Even though Tom Brady lost the Super Bowl, he is still the best modern-day quarterback and one of the all-time best quarterbacks to play the game of football.

Eli Manning has beaten Brady twice in the Super Bowl, but I believe Brady is the better quarterback at this point. In no way am I denigrating Manning’s unbelieveable heroics and the Giants Super Bowl, at the moment I still believe Brady is better.

There is more than enough evidence to prove Brady’s worth as the best QB.

Here is a short list of reasons to back up the pro bowler. First, Brady has spent 10 seasons as a starter for the New England Patriots. In all of those seasons, they have had a winning record. To get a little more detailed, they have made it to the playoffs nine out of the 10 seasons.

What is even more impressive is that Brady took the Patriots to the Super Bowl half of the time in those ten seasons. That is right; Brady goes to the Super Bowl 50 percent of the time. The trips being XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLII and XLVI.

He has also been to seven Pro Bowls, while deciding not to go in 2006. Another interesting fact is that Brady went down in 2008 with an injury in the season opener. Brady probably would have made the playoffs and would have been a favorite to make it to the Super Bowl after coming off a season the Patriots had an undefeated regular season.

Furthermore, does Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers or Peyton Manning hold the record for most touchdown passes in a season?

No, Brady does with 50 touchdowns.

Brady was also part of the team that had the longest consecutive win streak in NFL history with 21 straight wins spanning from 2003- 2004. Besides this, he led the Patriots to the first undefeated regular season since the 16-game schedule started. Brady joins John Elway as one of the two quarterbacks to go to a remarkable five Super Bowls. In 2007, he was named the AP Male Athlete of the Year and league MVP, while in 2010, he was the first player to be unanimously chosen as MVP of the league. This 2007 AP award was astonishing since Montana was the last football winner in 1990.

Brady has also been tough at a young age. In 2001, Brady’s first playoff game was only his 15th start, and he became the youngest quarterback to win the Super Bowl.

What is fascinating about the dynasty years was the fact that he really did not have big name wide receivers, or a strong rushing attack to support him. In 2007, he had a dominant team, while this year he did it with a two tight end set, and one stud wide receiver, Wes Welker, who does not even fit the prototypical model of a wide receiver due to his size.

Throughout his career Brady continues to amaze. With Brady’s fall in the Super Bowl, however, comes Manning’s emergence. Manning reminds me of Brady before he was just becoming a mega superstar. Both won a Super Bowl title and still did not garner the ultimate respect they deserved for their hard work. Then, after another win, the respect they deserved was fully given.

With his victory, Manning has positioned himself to go toe to toe with any legendary quarterback that has played the game. The Giant already has two Super Bowl MVP titles, holds the record for most road playoff wins with five and most 4th quarter touchdown passes in a season with 15.

The Brady-Manning Super Bowl duels are actually history in the making. These are the legendary matchups people will talk about for decades.

Football fans all across the league should really appreciate how fortunate they are to be witnessing history. I know I certainly am.

To contact The Ionian’s Christopher Sponn, e-mail him at [email protected]