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AlbaNY_Ram
With your question are you now saying that 'Tier 1' and 'elite' are the same thing?
I don't really have the interest to do a ton of research on this but I'll toss a few names out there for your consideration.
John Hadl.
HOFer Y.A.Tittle
HOFer Sonny Jurgensen
Norm Snead
Archie Manning.
I'd say elite and tier 1 are synonymous. And I did say that there would be a few exceptions where guys were so good among their peers that post season success wasn't a disqualifier. That you had to go back 50 years just to come up with a few possible exceptions illustrates the point. I mean, your list only has 1 guy that played in his prime after the AFL/NFL merger. The number of teams, the rules, the playoff format...so much was so different that I don't think it's a comparable conversation.
As far as the one guy on your list that even resembles modern football, no, I wouldn't say Archie was elite. Well respected and talented but it takes a variety of facets to make one elite. But I reserve the term elite for a select few. I think that word gets thrown around too cavalierly.
Hadl, no. He dropped off way too much when he got to the playoffs.
Tittle, yes. He was a pioneer and doing things so far ahead of his peers that his regular season success carries his status.
Jurgensen, no. He was really good but basically never made it to the playoffs.
Snead, no. Shouldn't "elite" at least stand clearly above his peers?
Manning, no. Again, good player but that alone just isn't enough to be elite.
As far as the HOF being a qualifier for elite, I don't agree. The HOF is a popularity contest that doesn't always elect elite players. Look at some of the recent Cowboys inductees. Some of the Steelers.
