The Lead

When it comes to naming the greatest athletes, game respects game.

LeBron James, the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, recently named his Mount Rushmore of NFL quarterbacks, and his list has sparked debate amongst several fans and analysts.

James listed Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Montana, before noting that the final spot was a toss-up between former Broncos quarterbacks John Elway and Peyton Manning.

Hall of Famer and former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, who won two Super Bowls with Elway, opened up the debate on First Take on Wednesday.

While Sharpe said there is "no doubt" about the first three, the final spot on the list is a bit more controversial.

"It gets a little tricky when it gets to that fourth spot," Sharpe said. "You got Peyton Manning, five MVPs, two Super Bowls. You got John, who I played with for a decade, and he wins two [Super Bowls] [and] goes to five [Super Bowls]."

Elway and Manning both showed why they are deserving of the honor during their decorated Hall of Fame careers.

Named the Super Bowl XXXIII MVP, Elway is the only player in NFL history to pass for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 200 yards in the same season seven consecutive times. Selected to play in nine Pro Bowls, Elway was named league MVP in 1987 and the AFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1993.

For Sharpe, who got to witness this success first-hand, Elway's resume is deserving of the honor.

"I'm going Elway," Sharpe said. "I played with the guy, the guy helped get me into the Hall of Fame. … The way he talked to me, the way he coached me, the way he was with me in the locker room and on the field — 7 gets it for me."

Stephen A. Smith, on the other hand, believes there can't be a Mount Rushmore of quarterbacks without Manning.

"You cannot leave Peyton Manning off that list," Smith said. "You just can't do it."

A 14-time Pro Bowler, Manning was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player five times and held multiple major NFL records at the time of his retirement.

No matter who takes the final spot on the list, it's safe to say that both Elway and Manning left lasting marks on the game — and on Denver.