If you have watched SportsCenter for an entire segment anytime in the recent weeks, you would have seen that ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski has been doing a NFL quarterback ranking. While I may not be an ESPN analyst, I do respectfully disagree with Jaws’ list thus far so I have decided to do a quarterback ranking system of my own. Unlike his, mine will be done based on the “what have you done for me recently” criteria mixed in with past success since sports are about both the now and the past. Here are my quarterback rankings for 2013 with each player’s 2012 stats:

32. Matt Flynn, Oakland Raiders (79.9 Passer Rating, 0 TD, 0 INT, 68 Yds)

31. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars (77.4 Passer Rating, 9 TD, 6 INT, 1,662 Yds)

30. Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (74.0 Passer Rating, 10 TD, 11 INT, 2,176 Yds)

29. Kevin Kolb, Buffalo Bills (86.1 Passer Rating, 8 TD, 3 INT, 1,169 Yds)

28. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets (66.9 Passer Rating, 13 TD, 18 INT, 2,883 Yds)

27.Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns (72.6 Passing Rating, 14 TD, 17 INT, 3,385 Yds)

26. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (78.1 Passer Rating, 12 TD, 10 INT, 2,362 Yds)

25. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (76.1 Passer Rating, 12 TD, 13 INT, 3,294 Yds)

24. Sam Bradford, St Louis Rams (82.6 Passer Rating, 21 TD, 13 INT, 3,702 Yds)

23. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings (81.2 Passer Rating, 18 TDS, 12 INT, 2,935 Yds)

22. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (85.3 Passer Rating, 22 TD, 14 INT, 4,018 Yds)

21. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (81.6 Passer Rating, 27 TD, 17 INT, 4,065 Yds)

20. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (104.1, 13 TD, 5 INT, 1,737 Yds)

19. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (86.2, 19 TD, 12 INT, 3,869 Yds)

Aaron Rodgers is still the best quarterback in the NFL in 2013. By Mike Morbeck, via Wikimedia Commons

18. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (88.6 Passer Rating, 26 TD, 15 INT, 3,606 Yds)

17. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (81.3 Passer Rating, 19 TD, 14 INT, 3,033 Yds)

16. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (79.8 Passer Rating, 20 TD, 17 INT, 4,967 Yds)

15. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (90.5 Passer Rating, 28 TD, 19 INT, 4,903 Yds)

14. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (87.4 Passer Rating, 27 TD, 16 INT, 3,669 Yds)

13. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (98.3 Passer Rating, 10 TD, 3 INT, 1,814 Yds)

12. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (76.5 Passer Rating, 23 TD, 18 INT, 4,374 Yds)

11. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (102.4 Passer Rating, 20 TD, 5 INT, 3,200 Yds)

10. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (100.0 Passer Rating, 26 TDS, 10 INT, 3,118 Yds)

9. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (90.7 Passer Rating, 22 TD, 12 INT, 4,008 Yds)

8. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (97.0 Passer Rating, 26 TD, 8 INT, 3,265 Yds)

7. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (87.7 Passer Rating, 22 TD, 10 INT, 3,817 Yds)

6. Eli Manning, New York Giants (87.2 Passer Rating, 26 TD, 15 INT, 3,948 Yds)

5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (99.1 Passer Rating, 32 TD, 14 INT, 4,719 Yds)

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (96.3 Passer Rating, 43 TD, 19 INT, 5,177 Yds)

3. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (105.8 Passer Rating, 37 TD, 11 INT, 4,659 Yds)

2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (98.7 Passer Rating, 34 TD, 8 INT, 4,827 Yds)

And the winner is…….

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (108.0 Passer Rating, 39 TD, 8 INT, 4,295 Yds

Well there you have it, Jaworski hasn’t finished his rankings yet but I don’t have a doubt in my mind that his last 6 will be pretty much the same as mine with the exception of Eli Manning since he ranked Manning 8^th overall. I mainly disagreed with Jaworski’s middle part of the list but other than that, we are very similar in our quarterback rankings.

Look for Rodgers to have another big season in 2013.

However, a certain majority of Bronco fans let their wishes be heard midway through the 4th quarter in the Monday night rain versus the hated Oakland Raiders. Denver found themselves down 10-points, and after an incompletion by Orton on a first down, the audible chant of “we want Tebow” could be heard without question.

What ensued was either a display of Orton becoming motived by the chorus of displeasure, or simply a display of how insanely fickle Bronco fans have become.  Or both.

Orton proceeded to lead his team down the field on a late-game touchdown drive in the driving rain to bring his squad within 3 with 3 minutes remaining.  The Broncos ended up losing by that same 3 points due to their defense not being able to tackle when they knew the Raiders were trying to run out the clock.  The lack of defense is only part of what should be recognized here.

What should also be recognized is the fact that a veteran quarterback capable of leading his team to a late 4th quarter touchdown should not be getting “booo’ed” by his hometown faithful. I believe this had less to do with Orton’s short leash and more to do with the power of Tebow’s jersey-selling prowlace.

An example like Tebow breeds fanatics that don’t think clearly or rationally. And some of these fanatics are not just fanatics of the religion of the orange crush, but fanatics of Evangelical Christianity. They believe Tebow is a soldier of Jesus, and could lead a sermon as well as he could an NFL offense. They believe that these two things are one in the same. While this generalization doesn’t pertain to all Tebow supporters, it is none the less blatantly evident with a good number of them.

As far as on the field, Tebow’s leadership qualities are hardly what is in question. He has proven he is ideal for the role of a leader, especially at the high school and college level, where athletes can break the mold at the quarterback position. The quarterback in the amateur ranks is a hybrid of his professional counterpart. He gets by with less arm and more feet, as he fakes, jukes and deeks. He is this way because of the advantage he can gain due to the confusion and lack of discipline of the amateur defender. This is not the case in the pros, not by any stretch of the imagination. And to believe otherwise requires an ever-present lack of impartiality.

The position on the professional level demands a certain skill set that goes beyond ‘rah-rah’ Friday-night motivational techniques. Precision with the forward pass is the name of the game, and this is something Tebow has yet to develop. And until he does, Kyle Orton is the best option you have Bronco fans. He is a top 20 NFL quarterback that can consistently make the average play a quarterback at the NFL level needs to make for his team to be successful.

That average play is one Tebow cannot make on an even closely consistent basis. While he may amaze you once or twice a game with a Tom Rathman-like rumble, what his arm lacks is not a trade-off that is even remotely feasible if your team is in the business of winning over the course of a long and arduous NFL season.

With Orton, Denver has the potential to be a respectable 8-9 win team and have a shot at the playoffs. With Tebow, Denver would be a 4-5 win team that would be the equivalent of an up-tempo practice session for most they would face.

The moral? The first contest of 16 does not make or break your season. And when the quarterback isn’t even close to the worst of your early-season problems, a display of impatience with your quarterback is narrow-minded and reeks of weakness by the fan.

Kyle Orton may not be able to walk on water Bronco fans, or Jesus fans, or both – but don’t be so quick to already want to nail him to the cross.