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The title is pretty clear. There is a myth that surrounds Peyton Manning. The point of writing this is to explain that the way you think of Peyton Manning and the way he is portrayed is largely a load of crap.
The myth is in no way shape or form Peyton Manning's fault. He just simply plays the game and does his thing year in and year out. I have tremendous respect for his professionalism, preparation, and ability.
Before explaining the myth and providing mountains of evidence to support my case, let me state the following points:
- I am not saying Peyton Manning sucks.
- I am not saying he isn't worthy of many of the accolades he receives.
- Peyton Manning is clearly a first ballot hall of famer and a top level QB of all time.
- I think Peyton Manning the person is an impeccable role model and outstanding human being.
- If a clone of Peyton Manning could be drafted by the Patriots when Brady retires I would be doing back flips.
Now to the myth. If you tune into the worldwide leader, any national broadcast, pregame show, network, or even just talk to the guy sitting at the bar, they treat Peyton Manning like he is this being meticulously created by God to play the quarterback position better than anyone who has walked the face of the earth. They speak of his knowledge of the game. They are amazed by his ability to play the role of offensive coordinator at the line of scrimmage then make the perfect throw to capitalize on his analysis. He has all the numbers, he has all the awards, his team wins 12+ just about every season. His records go from single game, single season, to career records. There has never been nor will ever be another like him they tell ya.
And shit when it's week 4 and he's whooping up on the Jaguars, Chargers, or Bengals it is hard to argue with them.
There is this one little flaw to his resume and these people know it and are forced to mutter to themselves when his team fails again in January. But worry not, because when next September rolls around and his team starts 6-0 every writer, network, broadcaster, and bar fly will wax poetic about the great Peyton Manning like that one little thing doesn't exist. It's like that episode of South Park where Kenny (Mysterion) reveals to the kids that he dies all the time but comes back to life. They are absolutely perplexed by this news like they have never once seen him die.
There are a lot of things that perpetuate the Peyton Manning myth. First off, he is sort of close to the "perfect" quarterback. At least the case can be made in terms of his make up. A human computer who can read any defense and make any throw... except of course for that one little thing. You want him to be this mythical perfect quarterback sooo badly and you have enough evidence to kinda sorta talk yourself into it and make your case.
Sadly the little thing isn't little at all. It's a deal breaker, but we won't start there.
Part 1: The Catch All Award Winner
Peyton Manning's shelf is loaded with awards. It is inclusive of, but not limited to, five NFL MVP's (2013 is coming), a Super Bowl MVP, and most recently the 2013 Sports Illustrated sportsman of the year. It is this last award that sent me over the edge. I then read Bill Simmons response to a question as to why in the hell he was named sportsman of the year over David Ortiz:
SG: The problem is that they already wrote the Sportsman of the Year story in early November, when they wrote about David Ortiz, the 2013 Red Sox and the 2013 Boston Marathon. They couldn't run it back. And since there wasn't another logical pick, they went into "let's just pick a decent candidate who's due for a cover story from us," and they landed on Manning while hoping he eventually breaks the touchdown record to justify it.
This explanation affirmed what I have thought for a long while, Peyton Manning is the 'Catch All' choice to win awards. I blow at programming and rules based things but even I know that you always create a rule at the end which is a 'catch all.' Just in case you missed anything, this rule will capture your value. If no candidate really sticks out for the award, we'll just hand it to Manning. Chances are he had a good enough season to justify our choice and shit, he's a great dude so I feel ok if he wins.
Sports Illustrated awarded Manning the catch all sportsman of the year nod and I'm hear to tell you that NFL writers have awarded Peyton Manning with several catch all MVP's. Manning was the NFL MVP in 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, and will be in 2013.
I will not argue 2004 nor 2013 whatsoever. In those seasons Peyton Manning is the NFL MVP.
Hmm, how to approach this should we go chronologically or most egregious? Let's go egregious.
In 2009 we have four MVP candidates. A, B, C, and D. Naturally they are all quarterbacks because the NFL MVP has long been the "top quarterback award unless a running back has a season so good we simply can't ignore him." That's not Manning nor any quarterback's fault.
A - 4202 yards 33 TD's 7 INT's 107.2 rating 68.4% completion
B - 4500 yards 33 TD's 16 INT's 99.9 rating 68.8% completion
C - 4254 yards 28 TD's 9 INT's 104.4 rating 65.2% completion
D - 4388 yards 34 TD's 11 INT's 109.6 rating 70.6% completion
All four Quarterback's teams won at least 12 games and earned a bye.
This is awfully close, right? Just eyeballing it I think you have to go A or D. B is the worst of a very good bunch... too many INT's and the lowest rating of all.
At the very least a close vote, right? Nope. Wasn't close. (These are not listed as A, B, C, D below but instead in order of how many votes they received so pay attention to the letter so you can match it up above.)
