Philip Rivers is skeptical about calling any one man the greatest of all time. The Los Angles Chargers quarterback admitted he was particularly skeptical of Tom Brady’s coronation by the media following Super Bowl XLIX. That’s when Brady got his fourth Super Bowl victory, tying Joe Montana’s record. In the win, the New England Patriots quarterback was 37 of 50 for 328 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Rivers couched his opinion by admitting his Chargers have not gotten a win against Brady. Rivers also wouldn’t say that he is better than Brady. But Rivers didn’t like how and why the public court of opinion decided Brady was the GOAT. Rivers explained during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday.
“To your point about the Super Bowl, I remember when the Patriots beat the Seahawks (in Super Bowl XLIX), when they had that interception on the goal line and that gave them their [fourth] Super Bowl championship,” Rivers said. “And everyone said, ‘He’s now the greatest of all time.’ And I thought to myself, I already thought he was already one of. I mean, how do you ever decide that? It’s like the old Michael Jordan (debate), right? We could talk about that forever, too. But I already thought [Brady] was already one of the greatest. But because they intercepted the pass, he’s now the greatest of all time? What if the Seahawks were to ran it? Brady would have just played the exact same game. He didn’t do anything different. It is funny how that works. … That’s why I think Marino is right there in the mix, too. All these guys — you can’t just go off that (Super Bowls).”
Brady won his sixth Super Bowl last season, but wasn’t brilliant in the game, with receiver Julian Edelman getting the MVP. Brady finished throwing 21 of 35 for 262 yards and an interception. He had a few brilliant throws, but the Rams and Patriots defenses were extremely impressive in the New England’s 13-3 win.
Brady recently passed Marino in the all-time passing yards record book with the Patriots quarterback at 70,514 and Marino at 61,361. Without a doubt, Marino, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Peyton Manning — and perhaps others — are in the discussion as being the greatest quarterback of all time. But it depends upon how one measures greatness, and Rivers seems to think that it’s more complicated than tabulating Super Bowl wins.
