So it’s been a few weeks since Peyton Manning called it a career. It was a sad day all-around. Your boy didn’t cry… but there were moments that sure did get emotional (practically lost it when Peyton said he was going to miss his handshakes with Tommy Brady). He was the class of the league. He redefined the position, paved the way for everyone elsE, and all that other stuff you heard on SportsCenter for about a week. You’ll be missed, Peyton.

Any who, it’s time to look ahead because it’s never too early to talk about football season. I don’t like the fact he’s gone but since he is, it is time to update the list of Top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL post-Peyton Manning Era.

10. Eli Manning, New York Giants

I seemed to have the most trouble right around this #10 spot. This could have been anyone of eight possible guys. Names like Rivers, Cousins, Ryan, Smith, Cutler, Carr, and Romo all have legitimate cases to cracking the Top 10. They all have solid numbers and for the most part they win. However, none of them do much winning in the playoffs. Eli Manning is another story. Sure, he’ll throw a bunch of picks and cost the Giants a win here and there but the facts are clear. He’s a winner. The Giants always have a chance with Eli behind center. He may hit me with a #ManningFace for being so low on this list but hey, I can't give him too much love... (2007, 2011. Super Bowls XLII and XLVI)

9. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Flacco was injured most of the 2015 season and the Ravens were never able to recover. They withered away in the cellar of the AFC North (and by cellar I mean a solid third place cause remember the Browns are in that division too). Flacco made headlines a few years back when placed himself in the “elite” group of starting NFL quarterbacks and played to prove he belonged in the conversation. He has a 10-5 record in the playoffs with Super Bowl title to his name. Now, I don’t believe he’s performed consistently enough in the regular season to get to the elite level just yet, however, he’s definitely a Top 10 QB.

8. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Much like Flacco, Luck battled a lot of injury problems during the 2015 season. He tried his hardest to make it back on the field but his body just wouldn’t let him. The Colts sputtered as a result. Luck's physical gifts are clear to see. He has everything you look for in an NFL quarterback. He’s 6’4 and runs a 4.6 forty with a bazooka attached to his right shoulder. If he can stay healthy, he’s got a great chance to not only move up on this list but possibly lead the league in a ton of major offensive categories.

7. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Big Ben is a machine. He’s built like a tank and is a nightmare for opposing defenses. He’s one of the last true strong-armed gunslingers in the NFL. Nowadays, every team is looking for an extremely mobile guy who can move a team down the field with short passes and ball fakes: not in Pittsburgh. With Ben at the helm, the Steelers rifle the ball through the air and score at will on the big play. Ben is sure licking his chops with wide-outs like Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant (if he gets to play in 2016) streaking down the sidelines as a result. The Steelers look to be pretty competitive in 2016.

6. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Unlike Roethlisberger and Luck, Russell Wilson doesn’t fit the mold of a prototypical NFL signal-caller. He’s undersized at 5’11 and his arm is decent but not overwhelming. Be that as it may, Wilson excels on in his football IQ and natural athleticism. He’s made the playoffs in each of his first four seasons and started every game for the Seahawks in that span. Wilson was the final piece in putting together a Super Bowl caliber team in Seattle. Bringing home the Lombardi Trophy in only his second year as a pro, Wilson shocked all the doubters and proved his mind and quick feet are something to fear.

5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Undersized like Wilson, Drew Brees has been branded as the most accurate quarterback in the NFL for numerous seasons. Also a victim of the injury bug in 2015, Brees and the Saints struggled through a dubious season. At age 37, many believe Brees’s best years are behind him, however I believe he still has a bit more left in the tank. Now that Peyton is gone, Brees is now the current leader in passing yards in the NFL. He’s thrown for gaudy numbers in every season in New Orleans where he’s topped the 5,000-yard mark 5 times (no other player has ever topped that mark more than once). If he can stay healthy, look for Breesus to be back in the spotlight. Plus he's got amazing hands.

4. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

Carson has found the fountain of youth in Arizona. While he was in Cincinnati, Palmer threw together some decent seasons with Chad Johnson catching his deep balls but knee injuries looked to derail his promising career. Flash forward a few years and Carson is leading the Arizona Cardinals into the NFC Championship in a season, where if not for Cam Newton, he could have won NFL MVP. The Cardinals have always been a team that no one quite pays enough attention to, but after an impressive 2015 the nation will be hard-pressed to ignore the birds in the desert.

3. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

There was no question who the best player in the NFL was in 2015. Cam Newton was dabbing and dancing all over your TV screens and the media could not get enough of him. Physically, he is everything you want in an athlete; Great size, strong build, and fast too. However, Cam was blessed with these attributes when he was drafted into the league. 2015 was crucial for "SuperCam" because of the strides he took in the mental aspects of his game. Newton didn’t rattle as easily in the pocket. He made pin-point throws leading the Panthers to a birth in the Super Bowl. Cam's 2016 could be even more dangerous. After an off-season of stewing in the agonizing jaws of defeat and dealing with the trials of poor media attention, there will be a brand new fire to motivate under #1.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Since he took over for Brett Favre in 2008, Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers has become one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s a pure pocket-passer with the just enough of a running threat to have defenses worried. The "Discount-Double Check" inventor also has football IQ that is off the charts. Rodgers was the driving force behind arguably the top two moments of last NFL season (when he completed two last second Hail Mary passes one to win a regular season game and another to send a playoff game to overtime). He also led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 2010 (he nabbed up Super Bowl MVP honors in that game). Rodgers has dominated NFL defenses for quite some time. Don’t expect to see that changing anytime soon.

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

(As if y'all really thought I’d go with anyone else)

He’s the clear choice. Not only is Brady the best quarterback in the NFL today, he’s the greatest quarterback of all-time (and that’s not just my personal biased opinion. Multiple lists, news sources, and analysts a thousand times more credible than me believe so. Heck, if you google: greatest quarterbacks of all time, he's the first picture you see). Brady’s body of work is second to none. "Touchdown Tommy's" 6 Super Bowl appearances is tied for the most all-time. He holds the NFL record with 22 career playoff wins (which is more than 22 NFL Franchises and more than the Texans, Bengals, Falcons, and Jaguars combined). His 4 Super Bowl titles and 3 Super Bowl MVP awards are tied for the most by any quarterback in NFL history. His stats are comparable to anybody who has ever played the game. He’s a proven winner through and through. He’s the G.O.A.T. and he always will be.

So take my list for what it’s worth to you. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. In a year from now, the list could look 100% different (extremely doubtful) and that’s the one of the reasons I love the game so much. It’s ever changing and always evolving into something more exciting and thrilling. I can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store.

And just cause, here's my favorite Peyton Gif...