MIAMI GARDENS, Fla -
The talk of rankings swelled as the number of media did in Miami Gardens this week.
He was peppered with questions pertaining to legacy, dynastic, and invincibility, all of which are characteristics of Peyton Manning's style of football.
For a season, he appeared untouchable, and the crown figured to be waiting for him in South Florida in February.
What is this grand crowning achievement you ask? Being the best at quarterback-ever.
Comparisons in yardage and touchdowns were on par to some of the greats like Marino, Montana and Unitas, and he's got a title in his back pocket, so the prerequisites were in place.
His accuracy, ability to bring along young receivers, and his ability to not let his team lose (See November of 2009) seemed to have him on track to nudge his way to the top, provided he win Super Bowl XLIV.
One Lombardi Title is good. Two is much better. It proves the first was no fluke or flash in the pan, and that playoff problems in the past were there to stay permanently.
Oops.
A little to ambitious on a pass to Reggie Wayne. The jump of Tracy Porter. The helplessness of the two blue jerseys that tried to take on five as No. 22 raced then danced his way to the endzone for the game-sealing touchdown for the New Orleans.
In one drop of the golden arm, a game was lost, as Super Bowl championship was gone, and so was the chance at rising to the greatest ever-for now at least.
"On behalf of the Colts and our team, we're very disappointed and we're sorry to our fans, I'm sorry to our fans," said Manning after the game, knowing full well how that slip in the fourth quarter had an affect on his team losing Super Bowl XLIV.
So if he's not the best ever now (again, let me stress now, because barring injury he's got at least seven more years), than what level is Manning at?
Here's a hint, look to Minnesota-and do it soon because it might change.
Back in the summer of 2008, Manning penned a letter to a certain quarterback who was deciding to hang up the cleats for the first time. He talked about sending the personally written to his home and the excitement which he felt about doing that.
Maybe Manning has more in common than just a mutual respect for Brett Favre, because they seem to be a lot alike.
Yes, both have had their problems with interceptions. Manning had his big error against Tracy Porter two weeks after Favre had the same thing happen while with the Vikings in the NFC Championship game against the Saints. New England used to give Manning interception fits, while the lasting image of Favre in Green Bay is the frozen pick he threw in overtime of the 2007 NFC Title Game against the Giants.
That is a minor reason that right now I have Manning on the Favre level, there are two bigger ones that I believe show a link between the quarterback. For one, its durability, and frankly, Peyton might even have Brett beat on this one. Favre hasn't missed a start since 1992 but during his career he's had a number of close call injuries that have kept him out of the majority of the game.
Peyton's plays missed due to injury are limited to a single one, when he smacked in the face mask by Miami's Lorenzo Bromell in 2001. Mark Rypien came in and promptly fumbled, and Manning hasn't missed a non-rest snap since then.
Say what you want about their occasional picks, they are always there every week, ready to start, ready to play, and often very well.
Statistically now, however, they are tied in a specific category: Super Bowl record. Favre won his first Super Bowl in 1996, but lost his second appearance in 1997 and hasn't been back since. Manning followed that same rotation, winning in 2006 then losing in the 2009 big game, but now he's faced with a challenge that could put him right back up there with the greatest ever.
Get back to the Super Bowl again and win it. He'll have the team again next year to win the title, and already the Las Vegas Odds have the Colts a 6-1 pick to win it all when the Super Bowl goes to Dallas next season.
All Manning has to do is keep his skills at the same level as he did this season, and watch out for those pesky interceptions.
If he wrote a letter, Brett would tell him the same thing
He was peppered with questions pertaining to legacy, dynastic, and invincibility, all of which are characteristics of Peyton Manning's style of football.
For a season, he appeared untouchable, and the crown figured to be waiting for him in South Florida in February.
What is this grand crowning achievement you ask? Being the best at quarterback-ever.
Comparisons in yardage and touchdowns were on par to some of the greats like Marino, Montana and Unitas, and he's got a title in his back pocket, so the prerequisites were in place.
His accuracy, ability to bring along young receivers, and his ability to not let his team lose (See November of 2009) seemed to have him on track to nudge his way to the top, provided he win Super Bowl XLIV.
One Lombardi Title is good. Two is much better. It proves the first was no fluke or flash in the pan, and that playoff problems in the past were there to stay permanently.
Oops.
A little to ambitious on a pass to Reggie Wayne. The jump of Tracy Porter. The helplessness of the two blue jerseys that tried to take on five as No. 22 raced then danced his way to the endzone for the game-sealing touchdown for the New Orleans.
In one drop of the golden arm, a game was lost, as Super Bowl championship was gone, and so was the chance at rising to the greatest ever-for now at least.
"On behalf of the Colts and our team, we're very disappointed and we're sorry to our fans, I'm sorry to our fans," said Manning after the game, knowing full well how that slip in the fourth quarter had an affect on his team losing Super Bowl XLIV.
So if he's not the best ever now (again, let me stress now, because barring injury he's got at least seven more years), than what level is Manning at?
Here's a hint, look to Minnesota-and do it soon because it might change.
Back in the summer of 2008, Manning penned a letter to a certain quarterback who was deciding to hang up the cleats for the first time. He talked about sending the personally written to his home and the excitement which he felt about doing that.
Maybe Manning has more in common than just a mutual respect for Brett Favre, because they seem to be a lot alike.
Yes, both have had their problems with interceptions. Manning had his big error against Tracy Porter two weeks after Favre had the same thing happen while with the Vikings in the NFC Championship game against the Saints. New England used to give Manning interception fits, while the lasting image of Favre in Green Bay is the frozen pick he threw in overtime of the 2007 NFC Title Game against the Giants.
That is a minor reason that right now I have Manning on the Favre level, there are two bigger ones that I believe show a link between the quarterback. For one, its durability, and frankly, Peyton might even have Brett beat on this one. Favre hasn't missed a start since 1992 but during his career he's had a number of close call injuries that have kept him out of the majority of the game.
Peyton's plays missed due to injury are limited to a single one, when he smacked in the face mask by Miami's Lorenzo Bromell in 2001. Mark Rypien came in and promptly fumbled, and Manning hasn't missed a non-rest snap since then.
Say what you want about their occasional picks, they are always there every week, ready to start, ready to play, and often very well.
Statistically now, however, they are tied in a specific category: Super Bowl record. Favre won his first Super Bowl in 1996, but lost his second appearance in 1997 and hasn't been back since. Manning followed that same rotation, winning in 2006 then losing in the 2009 big game, but now he's faced with a challenge that could put him right back up there with the greatest ever.
Get back to the Super Bowl again and win it. He'll have the team again next year to win the title, and already the Las Vegas Odds have the Colts a 6-1 pick to win it all when the Super Bowl goes to Dallas next season.
All Manning has to do is keep his skills at the same level as he did this season, and watch out for those pesky interceptions.
If he wrote a letter, Brett would tell him the same thing
