Premature Call
Last year, I prematurely called Peyton Manning the greatest quarterback of our generation, if not the greatest quarterback of all time. Yeah, I was picking the Colts to win the Super Bowl, and maybe basking in the bright light that Manning was emanating. Not only was I wrong about that game, but in retrospect I may have been wrong on my call on Manning.
Peyton's pick in the Super Bowl hasn't changed my mind. Nor has his recent string of 11 picks in his last 3 games. What has changed my mind is the excellence of Tom Brady.
I've heard the talking heads the last few weeks trip over themselves defending Manning. "Too many players injured", "he's playing with backups", are two of the most common excuses. While some of that may be true, a transcendent quarterback should be able to overcome a poor supporting cast. Manning historically has been blessed with a much better supporting cast than Brady. Harrison, Wayne, Clark, Faulk, Edgerrin James and Joseph Addai were all stars. Besides Moss and Welker (who was fully developed as a receiver on the Pats) and one very good season from Corey Dillon, Brady has done it with a group of youngsters and castoffs. Deion Branch is a system receiver. He failed as a Seahawk and is enjoying success again as a Patriot. Ben Watson as well. He hasn't played nearly as well on the Browns as he did on the Pats. So while yes, this season with injuries to Garcon, Collie and Clark have hampered Manning's and the Colts effectiveness, hasn't Brady played a whole career with an inferior cast.
Brady just chugs away in a one-dimensional offense. His feature backs have been a collection of retreads, never weres and not ready yet players. Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon (the one star, at least for one season), old Fred Taylor, Lawrence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Danny Woodhead and BenJarvis Green-Ellis. Not to belittle any of them, but who would you rather have, and of those guys or Marshal Faulk (future HOFer), Edgerrin James (best back in the league for a 3 year period), or Joseph Addai (pro-Bowler). Seems like a no-brainer.
Then of course, there are the big games. Brady has won 3 Super Bowls (to Mannings 1) and lost one he should have won. If not for one surreal Tyree helmet catch we'd be talking about Brady in the same breath that people talk about Joe Montana. Manning has a history of choking in the big games (maybe Manning's pick in the Super Bowl changed my mind a little).
It's hard to disregard the stats. And if you look at them, Manning will break just about everyone of Favre's records. Statistically he'll be the best QB ever. But lets take a snap shot of this season. Manning has thrown for almost 700 more yards than Brady, and has 3 more touchdowns, but he also has 11 more picks... 11. Brady is likely to throw for 4,000 yards again this season. It would be the 4th such season he has done so. Manning is getting ready to top 4,000 for a 10th season. That number is staggering. Manning though has been blessed with a vastly superior supporting cast (as already noted).
Of course, all of this is coming on a day right after Brady eviscerated the Jets for 4TDs no picks and vaulted the Pats (in my eyes) over everyone else as the leader in any Super Bowl discussion. The same week that Manning threw 4 picks against the 3-8 Cowboys. Then Manning made excuses about injuries, his cast and hoped to get some help soon. I can't ever imagine Brady having a conference like that. He would simply raise his game and win with the cast he has... hasn't he done that since he got into the lineup.
Brady is a winner, one of the greatest of all time. One who wins with whatever talent surrounds him. For that, I have to go back in the time machine and shelve that talk about Peyton as the greatest of all time and at the best call it a push, until the end of their careers. But leave with this. Brady's post season record 14-4. Manning 9-9. Hmmm... makes you think.
Peyton's pick in the Super Bowl hasn't changed my mind. Nor has his recent string of 11 picks in his last 3 games. What has changed my mind is the excellence of Tom Brady.
I've heard the talking heads the last few weeks trip over themselves defending Manning. "Too many players injured", "he's playing with backups", are two of the most common excuses. While some of that may be true, a transcendent quarterback should be able to overcome a poor supporting cast. Manning historically has been blessed with a much better supporting cast than Brady. Harrison, Wayne, Clark, Faulk, Edgerrin James and Joseph Addai were all stars. Besides Moss and Welker (who was fully developed as a receiver on the Pats) and one very good season from Corey Dillon, Brady has done it with a group of youngsters and castoffs. Deion Branch is a system receiver. He failed as a Seahawk and is enjoying success again as a Patriot. Ben Watson as well. He hasn't played nearly as well on the Browns as he did on the Pats. So while yes, this season with injuries to Garcon, Collie and Clark have hampered Manning's and the Colts effectiveness, hasn't Brady played a whole career with an inferior cast.
Brady just chugs away in a one-dimensional offense. His feature backs have been a collection of retreads, never weres and not ready yet players. Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon (the one star, at least for one season), old Fred Taylor, Lawrence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Danny Woodhead and BenJarvis Green-Ellis. Not to belittle any of them, but who would you rather have, and of those guys or Marshal Faulk (future HOFer), Edgerrin James (best back in the league for a 3 year period), or Joseph Addai (pro-Bowler). Seems like a no-brainer.
Then of course, there are the big games. Brady has won 3 Super Bowls (to Mannings 1) and lost one he should have won. If not for one surreal Tyree helmet catch we'd be talking about Brady in the same breath that people talk about Joe Montana. Manning has a history of choking in the big games (maybe Manning's pick in the Super Bowl changed my mind a little).
It's hard to disregard the stats. And if you look at them, Manning will break just about everyone of Favre's records. Statistically he'll be the best QB ever. But lets take a snap shot of this season. Manning has thrown for almost 700 more yards than Brady, and has 3 more touchdowns, but he also has 11 more picks... 11. Brady is likely to throw for 4,000 yards again this season. It would be the 4th such season he has done so. Manning is getting ready to top 4,000 for a 10th season. That number is staggering. Manning though has been blessed with a vastly superior supporting cast (as already noted).
Of course, all of this is coming on a day right after Brady eviscerated the Jets for 4TDs no picks and vaulted the Pats (in my eyes) over everyone else as the leader in any Super Bowl discussion. The same week that Manning threw 4 picks against the 3-8 Cowboys. Then Manning made excuses about injuries, his cast and hoped to get some help soon. I can't ever imagine Brady having a conference like that. He would simply raise his game and win with the cast he has... hasn't he done that since he got into the lineup.
Brady is a winner, one of the greatest of all time. One who wins with whatever talent surrounds him. For that, I have to go back in the time machine and shelve that talk about Peyton as the greatest of all time and at the best call it a push, until the end of their careers. But leave with this. Brady's post season record 14-4. Manning 9-9. Hmmm... makes you think.
Labels: Sports
posted by LEV at
12:10 PM
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