The top 10 quarterbacks in CFL history

[Neely2005]

The top 10 quarterbacks in CFL history:

http://3downnation.com/2017/02/06/top-10-qbs-cfl-history/

[ArgoGabe22]

What, no Tom Clements?

[Neely2005]

What, no Tom Clements?

Honourable Mentions

Tom Clements, 1975-1987

It took 1975’s rookie of the year thirteen seasons to win the CFL’s MOP award, but when he did it was the cherry on top of a terrific career. Clements passed for 39,401 yards and 252 touchdowns while playing in 182 games and going two-for-two in Grey Cup appearances.

[AngeloV]

Honourable Mentions

Tom Clements, 1975-1987

It took 1975’s rookie of the year thirteen seasons to win the CFL’s MOP award, but when he did it was the cherry on top of a terrific career. Clements passed for 39,401 yards and 252 touchdowns while playing in 182 games and going two-for-two in Grey Cup appearances.

You left out 214 picks including 30 in his lifetime achievement award of an MOP season in '87. Willard Reaves or Brian Kelly should have won the MOP that year. Likely the only MOP award to a QB that threw 11 more picks than any other QB in the same season and a stunning playoff appearance in which his team scored 2 points.

[Shatto]

Having been lucky enough to have followed the CFL from the late 1950's (as a kid) till now, IMO, though there have been many outstanding QB's, two stand above all the rest---Flutie and Parker. Flutie's superb skills were made for the CFL and he just got better as he played. Jackie Parker was not only an outstanding CFL QB but many CFL and NFL people believed that he was the best in either league. Interesting that the 3DownNation article did not even include Parker in the Honourable Mentions---make me wonder how knowledgeable the author of that article really is.

[DanoT]

Yeah, no Jackie Parker kinda destroys the writer's credibility.

I wouldn't put Damon Allen in the top 10. His stats were mostly acquired due to his playing longevity. Throughout most of his career there was another QB who had a better season. OTOH, Allen was the best pure running QB especially early on in his career.

Shouldn't Joe Thiesman or Joe Kapp be on the list?

[OV Argo]

So very subjective of course - but this list is laughable, IMO. The likes of Wilkinson, Calvillo and Allen ahead of Russ Jackson ? - they aren't even in the same area code as far as QB talent. Whatever.

:ohno::fart:

[OV Argo]

You left out 214 picks including 30 in his lifetime achievement award of an MOP season in '87. Willard Reaves or Brian Kelly should have won the MOP that year. Likely the only MOP award to a QB that threw 11 more picks than any other QB in the same season and a stunning playoff appearance in which his team scored 2 points.


Let me guess - you're sore that Holloway didn't get mention there ? Maybe Drew Willy or Chet Lemon should have been on the list too ?

[OV Argo]

Yeah, no Jackie Parker kinda destroys the writer's credibility.

I wouldn't put Damon Allen in the top 10. His stats were mostly acquired due to his playing longevity. Throughout most of his career there was another QB who had a better season. OTOH, Allen was the best pure running QB especially early on in his career.

Shouldn't Joe Thiesman or Joe Kapp be on the list?

Theismann & Kapp didn't play in the CFL that long, and aren't up there with all-time greats in terms of accomplishment or stats; if you were to argue pure talent/QB skill-set, both could easily be above Tom Wilkinson though. Damon had the long career and some great skills, but was wayyy too inconsistent and prone to poor play / dumb decisions. And IMO - Tracy Ham was the all-time best running QB in ALL of football, but just not near good enough passing skills to be anywhere near a top 10.

[Gill The Thrill]

Let me guess - you're sore that Holloway didn't get mention there ? Maybe Drew Willy or Chet Lemon should have been on the list too ?

That Tigers outfielder Chet Lemon, haven't read that name in years...He probably would've been better than Cleo Lemon also, even if he hadn't thrown a football in his life.

To not have Russ Jackson in at least one of the top 2 or 3 spots makes this list suitable for the recycling bin imo.

[Argo57]

So very subjective of course - but this list is laughable, IMO. The likes of Wilkinson, Calvillo and Allen ahead of Russ Jackson ? - they aren't even in the same area code as far as QB talent. Whatever.

