Flutie and it's not even close. could throw as well as anybody, scramble better than anybody in the history of the game and still make a accurate throw if need be, won 3 championships. No other QB could do it all like Flutie. Reggie slack are you kidding ? not top 50 !
It is beyond reason that none of the authors of the above posts gave Calvillo as a choice for the number one position.
Except that Moon won 5 Grey Cups in a row, but Flutie is without a doubt either number one or number two all time.
Lancaster should be nowhere near anybody’s list given the number of interceptions he threw (396 - the all-time record. That’s more than a hundred more than the second place guy, Danny McManus).
I am still amazed with myself that I didn`t even mention AC, I think I just assumed he was mentioned by others and for sure Sonny Wade etc.
I was born in 62, never saw a lot of the older guys play at all. I watched Lancaster and Jackson , so beyond that what I know is from books in regards to the older guys/ I have a lot of books, to be honest not really familiar with Sony Wade very much at all
Heck I am 52, so you guys must be older, I thought I was old, hair starting to fall out 
As for some of the others, just opinion, I dont think there is necessarily right or wrong answers, beauty in eye of the beholder
1987 Argo season was one of my faves even though we lost in GC, I am sure Argos would have won had Renfroe not blown out his knee
I could add others that many would perhaps roll eyes at…beauty in eye of the beholder
Danny Barrett for several years, BC and Calgary, played as well as anybody, we never knew he could throw the ball when he was with Argos…where did that come from, all of a sudden he is throwing 75 yard bombs
I liked Tom Burgess, JC Watts, John Congemi, Danny McManus , Mike Kerrigan, Ken Hobart etc etc etc
so, I either didn't see or don't remember Kapp, etcheverry, Jackson or Parker
so, mixing my opinion on greatness with my personal favorites and I come up with
Flutie
Moon
Dunigan
Clements
Holloway
JC Watts
Kerrigan
Huffnagal
Burgess
Theisman
Congemi? Seriously? The guy played almost a decade in the CFL and never once threw more than six TD passes in a season.
I said I liked him, cool guy, great name, had a few moments
1 game in 1987 he brought Argos back from a huge deficit , managed to get a couple 2 point conversions along the way
He fit the Bill Cosby mode for a QB…Cosby back in his funny days, long before his silly tv shows said this…
You can always tell who is the QB on any given team, just look for the best looking guy on the team
Just a small note
Probably the easiest column in the world to write is a list column.
In The Ultimate Super Bowl Book, the publisher insisted on a dozen or more top-10 lists. Somewhat reluctantly, I agreed to produce them, and can't recall doing another since the book was first published five years ago.
But with the debate about the best quarterback ever undoubtedly going on for two weeks, the decision was made to come up with a list, in order, of my top 25 quarterbacks of all time.
These are my personal choices. I didn't consult a soul. In fact, I've never really given it much thought until last week.
The first pro football game that I witnessed was Detroit against Green Bay at then City Stadium in October 1959.
My father, Denis, and I traveled by railroad (the Chicago & North Western) from our home in Escanaba, Mich., that Sunday morning. We sat in the north end zone, which probably had no more than 25 to 30 rows at the time. I was 7.
The first NFL Championship Game that I can vividly recall watching was Green Bay at Philadelphia in 1960. My family and friends watched pro football, both the NFL and AFL, every Sunday from then on.
The Packers became my reporting assignment on a part-time basis beginning in 1980 and then on a full-time basis since 1984.
In preparing the list, it was decided that only quarterbacks with 10 years of playing experience would be considered. I also included only players that I can remember watching. Because I never saw the great Otto Graham (1946-'55), he couldn't be on the list.
Criteria? There really weren't any other than years of service. I did consider the physical attributes of older players and how they would project to the NFL of today.
Passer rating didn't play much of a role.
For one thing, it doesn't factor in winning, rushing and clutch play. For another, the onslaught of rules changes since 1978 have made it so much easier for receivers and pass blockers to operate while at the same time protecting quarterbacks from the physical mayhem that had been visited upon them for decades.
More than anything, this list was based mostly on unscientific, gut feel.
So there's my frame of reference. Now here's my list.
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Joe Montana (1979-'94): Magnificent from the pocket. Exceptional on the move. Great passer and a great runner. So poised and so accurate. It was poetry in motion.
