Steve Young holds a football as he talks with other broadcasters before the NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans on Monday, Oct. 20, 2014 in Pittsburgh.Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young was a guest Monday on "Press Row" on ESPN's 105.1 The Zone to talk Brady-Manning and all things football:
Q: It's the biggest year-round debate we have on our show. If you had to pick one, would you take Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?
A: "There are five human beings in the world who can orchestrate and do things that dictate terms in the NFL, and these guys are two of the best. I've got to be honest with you. If I was a coach and you told me I had to pick one of these guys to go out and play a game, I would turn my back and let whoever won a race or won 'rock, paper, scissors' be the guy, because I would not care. They are two of the greatest of all time, and I've been amazed at what they've accomplished.
"Look what Tom Brady has done. Five weeks ago, everybody thought they were dead. They looked horrible in Kansas City, and he just single-handedly does more with less. I don't even need to talk about Peyton, and if you're making me choose, I would turn around and whoever taps me on the back first gets to play."
Q: Take Brady, Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees out of the equation, and who are the next two best quarterbacks right now in the NFL?
A: "Philip Rivers is the most capable week to week even though we saw what can happen this weekend, but I would take Andrew Luck. He is still young and still learning, but the things he can do in the pocket and out of the pocket with his feet I liken to Aaron Rodgers."
Q: Put a GM hat on. Would you use a first-round draft pick on Jameis Winston?
A: "It's like Johnny Football again, because there are so many filters you have to go through from the time you leave college to actually becoming a franchise quarterback. The coaches, GMs and fans just don't know right now, and even the player himself doesn't know whether he can do it or not do it. There are so many filters, and I think you have to sort of read the tea leaves. Jameis is a guy who doesn't have everything buttoned up.
"He's like having a Ferrari in the driveway and you walk out and see that it's leaking oil. He definitely has some maturing and growing to do, and those are some important things that have to happen, but you can't deny his late-game heroics on the field. If I was drafting late in the first round, I would be in, but if I had the No. 1 pick, I would need to see some more games and a couple of months before making that decision."
Q: Turning to our rapid fire, could Auburn's Gus Malzahn make it as an NFL coach?
A: "There are a lot of filters to go through, just like I mentioned with the quarterbacks, but I would say there is good hope."
Q: How long does it take (fellow ESPN analyst) Merril Hoge to tie his tie?
A: "It's a 'Triple Lindy' off a Windsor, and I think he probably does it four times a day."
Q: What kind of numbers would you have put up in a full-blown spread offense in college?
A: "They would've had to outlaw me."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.