A is Brett Favre. He got 1 vote.
C is Philip Rivers. He got 2 votes.
D is Drew Brees. He got 7.5 votes.
B is Peyton Manning. He got a whopping 39.5 of 50 votes.
Sadly by 2009 the Peyton Manning myth was an utter freight train. When in doubt just vote for the cyborg created by God himself. What a joke, right? As I said earlier, eyeballing it we had to go A or D. Well that year Favre turned into a sour ball bag distraction towards the end of the year. So therefore your 2009 MVP is Drew Brees.
2003 and 2009 are tied together in another way. Now you remember earlier how I said the MVP can go to a running back if they force you to vote for them, right? Like say, maybe, a 2,000 yard season?
Here is a list of your 2,000 yard seasons in order:
1973 - OJ Simpson 2,003 yards - NFL MVP
1984 - Eric Dickerson 2,105 yards. Dan Marino is named MVP. I will allow the greatest single quarterback season in NFL history to edge Dickerson here but wow crazy year to have to vote.
1997 - Barry Sanders 2,053 yards - NFL Co-MVP
1998 - Terrell Davis 2,008 yards - NFL MVP
I'll stop right there. What the writers also have as a rule is that if you rush for 2,000 yards BUT Peyton Manning is on the ballot you probably won't win.
2003 - Jamal Lewis 2,066 yards on 10-6 playoff bound Ravens receives 5 MVP votes. He loses out to co-MVP's Peyton Manning and Steve McNair (16 votes each). Manning threw for 4,267 yards 29 TD's 10 INT's with a rating of 99.0. I guess Lewis's season 2,000 yard season was not good enough to beat out Manning's 9th best year.
2009 - Chris Johnson 2,006 yards on an 8-8 Titans team. He also set an NFL record for yards from scrimmage. He received zero votes as the four QB's I mentioned above got them all. I guess with the Titans being a mediocre team I can buy that much.
Since we are talking 2,000 yard rushers let's just touch upon 2012 as well. This one is very much in our memory banks, right? Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards and carried a sad sack of shit Vikings team to 10-6 and a playoff berth. Shit, 19.5 votes STILL went to Peyton Manning. People can't help themselves, it's Peyton Manning!!!!
Player A - 4,659 yards 37 TD's 11 INT's 105.8 rating 68.6% completion
Player B - 5,038 yards 41 TD's 16 INT's 97.2 rating 63.5% completion
Player A is 2012 Peyton Manning who received 19.5 MVP votes. Player B is 2011 Matt Stafford who received 0 votes and this season is the poster boy that quarterback stats cannot be taken seriously anymore. My fucking gahd!!!!!
2008 was a trickier year. There really was no great candidate in a mediocre year for the league. Well, shit, we know what happens when there is no good candidate, right? Captain Catch All to the rescue!!!!!
Peyton Manning led his second place Colts with 4,002 yards 27 TD's 12 INT's and a 95.0 rating. Look it's a nice year but that's it, nothing more. Hell it's a down year for Manning. Here is how the year stacks up for Manning
His 11th best season in TD's. 13th best in yards. 9th in rating.
So who should have won? I have Manning definitively behind two players. One is Kurt Warner - 4,583 yards 30 TD's 14 INT's and a rating of 96.9. Warner brought the Cardinals to their first division title in 684 years (estimated) and later to their only Super Bowl. The other is Chad Pennington. Pennington, who is wildly underrated for a noodle arm by the way, turned the 1-15 Dolphins into 11-5 division champs. Although his numbers don't pop, he was MVP worthy in my eyes, 3653 yards 19 TD's 7 INT's and a 97.4 rating. Let's also remember Pennington was throwing to Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Joe Addai... oh wait, that's right he had no weapons.
I personally go with Pennington. The voters? Pfff. Manning in a runaway. When Peyton Manning has his 11th best season in TD's that yells MVP. Got it!?!?!
Manning - 32 votes, Pennington, Michael Turner - 4 votes, Adrian Peterson, James Harrison - 3 votes, Phillip Rivers - 2 Votes, Chris Johnson, Kurt Warner - 1 vote.
If you do not know who to vote for people I want you to always just pencil in Captain Catch All.
So now the next time Bob Costas has to stop for a second to jizz down his leg when talking about Manning's 5 MVP awards you will be educated enough to know that three were simply catch all's because of the Peyton Manning myth.
This is already getting lengthy as hell but I do want to point out that Manning even won a catch all Super Bowl MVP. Nobody on the Colts had a slam dunk MVP game so we already know what voters do in that case. Here were your candidates. Manning, then the two superior choices.
Manning 25-38 247 yards 1 TD 1 INT
Dominic Rhodes 21 carries 113 yards 1 TD
Kelvin Hayden 1 INT 56 yards, game clinching TD
Whatever.
