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Every time someone in the sports media decides that they are going to rank, well, anything, they are taking their social media life into their own hands.
With millions of sports fans out there who pretty much all think they are smarter than the coaches, general managers, and, of course, the media, it is really an act of futility to even try.
And yet, year after year, the media keeps doing it.
The reasons why are simple enough. Sports often spurs debate and as former WCW president Eric Bischoff once said, “Controversy creates cash.”
So, not satisfied with the list of the 60 best college football quarterbacks of the 2000s that he created and published a couple of years back, ESPN writer Bill Connelly did it again, only this time he included 75 QBs.
“Remember a couple of years ago, when I ranked the 60 best CFB QBs of the 2000s, and everyone loved it and no one disagreed with a single ranking? It’s now a top 75!” Connelly tweeted. “Added a few recent players and some dudes I wanted in the list all along.”
Some names and rankings of note (players must have finished their college careers to be listed).
Quarterbacks who put up gaudy numbers, but did not pan out in the NFL…
73. Timmy Chang, Hawaii
69. David Greene, Georgia
66. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
58. Todd Reesing, Kansas
54. Keenan Reynolds, Navy
53. Brad Banks, Iowa
51. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
49. Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois
45. Eric Crouch, Nebraska
43. Aaron Murray, Georgia
42. Colt Brennan, Hawaii
41. Collin Klein, Kansas State
34. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
32. Jason White, Oklahoma
27. Pat White, West Virginia
14. Kellen Moore, Boise State
13. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Quarterbacks who made the list and went on to significant NFL careers…
75. Matt Ryan, Boston College
74. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
72. Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
59. Aaron Rodgers, Cal
57. Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
47. Eli Manning, Ole Miss
40. Alex Smith, Utah
30. Rex Grossman, Florida
28. Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio)
26. Russell Wilson, NC State/Wisconsin
25. Jalen Hurts, Alabama/Oklahoma
23. Carson Palmer, USC
22. Philip Rivers, NC State
18. Andrew Luck, Stanford
11. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
8. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
5. Joe Burrow, Ohio State/LSU
2. Cam Newton, Auburn
Others who fell somewhere in between include 71. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State; 70. Geno Smith, West Virginia; 64. Andy Dalton, TCU; 55. Joey Harrington, Oregon; 44. Byron Leftwich, Marshall; 17. Matt Leinart, USC; 16. Jameis Winston, Florida State; 15. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma; 10. Robert Griffin III, Baylor; 9. Marcus Mariota, Oregon; 7. Kyler Murray, Texas A&M/Oklahoma; 6. Deshaun Watson, Clemson; 4. Tim Tebow, Florida; 3. Vince Young, Texas; and 1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma.
Naturally, football fans had thoughts.
Me: This is a fun list, and rankings inevitably involve splitting hairs and making really tough calls. Quibbling with them is silly! Good job, Bill!
Also me: Look, I love Andy Dalton and Max Duggan, but why is Trevone Boykin not on the list???
— Matt Jennings (@MattAJennings) May 22, 2023
“How can you reasonably justify not having either Brandon Doughty or Bailey Zappe on this list?” another fan wondered. “Zappe literally broke all the passing records.”
Collin Klein over Keenan Reynolds, Brad Smith, and Eric Crouch feels wrong.
— Not Worth Following (@Inane_Musings) May 22, 2023
“No Chris Leak?” another tweeted.
No Quinton Flowers? Ain't no way
— Sean Havens (@Alumni_USF) May 22, 2023
“This is quite possibly the most flawed list of any kind that has ever been created,” another fan wrote. “Nice job, Bill.”
Tyrod Taylor was pretty damn good.
— Clemmah ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 (@clemmah21) May 22, 2023
Also, Drew Brees played one year in the 2000s and he didn’t make the list. That’s why his picture is at the top of this article. Don’t @ me.
Check out the entire list over at ESPN.com.