Well, I want to do this again, but with some fixes. Instead of going with each teams’ current starting QB, I’m going to go with the one that each team views as their best QB. In the case of the Colts, that’s Peyton Manning. In the case of the Vikings, that’s Christian Ponder. For the Titans, I think it’s Matt Hasselbeck. The reason why it’s not Jake Locker is because there’s no chance he’s going to start a game this year. For the Vikings, what about Donovan McNabb has led you to believe that Christian Ponder, a four year college starter and Top 15 pick, isn’t going to get some starts? And if you disagree with this, I encourage you to tell me so.

The other change is that each QB will be seeded by his team’s current offensive scoring output. It’ll be like March Madness, just with 32 teams instead of 68. And I’ll make fun of people.

Each “region” will be named for aN NFL QB great. There’s no correlation between the name of the region and the players you see. In the semi-finals, the winners of the Otto Graham Region will play the winners of the Fran Tarkenton Region. Steve Young plays Warren Moon.

OTTO GRAHAM REGION

1.) Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buffalo Bills)

8.) Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs)

They’re the same age (Cassel is a few months older). Neither has won a playoff game. Neither has a shining resume. I take Fitzpatrick because it appears as though he’s trending upward, while Cassel simply exists. I think Cassel’s ceiling has been hit. Fitzpatrick could be the poor man’s Drew Brees, which isn’t bad at all.

4.) Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)

5.) Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears)

Earlier this season, after the Jets collapse, all we heard about was how Tony Romo wasn’t clutch. Romo quieted those people by playing through the pain of a fractured rib and a punctured lung, leading the Cowboys to their 2-1 record. Meanwhile, Jay Cutler, in the biggest game of his life, sat on the sidelines because his knee hurt.

3.) Mark Sanchez (New York Jets)

6.) Matt Hasselbeck (Tennessee Titans)

Sanchez. Mark’s ceiling might be Matt Hasselbeck, but he’s still 11 years younger.

2.) Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)

7.) Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)

If you want to talk about “not even close…” Look Aaron Rodgers is going to win this thing. You know it and I know it. Peyton might never play again and he’s only here because the Colts never thought it was important to build for their future.

STEVE YOUNG REGION

1.) Tom Brady (New England Patriots)

8.) Blaine Gabbert (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Gabbert’s youth is enticing. His “not really good” is less enticing.

4.) Rex Grossman (Washington Redskins)

5.) Cameron Newton (Carolina Panthers)

Part of what led Newton to two 400 yard passing games to start his career was that he threw the ball a ton. And he wasn’t necessarily pretty. This week he managed a game and led the Panthers to victory. If Newton can find a balance between the two, he has every tool to win this thing in a few years. For now, he’s certainly good enough to beat Rex Grossman.

3.) Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles)

6.) Kyle Orton (Denver Broncos)

Vick is the most dynamic QB in football. And even though he’s shown to be a little brittle, Kyle Orton woke up today and he was still Kyle Orton.

2.) Jason Campbell (Oakland Raiders)

7.) Chad Henne (Miami Dolphins)

That either of these guys gets to the Round of 16 is unfortunate for nearly every QB who will lose in Round 1. Campbell by a hair.

WARREN MOON REGION

Do you take the boring, accurate, prototypical QB who hasn’t been to the playoffs or the big, oafish, twice-accused of sexual assault, two-time Super Bowl winning QB? That’s not really as hard as I thought.

FRAN TARKENTON REGION

I’m still not certain that we’ve seen Flacco’s ceiling, whereas with Ryan, I think we may have. Flacco appears to be capable of great passing performances (Weeks 1 and 3 for example) but he’s also capable of playing like Andy Dalton (Week 2 for example). Still, Andy Dalton is Andy Dalton. He’s an accurate QB with little flash who likely won’t be the starter in Cincinnati in 5 years.

OTTO GRAHAM REGION

1.) Ryan Fitzpatrick

4.) Tony Romo

Look, I love the idea of a Harvard QB just as much as the next guy, but Romo is still the better play. Even if he isn’t “clutch.” Can you tell I hate that narrative? I really hate that narrative.

3.) Mark Sanchez

2.) Aaron Rodgers

Mark Sanchez, I’m sure, is a very nice young man. He’s incredibly handsome and he’s a decent QB. Top 15, maybe. Aaron Rodgers is in a class that Mark Sanchez will never reach.

STEVE YOUNG REGION

1.) Tom Brady

5.) Cameron Newton

This gets a little murky now. I think Tom Brady probably has another 2-3 years after this of top level QB play. But he’s also in a situation where he has two capable, young backups who may take his job sooner than that, because they’re much, much cheaper. Newton is young (22) and has tools that only a few other QBs have ever had in NFL history. He’s a faster, quicker version of Daunte Culpepper in his prime, with Warren Moon arm strength, and a Tom Brady smile. Next year, this might be a Newton victory. This year, it’s still Brady.

3.) Michael Vick

2.) Jason Campbell

This year, next year, and forever, this will be Vick.

