Is Peyton Manning an upgrade?

Here's a question talent evaluators are asking throughout the NFL today: is Peyton Manning an upgrade?

The recently released superstar quarterback now has to find a new home, and Newsday's Bob Glauber listed eight locations that could consider the four-time MVP. To see if any of these teams would be making a prudent choice by going after Manning, let's compare the numbers.

First we'll take a look at Manning's base numbers in 2010 (the last season he played) and for his career. Then we'll show what each franchise's quarterback did last season and for his career. In the case of a franchise having multiple quarterbacks, we'll look at all of them as long as they started at least one game. (Note: all players' ages are as of the completion of the 2011 season)

- Peyton Manning, 35, 14 seasons

Manning was 10-6 with 293.8 yards per game, 33 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2010. He had a 91.9 quarterback rating. For his career Manning is 141-67 with 263.6 yards per game, 399 touchdowns and 198 interceptions. He has a 94.9 QB rating.

- Jets: Mark Sanchez, 25, three seasons

Sanchez went 8-8 with 217.1 yards per game, 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 2011. He had a 78.2 quarterback rating. For his career Sanchez is 27-20 with 195.9 yards per game, 55 touchdowns and 51 interceptions. He has a 73.2 QB rating.

- Redskins: Rex Grossman, 31, nine seasons; John Beck, 30, two seasons

Grossman got the lion's share of playing time in 2011, compiling a 5-8 record with 242.4 yards per game, 16 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He had a 72.4 quarterback rating. During a sometimes injury-riddled career, Grossman is 25-22 with 189.5 yards-per-game, 56 touchdowns and 60 interceptions. He has a 71.4 career QB rating.

Beck was 0-3 with 214.5 yards-per-game, two touchdowns and four interceptions in 2011. He had a 72.1 quarterback rating. For his career Beck is 9-7 with 214.5 yards-per-game, three touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has a 67.6 QB rating.

- Dolphins: Matt Moore, 27, three seasons; Chad Henne, 26, four seasons

Moore was 6-6 last season with 192.1 yards per game, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He had a 87.1 quarterback rating. For his career Moore is 13-12 with 146.8 yards per game, 32 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. He has a 80.1 QB rating.

Henne was 0-4 last season with 217 yards per game, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He had a 79.0 quarterback rating. For his career Henne is 13-18 with 197.6 yards per game, 31 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. He has a 75.7 quarterback rating.

- Cardinals: John Skelton, 23, two seasons; Kevin Kolb, 27, five seasons

Skelton was 5-2 with 239.1 yards per game, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2011. He had a 68.9 quarterback rating. For his career Skelton is 7-4 with 198.1 yards per game, 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He has a 66.9 QB rating.

Kolb was 3-6 with 217.2 yards per game, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2011. He had a 81.1 quarterback rating. For his career Kolb is 6-10 with 217.2 yards per game, 20 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

- 49ers: Alex Smith, 27, six seasons

Smith was 13-3 with 196.5 yards per game, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2011. He had a 90.7 quarterback rating. For his career Smith is 32-34 with 179.2 yards per gamee, 68 touchdowns and 58 interceptions. He has a 76.4 quarterback rating.

- Seahawks: Tavaris Jackson, 28, six seasons; Charlie Whitehurst, 29, three seasons

Jackson was 7-7 last season with 206.1 yards per game, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He had a 79.2 quarterback rating. For his career Jackson is 17-17 with 138.7 yards per game, 38 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. He has a 77.7 QB rating.

Whitehurst was 0-2 with 99.3 yards per game, one touchdown and one interception in 2011. He had a 62.9 quarterback rating. For his career Whitehurst is 1-3 with 73.2 yards per game, three touchdowns and four interceptions. He has a 64.6 QB rating.

- Chiefs: Matt Cassel, 29, seven seasons; Tyler Palko, 28, two seasons; Kyle Orton, 29, six seasons

Cassel was 4-5 last season with 190.3 yards per game, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He had a 76.6 quarterback rating. For his career Cassel is 28-26 with 169.6 yards per game, 76 touchdowns and 45 interceptions. He has a 82.5 QB rating.

Palko was 1-3 last season with 132.7 yards per game, two touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had a 59.8 quarterback rating. For his career Palko is 1-3 with 103.9 yards per game, two touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has a 60.7 QB rating.

Orton split time between Denver and Kansas City last year. Overall, he was 3-5 with 195.3 yards per game, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He had a 77.8 quarterback rating. For his career Orton is 35-34 with 204.7 yards per game, 80 touchdowns and 57 interceptions. He has a 79.4 quarterback rating.

- Cowboys: Tony Romo, 31, eight seasons

Romo, probably the biggest surprise to be usurped in this entire group, was 8-8 with 261.5 yards per game, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2011. He had a 102.5 quarterback rating. For his career Romo is 47-30 with 198.4 yards per game, 149 touchdowns and 72 interceptions. He has a 96.9 QB rating.

"The Numbers Game" is a Newsday app-only exclusive.