Twenty-three NFL quarterbacks entered the 2016 season earning at least $15 million annually, providing exasperated New York Jets fans with welcome perspective on Ryan Fitzpatricks less expensive $12 million salary. While every team relies upon the man behind center to win games, some quarterbacks are carrying much heavier burdens.Thirteen QBs in particular stand out for their ability to operate reasonably well with less help from their running backs, defenses and playcallers. We start with a list of 30 QBs -- one for every team but Chicago and San Francisco, whose starters havent played enough -- and pare them down to the final list through four logical steps. The final rankings combine the data with my own feel for how players have performed under various team-based circumstances.Step 1. Exclude badly underperforming QBsRationale: Setting a baseline performance level made sense for quality control, so any QB ranking lower than 23rd in Total QBR was off the list.Eliminated: Cody Kessler, Blake Bortles, Alex Smith, Joe Flacco, Ryan Tannehill, Brock Osweiler, Carson Wentz, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case KeenumWhat you need to know: Carson Palmer, ranked?22nd in the QBR rankings, barely made the first cut. His Arizona Cardinals will take their 23-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but only after Palmer nearly gave it away through turnovers. The 2015 MVP candidate is having trouble winning despite having a top running back (David Johnson) and one of the leagues better defenses on his side.Step 2. Remove QBs from teams that are unusually reliant upon running backsStitched Red Wings Jerseys . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Detroit Red Wings Store . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. https://www.cheapredwings.com/ . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Detroit Red Wings Shirts . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Fake Red Wings Jerseys . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break.Charlie Strong says he has not been told he has lost his job at Texas, despite reports that a decision to let him go has been made.Ive been told well be evaluated at the end of the season, he said at a Monday news conference.Texas athletic director Mike Perrin said the same thing in a statement Sunday night.Strong said that he met with his team after ESPN, among other outlets, reported that he will be fired.Theres a lot of reports out there, Strong said he told the team. Theres no reason for you to worry about me.Amid the turmoil, some Texas players have reportedly discussed boycotting the last game against TCU.The Austin American-Statesman reported that upperclassmen are trying to intervene to calm the situation.Strong said that his team will show up for TCU.They will not boycott this game, he said. They know this game is about the seniors. Thats not going to happen.Strong added: I told them not to quit on me and I wouldnt quit on them.Texas wide receiver Jacorey Warrick was that adamant players will not boycott the game and said he hopes the dozens of Longhorn players who came to Strongs news conference to show their support sent a message.He doesnt have the support, I guess, of some of the people who are trying to get him out, Warrick said. But the people who really matter, the players, you can see where our support lies.Strong did say that the rumors and reports have put pressure on the 5-6 Longhorns and that Texas was playing not to lose recently.?When theyre playing the way theyre playing, theyre playing for this coaaching staff, I can see the frustration, he said.ddddddddddddith tears streaming down his face, defensive tackle Paul Boyette Jr. offered a passionate defense of Strongs tenure at Texas, arguing his coaches deserve more than 36 months to turn the program around.In my heart and my spirit, I want him to be here, Boyette Jr. said. I dont make the decisions. Im not the head man in charge. All I can do is pray and hope for the best. I cant say enough about him.Boyette Jr., a senior, said it leaves a bitter taste in his mouth to think another head coach could come to Texas next season and reap the benefits of Strongs three years of building.If they hit the jackpot, they go a national championship, win the Big 12, theyll know who got em there, Boyette Jr. said.Strong is 16-20 overall and 12-14 in Big 12 play in three seasons with the Longhorns. If he coaches Friday against TCU, Strong will clinch either a bowl bid or his third seven-loss season.Strong said Monday that he wants to return next season and feels that a young Texas team has a lot of upside.If he is fired, however, Strong will be owed a $10.7 million buyout for the remaining two years on his contract, a fee that would be reduced if he takes another job.Strongs situation came to a head after Texas lost 24-21 in overtime to a Kansas team that was 1-9 and had lost its past 19 Big 12 games.ESPN staff writer Max Olson contributed to this report. ' ' '