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Brady Named Fifth-Best QB In History By CBSSports.com

BOSTON (CBS) -- There was a time not long ago when the debate surrounding Tom Brady was whether he was the best active quarterback in the NFL. Now, though, Brady has moved on to much grander discussions.

Brady was named the fifth-best quarterback of all time by CBSSports.com this week, behind only Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham, Joe Montana and John Elway (in that order).

"Brady could be -- should be -- an MVP finalist every year because he carries the New England Patriots, a club that hasn't ever surrounded him with all-star casts," Clark Judge wrote. "I mean, tell me how many future Hall of Famers you see there now? Uh-huh, which is pretty much standard operating procedure. The team that last year had the 31st-ranked defense and 31st-ranked pass defense still made it to another Super Bowl, and we all know the reason. You're looking at him."

Brady is fresh off a career-high 5,235 yards last season, when he also threw 39 touchdowns, which was his second-most in a single season. Of course, he and the Patriots came up short in the Super Bowl, but the overall success of the Patriots since Brady became the team's starter is part of what makes Brady so great.

"Football is a team game, but I don't know how many individuals determine the success of their franchises as significantly as Brady does," Judge wrote. "When he stepped into the lineup in 2001, the Patriots were 1-2. And they were 5-11 the year before. Since that time, they're 124-35 with Brady and won the AFC East all but once in the last nine years -- or the one season Brady bowed out after the season opener."

The only other active quarterback listed in the top 10 was Peyton Manning at No. 9.

"This is one thing I don't like: 9-10. That's [Manning's] playoff record, and it includes a 1-1 performance in Super Bowls," Judge wrote. "Sorry, but you're not a Top-Five quarterback unless you step it up in big games, and Manning has a checkered record in that department."

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