Peyton Manning: Fame or Failure Revised

--This is a revisement of the first original post. Instead of replacing the old post, I've decided to just post the newer version side by side with the old. The newer version uses less stats, but has better flow and writing...actually, you be the judge.--


Peyton Manning has been a hot topic of discussion in break rooms, at water coolers, with friends, with strangers, on sports news, and during in game commentaries for years. There’s been talk about how great a quarterback he is and arguments about how he chokes during the biggest games of his career. Anyone who supports him will talk about his records and highlights while all those that criticize him point to each of his losses in the playoffs and his failure to achieve a Super Bowl victory. Regardless of whether Peyton Manning ever achieves a Super Bowl Victory he will most certainly be admitted into the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history.

In 1998, the Indianapolis Colts chose to take Peyton Manning as the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft and have been rewarded with one of the best quarterback careers in history. His poise and self control on the field demands respect as he stands solid in the pocket to consistently deliver fast and accurate passing up the field to his receivers. Although Peyton can show great control over his own skills and allow himself to make big plays when a game requires it, his greatness as a quarterback goes beyond his own athletic ability. Great quarterbacks have to be great leaders, and Peyton has been a commanding figure on the field. This is evident in his leadership on the field. Although many find Peyton’s play calling and last minute changes at the line of scrimmage entertaining, it is a testimony to his ability to think quickly, read a defense, and make the proper adjustments in a moments notice.

As if Peyton Manning’s impressive play on the field isn’t enough to convince anyone of his place among the NFL’s legends, his mark in the record book should be. He has consistently broken records throughout his nine year NFL career and currently holds numerous individual, rookie, and QB-WR tandem NFL records as well as about a dozen Colts team records. He has received numerous accolades that include the 2003 Co-MVP with Steve McNair1, 2004 MVP, 2005 Pro Bowl MVP, 2003 and 2004 Bert Bell Award, and several Player of the week and month awards. His team records include Most Passes (575), most completions (326), most yards gained (3,739), and most touchdowns (26) in a rookie season among many other game and season records. Some of his NFL records consist of seven 4,000+ yard seasons, six consecutive 4,000+ yard seasons, nine consecutive seasons with 25+ touchdown passes, 49 touchdowns in one season, season passer rating of 121.1, and 4 games with perfect passer ratings (10/22/00 vs. New England; 11/10/02 at Philadelphia; 9/28/03 at New Orleans; 1/4/04 vs. Denver). With the possibility of several years left in his career, it is possible that Manning will continue to break several more career and season records before his retirement.

It seems that no matter how many records Peyton Manning continues to break, critics continue to concern themselves over Manning’s lack of a Super Bowl title. A Super Bowl victory is the goal and dream of every player in the NFL, and it recognizes great teams for their crowning achievement, but not every player on a Super Bowl team is worthy of the Hall of Fame status. Although winning a Super Bowl would help compliment Manning’s stellar career as an NFL Player, his admittance into the Hall of Fame is what will set him aside as one of the greats in NFL history. It is Peyton Manning’s record breaking career, spectacular play, and athleticism on the field that has him destined for the Hall of Fame where he will be a legend among legends.