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Johnny Unitas (1956-'73): Helped drag the passing game into the modern era with the help of Raymond Berry. All the successful quarterbacks of that era had to be the toughest player on the field given the savagery inflicted upon them well after the ball was out. The ultimate leader of men.
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Tom Brady (2000-'13, active): His strength of character has shone through time after time. Perfectionist in every way, shape and form. Never a threat to run but possesses brilliant feel for stepping into available throwing lanes. High overhand delivery and a perfect spiral.
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Dan Marino (1983-'99): Perhaps the quickest release ever. Pure pocket passer with cannon for an arm. Highly emotional leader. Tremendous in the clutch.
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Peyton Manning (1998-'13, active): Near the top of most-prepared passers ever. Used his domineering personality to make football a legitimate sport in basketball-mad Indiana. Early master of the no-huddle offense. Prototypical height, extremely limited athlete.
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Brett Favre (1991-2010): Nobody had more fun playing the game. Not many ever had an arm like his, either. Teammates loved playing with him. Defined the gunslinger quarterback.
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John Elway (1983-'98): Probably the best pure athlete on this or any list. Arm strength ranked right alongside Favre's. Rare running ability.
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Steve Young (1985-'99): Six NFL single-season passing titles. Gifted scrambler-runner with exceptional speed and courage. Over time, he became a disciplined West Coast pocket passer despite standing barely 6 feet.
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Dan Fouts (1973-'87): The backbone of Air Coryell. Almost like a boxer in that he'd stand there and take the most of brutal shots in order to deliver one downfield.
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Roger Staubach (1969-'79): Didn't start his career with the Cowboys until age 27 because of U.S. Navy commitment. Athletic, efficient and iron-willed.
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Fran Tarkenton (1961-'78): Might be the most exciting player ever. His crazy-quilt scrambles put people in the seats and helped sell the NFL game on TV. A little man with the guts of a burglar.
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Len Dawson (1957-'75): The consummate passer. Six AFL-NFL passing titles. Stood just 6-0 but could be devastating throwing from Hank Stram's moving pocket.
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Terry Bradshaw (1970-'83): Big arm and an even bigger personality. Overcame sluggish start to his career and became the all-time Super Bowl winner. Outstanding athlete.
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Ken Anderson (1971-'86): Technically superior. Threw with pinpoint accuracy. A complete quarterback.
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Ken Stabler (1970-'84): Fearless competitor with a whip for an arm. Big, left-handed pocket passer. Really good in the clutch.
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Sonny Jurgensen (1957-'74): Played his final season at age 40. Deadly deep-ball thrower but, really, could throw any pass. Never took himself too seriously.
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Kurt Warner (1998-2009): It all started with a tentative stint as a rookie free agent in the Packers' training camp of '94. Rags-to-riches story for the ages. When he got hot, it was over.
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Ben Roethlisberger (2004-'13, active): Has anyone ever been more difficult to sack in the pocket? Better throwing on the move than from the spot.
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Troy Aikman (1989-2000): Prototypical pocket passer with prototypical size. Effective scrambler early in career, too.
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Steve McNair (1995-2007): Benefited by sitting early in his career. Developed into a consistent thrower, but his career was defined by toughness and running.
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Donovan McNabb (1999-2011): Always seemed to run through the middle for first downs when Eagles needed them most. Developed into capable passer from mid-career on.
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Warren Moon (1984-2000): Played until 44. After failing to attract an NFL contract out of the University of Washington, he led Edmonton to five straight Grey Cup titles. Rangy athlete and talented thrower.
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Randall Cunningham (1985-2001): Rifle-armed passer, electrifying runner and serviceable punter. Dazzling, somewhat unpredictable big-play specialist.
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Bert Jones (1973-'82): Career ruined early by shoulder injuries. Unreal competitor and passer. Bill Belichick has called him the best "pure passer" he ever saw.
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Drew Brees (2001-'13, active): Far better athlete than given credit for. Terrific competitiveness and throwing accuracy. Unusually high delivery helped him flourish at just 6-0.
Among many considered, here in alphabetical order are the next 12: John Brodie (1957-'73); Roman Gabriel (1962-'77); Bob Griese (1967-'80); John Hadl (1962-'77); Jim Hart (1966-'84); Jim Kelly (1986-'96); Archie Manning (1971-'84); Earl Morrall (1956-'76); Joe Namath (1965-'77); Jim Plunkett (1971-'86); Bart Starr (1956-'71); Y.A. Tittle (1948-'64).
