Super Bowl's Loser

[The King]

Regardless of who wins the Super Bowl in two weeks, the biggest loser has already been decided--Peyton Manning. A win by either team calls into question his legacy and credentials as one of the greatest QBs of all time.

If Tom Brady wins, then the stats argument is pretty clear. Four Super Bowl rings in five trips. Probably three Super Bowl MVPs. Maybe three league MVPs, once this season's awards are all out. A winning percentage that nearly defies belief, and no matter what follows he retires as one of the best clutch QBs. With numbers like those, it's tough to say that Tom Brady is not the defining QB of the era.

If the Giants win then it throws into question Peyton Manning as the superior Manning brother. I don't think anyone will vault Eli above Peyton on the strength of a second Super Bowl ring, but it's one more than Peyton managed to win. Plus, Eli still has plenty of time left to play. If he manages to lock up a third ring, which is a possibility as long as he's with Tom Coughlin, then questions about him or Peyton would have some legitimacy. Eli cemented himself this season as an elite clutch QB. His tendency to explode in the playoffs for the Giants casts a bit of a shadow on Peyton Manning's pedestrian postseason performance.

I'm sure Peyton will be asked about the game how he feels about whoever wins. And whether it's his beloved brother or his biggest rival, I'm sure he'll say he's very happy for them. But I'm sure that he has already thought this through, and I'm sure he's eager to get back on the field to try and re-assert himself as one of history's best QBs.

[Ravenslifer]

Peyton will probably end up with every meaningful passing record though. He's only a year older than Brady and has like 15000 more passing yards - of course Brees is 2 years younger than Brady and already has more yards. Peyton is also only 21 TDs away from Marino and a little over 100 shy of Favre. So he might at one point be Marino, all the meaningful passing records, plus a ring.

It's like the comparisons that are always made between Montana and Marino. One has all the stats, one has all the rings, people make arguments for both being the GOAT - although it's interesting that most people consider Marino better, I believe, and Montana a lot of people say "system guy" - the same arguments made between Peyton and Tom Brady. It's all dumb to me though - fact is if I had to start a franchise with any of those guys, could I go wrong?

[cobrajet]

[quote name='The King' timestamp='1327303530' post='967923']
Regardless of who wins the Super Bowl in two weeks, the biggest loser has already been decided--Peyton Manning. A win by either team calls into question his legacy and credentials as one of the greatest QBs of all time.

If Tom Brady wins, then the stats argument is pretty clear. Four Super Bowl rings in five trips. Probably three Super Bowl MVPs. Maybe three league MVPs, once this season's awards are all out. A winning percentage that nearly defies belief, and no matter what follows he retires as one of the best clutch QBs. With numbers like those, it's tough to say that Tom Brady is not the defining QB of the era.

If the Giants win then it throws into question Peyton Manning as the superior Manning brother. I don't think anyone will vault Eli above Peyton on the strength of a second Super Bowl ring, but it's one more than Peyton managed to win. Plus, Eli still has plenty of time left to play. If he manages to lock up a third ring, which is a possibility as long as he's with Tom Coughlin, then questions about him or Peyton would have some legitimacy. Eli cemented himself this season as an elite clutch QB. His tendency to explode in the playoffs for the Giants casts a bit of a shadow on Peyton Manning's pedestrian postseason performance.

I'm sure Peyton will be asked about the game how he feels about whoever wins. And whether it's his beloved brother or his biggest rival, I'm sure he'll say he's very happy for them. But I'm sure that he has already thought this through, and I'm sure he's eager to get back on the field to try and re-assert himself as one of history's best QBs.
[/quote]
Yeah but he has a ring, a lot of endorsement, and he has a few records. His future is bright and he will probably have a big job in broadcasting if he wants it.

[cursona pirate]

He would probably support his brother since it's like I gotta support my family deal.

[codizzle]

If I'm starting a team, I'm choosing Peyton manning everyday...

[bpytnjr58]

In the clutch i go with Eli over Peyton.

[jus'_crAzy]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1327414383' post='970932']
If I'm starting a team, I'm choosing Peyton manning everyday...
[/quote]
Even if your team eventually ends up like the 2011 team? I used to think like you until this season happened. Thanks to them, I'm convinced the system is infinitely more important than the player. HoFers be damned.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='jus'_crAzy' timestamp='1327441670' post='971708']
Even if your team eventually ends up like the 2011 team? I used to think like you until this season happened. Thanks to them, I'm convinced the system is infinitely more important than the player. HoFers be damned.
[/quote]

I'm struggling to understand your logic. What happened to the Colts this season is a perfect illustration of how important Peyton is. No system can succeed without some level of talent and while the Colts have surrounded Manning with some quality players over the years, he's unquestionably been the straw that stirs their drink.