:ohno::fart:

Allen wouldn't be on my list, Kerwin Bell should be on the list for his "nut spike" alone.

[Neely2005]

You left out 214 picks including 30 in his lifetime achievement award of an MOP season in '87. Willard Reaves or Brian Kelly should have won the MOP that year. Likely the only MOP award to a QB that threw 11 more picks than any other QB in the same season and a stunning playoff appearance in which his team scored 2 points.

I didn't leave out anything, I copied that from the article.

[Will]

Let me guess - you're sore that Holloway didn't get mention there ? Maybe Drew Willy or Chet Lemon should have been on the list too ?

You realize that you are almost lumping Holloway in with Willy and Lemon?

[AngeloV]

Theismann & Kapp didn't play in the CFL that long, and aren't up there with all-time greats in terms of accomplishment or stats; if you were to argue pure talent/QB skill-set, both could easily be above Tom Wilkinson though. Damon had the long career and some great skills, but was wayyy too inconsistent and prone to poor play / dumb decisions. And IMO - Tracy Ham was the all-time best running QB in ALL of football, but just not near good enough passing skills to be anywhere near a top 10.

Not at all. Just once again stating that IMO, Clements though a good QB, was highly overrated. A turnover machine.

[AngeloV]

I didn't leave out anything, I copied that from the article.

Yeah sorry. I realized that when I read the BS article. Guy has no clue, and basically kills the credibility of the website.

[Will]

Shouldn't Ricky Ray have at least generated an honorable mention?

How or why is Damon Allen #2 on this list?

Tom Wilkinson should not have been ahead of some of the people he was ahead of either.

Angelo, I say relax about Clements, he didn't even make the top 10.

[paulwoods13]

The writer's methodology is highly questionable. It way overvalues Grey Cup wins, to the point where both Wilkinson and Moon are credited with winning five Grey Cups. The Eskimos did not win 10 GCs in the era that spanned those two guys, so both are getting credit for some wins that should more properly be attributed to the other guy. Ken Ploen gets credit for winning three out of six Grey Cups, yet Calvillo gets criticized for winning three out of eight.

IMO any list to be credible has to have Flutie, Moon and Jackson as the top three (not necessarily in that order although that's how I'd rank them) and should also have Sam Etcheverry in the top 10. As for the missing Jackie Parker, I never got to see him play but my sense from reading about him is that he was a multiple-purpose threat, possibly the best overall player in history but not the best QB.

Krol's inclusion is nice for Argo fans but seriously, fifth-best QB of all time? Again, wins are overvalued, and there are no other stats to draw on for Krol. (As some longtime posters will know, I strenuously object to the artifice of crediting QBs for wins, period. Football is the ultimate team sport. Not winning the Super Bowl, and getting to only one, hardly makes Dan Marino a lousy QB.) Also, it's a small point but to say Krol "was among the most versatile and valuable players in the CFL when he suited up" ignores the fact that there was no such thing as the CFL when Krol played. He played in the Big Four and only ever saw a team from Western Canada in the Grey Cup. Same goes for Etcheverry for most of his career, but his passing numbers are breathtaking for an era where the run was dominant.

[Shatto]

Yes, the writer's methodology leaves much to be desired. How does one adequately compare a highly successful QB who plays in the CFL for a relatively short period of time against a slightly less successful QB who has a long career in the league. Any such comparisons and rankings have to be, by their very nature, highly subjective.
One of the biggest challenges in attempting a comparison ranking, is the changing nature of the game over the decades the league has existed. Players today are bigger, stronger, faster and in far better shape when they go to camp. When Tobin Rote had one of his best games for the Argos, it was reported, that he had partied hard all night and had practically no sleep before the game. That sort of behaviour is highly unlikely to be accepted today. Another challenge to take into account, is the fact that in the 50's and 60's the CFL and NFL were much closer to par than today. Many of the CFL stars of those eras were paid more than they would have received in the NFL. Basically the quality of players coming to the CFL in those days was by comparison to today, much higher.
Regarding Parker, I did have the privilege of seeing him play. He could easily have been an all-star at DB or RB if he had played primarily at those positions. But that should not count against him when looking at him as a QB. He was simply the best QB in an era when the best American players were choosing to play in the CFL. I'll stand by my original opinion that Flutie and Parker were the top two QB's to ever have played in the CFL but recognize that this is a highly subjective view and others may have different but just as valid opinions on this subject.

