. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
It makes me want to cry. But do you think St. Louis can win a game on the road?

5. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
Flying WAY under the radar right now. They’re slow start may have blinded you to the fact that they’re 7-3. And playing good football since that loss to the Browns.

6. New York Giants (10-6)
I had to go down to the 4th tiebreaker (strength of victory) before giving the Giants the edge over the Buccaneers. Did you know that combined, the Giants and Bucs have won one game against current playoff teams? True story. New York beat Chicago in Week 3. You’ll notice that I don’t have Chicago making the playoffs. Carry on.

Philadelphia beats New York and New Orleans beats Seattle
Green Bay beats New Orleans and Philadelphia beats Atlanta (sidebar: How awesome would that story be if Vick returns to Atlanta in the playoffs?)

NFC Championship Green Bay beats Philadelphia

Super Bowl: Green Bay beats Baltimore.

And yes, if you’re a smart reader, you know that was my preseason prediction.

Some Awards

MVP: Peyton Manning (Runners up: Tom Brady, Josh Freeman, Michael Vick)
OROY: Sam Bradford (Runners up: No one is even close. Dez Bryant and Mike Williams get honorable mention)
DROY: NDamukong Suh (Runners up: Earl Thomas, TJ Ward)
Coach of the Year: Brad Childress……Sorry, I imagined the word “non” in there.
Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick
Best Resurrection of a Career, Ever: Michael Vick
Worst Crucifixion of a Career Ever: Brett Favre

Seriously, did you see this turn of events happening 3 years ago? Michael Vick is the most dynamic player in the NFL and a better QB than he ever was in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Brett Favre is mired in a 3-7 season with the Minnesota Vikings while being investigated by the NFL for allegedly sending pictures of his penis to this girl.

I love sports.

I always love my college basketball previews. They’re short and not exactly sweet. I list 8 teams. My final four and my four final four sleepers (current non top 15 teams). I usually hit on a few final four picks (2 of my four last year). A few weeks ago, I would have had Purdue in here, but Purdue will be without star forward Robbie Hummel this season. And with Hummel went Purdue’s national title chances. Without further space-filling, here are my 2010 college basketball picks:

Final Four:
Duke
Michigan State
Pittsburgh
Kansas State

I know it’s chalk. Find me the last non-chalk team to win the National Championship. Thanks.

Final Four Sleepers:
Temple
Brigham Young
Baylor
Washington

That is all. Proceed to not pay attention to college basketball again until after the college football season wraps. See you in mid-January.