TheOak

The "its a different game now" comments have been eating at me so I thought I would do some research and found some fantastic articles.

NFL Analysis: Saints Drew Brees vs. Dolphins Dan Marino


I found this one while searching and thought it was interesting... Especially when people compare Brees, Brady, Rodgers, and Manning.
NFL Career Passing Yards per Game Leaders - Pro-Football-Reference.com


And while yes the rules have changed... QB's have gotten better (over all), and the NFL has become a passing league. I know there will be some debate to the QB's have become better comment but look at it in this way.
Athletes in the NFL have become stronger, bigger, faster... correct? So one could surmise that both QB's and receivers have become better at playing their position. So for the pundits that claim there should be an asterisk by Brees record that an ignorant stretch of the "whole truth". The whole truth is that Marino would be a top 3 QB in today's league because he was just that damn good, and the rule changes are only part of today's game. QB's arms are stronger, receivers are faster and stronger.

I have some more analysis I want to do but will wait until the season is complete so i can compare 16 games to 16 games...

If you want to start putting an asterisk by records then lets put some by Favre... * Modern medicine has extended his career enabling him to play 20 years.

How about another asterisk? * Brees did something that the modern day "greatest QB's to ever live" could not do... Neither Brady nor Manning have done this.