Top Five Least Clutch Quarterbacks

SI.com recently posted a photo gallery of the top ten most clutch quarterbacks of all time. Predictably, Joe Montana was number one, while my boy Tom Brady came in fourth. So, I've decided to turn the tables and throw down my top five least clutch quarterbacks -- perhaps not of all time, but at least since I've been watching football.

1. Peyton Manning
He was a number-one draft pick hailed as the second coming of Johnny Unitas, but so far, Manning has failed to produce the NFL championships that Unitas was able to bring to Baltimore. While Manning is considered to be in the prime of his career right now, let us recount Manning's disappointments over the past three years.

2003: Manning led his team to an impressive 12-4 record, winning the AFC South. But against the Patriots in the playoffs, Manning threw four interceptions. The Colts' leading receiver that day was Patriots cornerback Ty Law.

2004: Another season, another 12-4 record, another playoff loss to the Patriots. This time around, Manning, who had broken Dan Marino's single-season touchdown pass record, and the Colts' offensive juggernaut managed to put up a measely three points in a 20-3 defeat.

2005: Two games away from the NFL's first-ever undefeated 16-game season, the Colts laid an egg against the San Diego Chargers, a team that didn't even end up making the playoffs. Then, as the #1 seed, the Colts hosted the #6 Pittsburgh Steelers. It took a dubious instant replay call to even keep the Colts in the game during the fourth quarter. Then, when Manning had the opportunity to drive less than fifty yards to put the Colts in field goal position, he ended up getting sacked on his own two-yard line on 4th and 16 with 1:20 to play.

2. Ryan Leaf
About the only thing clutch about Ryan Leaf was his groin when he was giving obscene gestures to the fans who were relentlessly booing him. Leaf was the number-two draft pick in 1998, behind Manning, but was a complete flop in the NFL. His recalcitrance and malfeasance when it came to dealing with teammates and authority figures led him to retire before the 2002 season with a 48.1 career completion percentage, a 14-36 completion percentage, and a quarterback rating of 50.0.

3. Rob Johnson
The ultimate deer in the headlights while in the pocket, Johnson holds the NFL career record for most sacks per passing attempt. And I love the dazed, "aw, shucks, did I just do that?" look on his face whenever he peels himself up from the turf. Somebody with the Buffalo Bills actually had the not-so-bright idea that Johnson was a good quarterback and the future of their organization. Um, not so much. And yet, somehow, he's entering his 12th year in the NFL. Keep in mind that Johnson has only played more than eight games in a season once. Johnson has won a grand total of zero playoff games in his career. Whether it's injuries or ineffectiveness that keep him on the bench, Johnson has cultivated a relationship for not performing under pressure, or even much at all.

4. Peyton Manning
Four interceptions in one year's playoff game, three points scored in next year's playoff game. I'm giddy just thinking about it. And picturing Manning's sulky frown face while he figures out who he can blame after he just blew the game sends me over the edge.

5. Peyton Manning
Okay, now I'm just rubbing salt in the wounds. But everybody worships Manning as the best quarterback of our generation and he doesn't have a Super Bowl ring to show for it. I'll take Tom Brady any day of the week, who not only has ice running through his veins but is the least arrogant, most down-to-earth pro athlete you may ever meet (with the possible exception of Tedy Bruschi). Peyton Manning sucks.