WARREN MOON REGION

1.) Drew Brees

4.) Phillip Rivers

I LOVE this matchup. The Chargers, you will remember, drafted Rivers when Brees was still there, having not developed quickly enough for them. As soon as San Diego did this, Brees became an elite QB. As it turns out, they chose wisely with Rivers too. The answer here lies in age. Brees, a Super Bowl winner and NFL MVP, is only 2 years older than Rivers. Until Phillip Rivers wins something other than a regular season game, I want Brees. Unlike the Chargers.

3.) Eli Manning

7.) Ben Roethlisberger

Either of these guys can lose you a game by standing in the pocket for too long. Either of these guys (as they’ve done a combined 3 teams) can lead you to the Super Bowl. I’ll take the guy with 2 rings who’s a year younger.

FRAN TARKENTON REGION

1.) Matthew Stafford

5.) Josh Freeman

Freeman, it needs to be said, is a great game manager. He doesn’t throw a ton of interceptions and he comes through in the clutch. Stafford, though, is a different class of QB. He looks like he’s about to take his game up another level. That level would be the A-level.

6.) Christian Ponder

2.) Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco.

OTTO GRAHAM REGION

4.) Tony Romo

2.) Aaron Rodgers

Some would say that I overrate Romo, and that may be true. But I do feel he belongs in a conversation of the top 8 QBs in the NFL. He does not, however, belong in a conversation where he beats Aaron Rodgers.

STEVE YOUNG REGION

1.) Tom Brady

3.) Michael Vick

Vick, when healthy is the most dynamic player in the NFL and can change the game in ways that even Brady cannot. The problem with Vick (his fatal flaw….other than a total lack of marketability because he slaughtered dogs) is that he gets hit too much and has not proven to be durable. Some might say, “But Brady is older! Vick still has a lot of good years ahead of him!” Tom Brady is 3 years older than Vick. This is true. That Vick has suffered more diagnosed concussions this season than Brady has in his career, is the issue to me. And that’s why Brady advances.

WARREN MOON REGION

1.) Drew Brees

7.) Ben Roethlisberger

There’s really not a lot of debate here. Brees is a better QB. He might be older than Roethlisberger, but the divide in skill is wider than that in age. And then there’s the question of who you’d rather market: The nice, friendly, handsome, family man or the guy who has been twice accused of sexually assaulting women.

FRAN TARKENTON REGION

1.) Matthew Stafford

2.) Joe Flacco

This isn’t even close to me. Stafford is more accurate, has just as strong of an arm, and is three years younger. Stafford has also shown a consistence in his short career that Flacco hasn’t. Stafford’s injury-proneness is a fear, but not enough for me to take Flacco here.

Aaron Rodgers

Matthew Stafford

I’ve already stated that Aaron Rodgers is going to win this, but it’s worth noting that Stafford (albeit with a pretty favorable draw) finds himself here in this group of QBs. He’s not there yet. In fact, he’s not even close, realistically. But he’s more than on pace, at 23 years of age, to truly belong in a discussion with Rodgers, Brees, and Brady.

Drew Brees

Tom Brady

Brady is a year and a half older than Brees. Not nearly enough to move Brees past Brady for the age reason. I’m inclined to go with Brady right away because his numbers are better in nearly every way, he’s a three-time Super Bowl winner, etc. But as the years go on, I grow to dislike something about Brady more and more. He evokes a certain Alex Rodriguez-esque quality. Like he takes himself a little too seriously. Brees, on the other hand, is an active member of the community, not strewn across the covers of supermarket rags, who is so easy to root for. With Brady, I think he’s getting bored with football. I don’t see Brees doing that. And so, somewhat hesitantly, I take Brees.

Aaron Rodgers

Drew Brees

Aaron Rodgers, not yet 28, is the most accurate QB in football. He possesses the things that make each of the NFL’s best, great. He’s smart like Manning, ruthless like old Tom Brady, mobile enough to make plays happen from nothing, and he’s only getting better. Unlike his predecessor in Green Bay, he seems to only help the Packers win, never facilitating a loss with a bad decision. There’s no quarterback, or player, I’d rather have on my team in the NFL today than Aaron Rodgers. And to rub salt, here are some of the players drafted before Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft:

1.) Alex Smith QB/49ers-Think they’d like a do-over?

6.) Pacman Jones KR/Titans-The consummate professional.

7.) Troy Williamson WR/Vikings- Yes, him.

10.) Mike Williams WR/Lions- It only took a few years for him to reach his ceiling (middling WR for terrible Seattle Seahawks)

14.) Thomas Davis LB/Panthers- You’re forgiven for not knowing who he is.

And then this list, beginning at #16, up to Rodgers at 24:

Travis Johnson

David Pollack-Hey, he has a TV show now…

Erasmus James-Minnesota would like to Erasmus this pick…..

Alex Barron

Marcus Spears-A serviceable player. Certainly the best of this crop.

Matt Jones- He of, QB to WR to unemployed fame. The only targets he’s getting now are from police.

Mark Clayton

Fabian Washington

That’s at least 13 GMs who should be out of work today for passing on Aaron Rodgers.