>Think about how ridiculousy different the rules are.
>
>Where receivers line up. Jamming receivers. Not being allowed
>to TOUCH QB's etc etc etc..
>
>It's a completely different sport. Can anyone honestly can say
>they think Tom Brady would have lasted 20 years in the NFL
>that Marino, Elway and Montana worked in?
>
>Nah.
>
>Brady got sacked once in the entire playoffs this season. And
>it was baby taps. And his team put up 13 points in the lamest
>super bowl ever.
>
>There's the low/no contact NFL that he played in, and then the
>Real football that used to be played.
>
>IMO, it can't be compared. Gotta separate it.
>
>Montana played 9 healthy seasons maybe, Brady & Manning &
>Brees etc.. 15+

No professional sport has been so altered to favor offense like the NFL, and no position has been so protected as the QB.

This does not diminish Brady's extended greatness over all these years, because he can only play the competition in front of him under the rules in existence during his time, but it's disingenuous to act like these are the same conditions. We're not talking about the players having better fitness and nutrition making them bigger faster stronger, these are the RULES being changed to allow them more opportunities and less resistance in their attempts to score.

I stopped saying MJ was the GOAT in bball just because he never had an opportunity to play against some of the all timers. I'd do the same in this regard. I would rate the best QB in each of 3 phases of the NFL: Unitas, Montana, Brady