Customer Reviews

Quarterback Abstract: The Complete Guide to NFL Quarterbacks

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, a quick caveat - you're not likely to agree with many of the ratings in this book. But that's okay, because you're still going to find an enjoyable, informative book that will not only get you thinking about just how good some QBs were, but is also likely to contain new information for even the seasoned football fan. This is not yet another book dedicated to the Montanas and Starrs, but one that also discusses the Bob Lees and Jeff Rutledges of the football world.

Covering well over 300 quarterbacks, the author includes yearly statistics for each along with a writeup, the length of which depends for the most part on how well-known and higly-ranked they are on a 10-point scale. There's little ground to be broken on the Mannings and Bradys, but what I really appreciated is the attention given to guys like Brian Sipe and Jim Everett, good QBs who haven't been given much credit for solid careers. And for those who would like to know more about the pre-Super Bowl days, there are plenty of guys included who will probably be completely new even to those who have a pretty good grasp of the league's history.

I would recommend this for any fan of the game. There will be all sorts of approaches to reading it - start to finish, looking for specific players so you can agree or disagree with his rating, or just flipping through to read about QBs with whom you're unfamiliar. No matter the approach, though, this is one that I believe any fan will thoroughly enjoy.

As much as football fans say "it's a team game," there's something special about the quarterback. In Quarterback Abstract John Maxymuk ranks more than 360 NFL QBs from 0.5 (lowest) to 10. He also provides each QB's career statistics and a short biography.

Only a few QBs rate a 10 (Len Dawson, John Elway, Joe Montana, and a few others). The 10's stories have been told so often that they are only mildly interesting. The untold stories of the failures are more entertaining. Some of the "bottom of the barrel" QBs who rate a 0.5 include David Klingler, Akili Smith, and - of course - Ryan Leaf.

The best part of QB Abstract - to me - were the biographies of long-forgotten QBs such as Bobby Douglass, Tony Adams, and Bob Gagliano. One memorable story is Bob Davis' 1970 tryout with the Jets. The Jets could not use their home field at Shea Stadium for the tryout because the NY Mets had a game that day. Instead, Davis tried out at Riker's Island Prison in front of 7000 inmates and did well enough to get a contract. A sadder story involves Detroit QB Jeff Komlo. Komlo was profiled on America's Most Wanted for fleeing the U.S. to avoid going to prison for drunk driving. While on the run, Komlo died in a car crash in Greece.

The book is not perfect. Someone should have edited the book's many mistakes. Also, the book does not profile QBs who played for just a year or two.

Quarterback Abstract is fun. NFL fans will enjoy reading it and debating Maxymuk's rankings.

This book covers every QB that has ever played up until this year (2009). I think this is a resource needed for all hardcore NFL fans. Highly recommended.