[bauer77]

I get that Brady has 2 more rings, (3 if they win), and Eli has 1 (2 is he wins) but IMO, Peyton is still a better QB than either of those 2. Don't get me wrong, Brady is up there as well, but i would pick (a healthy) Peyton over those 2 if im starting a team.

[berad]

The Jets are this Super Bowl's loser... think about it. After proclaiming themselves to be the best team in New York, the Giants are the ones playing for the championship against (wait for it) their inter-division rival who owned them this season. Either way, words always come back to bite Rex Ryan.

[jus'_crAzy]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1327448499' post='971866']
I'm struggling to understand your logic. What happened to the Colts this season is a perfect illustration of how important Peyton is. No system can succeed without some level of talent and while the Colts have surrounded Manning with some quality players over the years, he's unquestionably been the straw that stirs their drink.
[/quote]
It's pretty simple from where I'm standing. I'm not saying a team should be completely devoid of talent. That's nuts. But ONE player shouldn't bring the gameplan, heck, the franchise to its knees like this. When your "next man up" (i.e. Curtis Painter) isn't CAPABLE of being the "next man up", there's something fundamentally wrong with your system. In contrast, think of the Patriots' system when Brady went down.

They didn't have a fallback plan. They couldn't rely on the offense because their offense is out for the season with a neck injury. They couldn't rely on the defense because they didn't have enough talent. So why don't they just get more defensive talent, or a better backup to Peyton? They simply can't because of the massive financial stranglehold that Manning's contract has on that organization. Almost $25mil/year??? Are you kidding me? Maybe I'm in the minority, but no player, greatest of all time or not, should fill up 20% of your total cap.

And Irsay is finally seeing the light... even though he's still a whole slew of curse words.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='jus'_crAzy' timestamp='1327454323' post='971996']
It's pretty simple from where I'm standing. I'm not saying a team should be completely devoid of talent. That's nuts. But ONE player shouldn't bring the gameplan, heck, the franchise to its knees like this. When your "next man up" (i.e. Curtis Painter) isn't CAPABLE of being the "next man up", there's something fundamentally wrong with your system. In contrast, think of the Patriots' system when Brady went down.

They didn't have a fallback plan. They couldn't rely on the offense because their offense is out for the season with a neck injury. They couldn't rely on the defense because they didn't have enough talent. So why don't they just get more defensive talent, or a better backup to Peyton? They simply can't because of the massive financial stranglehold that Manning's contract has on that organization. Almost $25mil/year??? Are you kidding me? Maybe I'm in the minority, but no player, greatest of all time or not, should fill up 20% of your total cap.

And Irsay is finally seeing the light... even though he's still a whole slew of curse words.
[/quote]

I see what you meant now. You were focusing more on the impact a player like Peyton can have on the team and the financial consequences too. Fair enough.

[Tiz]

Eli better in playoffs than peyton but nothing takes away peyton's legacy.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1327448499' post='971866']

I'm struggling to understand your logic. What happened to the Colts this season is a perfect illustration of how important Peyton is. No system can succeed without some level of talent and while the Colts have surrounded Manning with some quality players over the years, he's unquestionably been the straw that stirs their drink.
[/quote]

Yep. New England loses Princess Brady for a year, and they still go 11 - 5!

Indy loses Peyton, and that entire franchise is in disarray and people are losing jobs over it.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1327414383' post='970932']
If I'm starting a team, I'm choosing Peyton manning everyday...
[/quote]
If you started a team today? Or 15 years ago?

[Gordo52]

Brady might have more accolades and a better looking career when its all said and done. But even in 10 years when we all look back we'll all remember that Peyton has been the greatest passer ever.
I think he has played the QB position better then any other QB ever.

[codizzle]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1327794306' post='978164']

If you started a team today? Or 15 years ago?
[/quote]
Not today na.. If it was right now I'd choose Rodgers in a heartbeat

[IMissMattStover]

I think that if Eli pulls off a win in this SB he should be up for consideration as better than Peyton.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1327802636' post='978295']
Not today na.. If it was right now I'd choose Rodgers in a heartbeat
[/quote]
Maybe Tebow...



lol Jp