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brianjox: What was your post outlining good NFL QB's about? The subject here is about CFL QB's.
- Flutie
- Moon
- Parker
- Jackson
- Calvillo
Flutie
Dickenson
Ray
Lulay
Jackson
Cavillo
Moon
Etcheverry
Parker
Clements
Brock
Kapp
Dunigan
Moon? or the Eskimos…?
Moon didn’t play in all 5 games.
Moon didn’t win it single handedly… his team helped him.
Well that pretty much goes without saying, doesn’t it? That’s why I didn’t say that. 
Moon was still part of the team in 1978. He obviously helped win a championship. Wilky didn’t win it all by himself either. So, to get back to your niggling point: Moon ONLY won 4 Grey Cups in a row as the starting QB.
Excellent post, you read my mind
Three, actually. Wilkie started in 1978 and '79, Moon in 1980, '81 and '82. No QB (in the modern era, at least) has started and won more than three Grey Cup games.
No Kidding didn’t know this was about CFL,In Edmonton as a rookie, Moon did help winning a a grey cup. He’s rookie season was exceptional. Second year split with Wilky then took over for the next 3 years. SO review 5 for 5 in CFL Grey Cup wins. Past over by NFL only because he was black. " Blacks could not run offense" or some one said. They later change their minds on his PERFORMANCE. Many NFL teams wanted him back. Remember ALI as skinny kid. Went to NFL and elected to hall of Fame. So the question was
" who was the best QB in CFL. Not the longest severed, tallest ,best looking but the best.
Moon was the best for sure. Which other QB is in the Canadian and American hall of fame. There are only a very few.
This is about the BEST QB in CFL. Not sure you understand this.
Yeah, you’re right. I should have checked. I even remember the game had I simply thought about it. Nevertheless, Moon was there.
There will always be disagreements whe discussing the greatest of all time because you can't compare era's. The voting for the greatest CFL player of all-time had Flutie first and Jackie Parker second and it was reported that there was a clear divide amongst the ages of those voting. Those who were around to see Parker play picked him by a large margin while those who had not picked Flutie almost unanimously. What many don't realize is a lot of the greatest players in US college came to Canada in the early 50's because the CFL was paying more than the NFL and the Canadian dollar was stronger than its American counterpart at that time. These players include Parker, Ploen, Kapp and Heisman winner Billy Vessels. Many articles of the day tout Parker as not only the best Qb in the CFL but the best in all of football period. Add to this Parker played quarterback, halfback, end, defensive halfback, placekicker, punter, kick returner and coach, it is hard to imagine anybody not picking Parker in their top 2 never mind top 10.
That being said, it is a no win argument but anyone that does not include Flutie and Parker near the top or at the top of their list does not have a great understanding of history or understanding of CFLfootball.
For my money, having been old enough to see both Parker and Flutie play, there is no doubt in my mind that they are 1 and 2 and I would pick Parker.
And you are suggesting Flutie or anyone else did it by themself. It is a team sport, obviously you win as a team. Don’t forget that Flutie had a team as well, in fact three teams were virtually bankrupted spending everything they had to put together a team to back Flutie. Bottom line is nobody on anyones list did it on their own.
A couple of Top Ten CFL QB lists I found online.
[url]Ranking the top 10 CFL quarterbacks of all time
- Flutie
- Calvillo
- Moon
- Etcheverry
- Allen
- Jackson
- Ray - with a note that likely to move up the list by the end of his career.
- Lancaster
- Burris
- Dickenson
Hard to argue with this list, except maybe near the bottom. Odd that Parker isn't on the list, or even in the honourable mentions list. Perhaps the writer isn't old enough to remember? Or perhaps thinking that while he was a great all-around player, he wasn't that outstanding as a quarterback. (Full disclosure: I'm not old enough to remember him either, so I can't say either way.)
[url]http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Top10/2011/11/04/18925051.html[/url]
- Flutie
- Calvillo
- Allen
- Moon
- Lancaster
- Dunnigan
- McManus
- Jackson
- Ploen
- Brock
My first thought after reading this list is that the writer must be from Winnipeg. Bingo. Other than that, I'm a little surprised that Ray isn't on the list.