[OV Argo]

Yes, the writer's methodology leaves much to be desired. How does one adequately compare a highly successful QB who plays in the CFL for a relatively short period of time against a slightly less successful QB who has a long career in the league. Any such comparisons and rankings have to be, by their very nature, highly subjective.
One of the biggest challenges in attempting a comparison ranking, is the changing nature of the game over the decades the league has existed. Players today are bigger, stronger, faster and in far better shape when they go to camp. When Tobin Rote had one of his best games for the Argos, it was reported, that he had partied hard all night and had practically no sleep before the game. That sort of behaviour is highly unlikely to be accepted today. Another challenge to take into account, is the fact that in the 50's and 60's the CFL and NFL were much closer to par than today. Many of the CFL stars of those eras were paid more than they would have received in the NFL. Basically the quality of players coming to the CFL in those days was by comparison to today, much higher.
Regarding Parker, I did have the privilege of seeing him play. He could easily have been an all-star at DB or RB if he had played primarily at those positions. But that should not count against him when looking at him as a QB. He was simply the best QB in an era when the best American players were choosing to play in the CFL. I'll stand by my original opinion that Flutie and Parker were the top two QB's to ever have played in the CFL but recognize that this is a highly subjective view and others may have different but just as valid opinions on this subject.


I got to see Parker play some too, though my memory is a bit vague or hazy there. You're saying he was a better QB talent than Russ Jackson who played in the same era? No way IMO, Parker just did not have the gun for an arm or accomplish as much in passing stats (for example never led a Division in season passing yards, whereas Jackson led the East 5 years in a row) and he didn't win 3 GCs as a QB)

Parker's versatility & talent - back in the day when it mattered more - might be able to get him plenty of votes as one of the best all-around players ever in the CFL. Joe Krol would be up there too.

[Argo57]

Not at all. Just once again stating that IMO, Clements though a good QB, was highly overrated. A turnover machine.

I would have taken Holloway over Clements no question!

[Will]

What presumably hurts Holloway is that he may not have spent enough time as a primary starter. He split time with Clements in Ottawa and then started a fair bit over his last couple of years there once Clements was traded. In Toronto, was primary starter in 1981 and 1982 he split time in 1983 and 1984 with Joe Barnes, spent 1985 injured and then lost his job to J.C Watts in 1986. That being said, I haven't really analyzed the existing list to see whether or not any of the other entries were in a platoon situation.

[OV Argo]

I would have taken Holloway over Clements no question!

The Ottawa Rough Riders certainly did not - when they had several seasons to make that decision with both on the roster; and oh yeah, they won a GC with Clements as the starter in 76; Clements also won a GC as starting QB for the Bummers years later (84) - he was MOP of both those GC wins. Clements also got signed in the NFL and made the Chiefs roster for a season.

[argolio]

I would have taken Holloway over Clements no question!Same here. Better arm and better mobility. Holloway wasn't as durable, however.

Clements had one of the weakest arms on a starting QB I've ever seen (a big reason why he absolutely loved throwing hitch screens), but no one can deny he had excellent football smarts and decision-making. Otherwise he wouldn't have lasted as long as he did.

[Will]

The Ottawa Rough Riders certainly did not - when they had several seasons to make that decision with both on the roster; and oh yeah, they won a GC with Clements as the starter in 76; Clements also won a GC as starting QB for the Bummers years later (84) - he was MOP of both those GC wins. Clements also got signed in the NFL and made the Chiefs roster for a season.

I don't understand--did the Rough Riders not get rid of Clements in 1978 in favor of Holloway?

[ArgoRavi]

I don't understand--did the Rough Riders not get rid of Clements in 1978 in favor of Holloway?

They certainly felt confident enough in Holloway's abilities to trade Clements to Saskatchewan prior to the 1979 season.