The Peyton Manning Myth, Part 1

*Note this will need to be broken into several parts cuz I get wordy when shitting on Manning*
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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.

Ranking the 32 NFL team's Quarterbacks (Quarterback situation for the crappy ones)

Throughout the year I've been keeping ranks on the top 10 QB's at the present moment.  I have been inspired to *try* and rank all 32 teams.  I can't make it the top 32 QB's as some of the lousier teams have quarterback situations.  If there is a team on the list where I legitimately have to evaluate the backup quarterback then chances are you are in the bottom third of the league.  

Some of the questions I asked myself were:

Can he drag a sorry team to be competitive by himself?
Can you at least win with him even if he's a caretaker?
With the game on the line would I be stunned if he came through?
With the right team, no extremes - we aren't talking about 85 Bears or 2000 Ravens defense, could you win a Super Bowl with him?
What's the future for this team at QB?

The last question didn't factor into my right now rankings but will give you a sense of what direction that team is headed.  You will also see that 1st and 2nd year starting QB teams aren't very high yet.  It doesn't mean I think they suck, we just have to wait and see since there is not a large sample size of games to go on.

I made a list, confined in a few opinions and have tweaked the list to a point where I feel good about it for now.

32. Kansas City Chiefs - The Chiefs quarterback situation is absolutely positively wretched.  Matt Cassell is not a starting caliber quarterback and will be released following this season.  Brady Quinn is nothing more than a mediocre backup.  How they didn't make a play for Peyton Manning is stunning.  I doubt Manning would have gone there but for gahd sake give it a try.  The arrow here can't go any lower but Matt Barkley or Geno Smith will more than likely be a Chief in 2013.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars - Blaine Gabbert's abysmal pocket presence doesn't give much hope to the Jags having a long term answer at quarterback.  He does have a very strong arm unfortunately on the list of must haves for a quarterback this simply isn't that critical.  Jeff George, Drew Bledsoe, and Billy Joe Tolliver had hoses.  Chad Henne is nothing more than an average backup.  I want to say the Jaguars needle can only go up but they should think about drafting a quarterback early if they get a chance to compete with Gabbert in 2013.

30. Cleveland Browns - Brandon Weeden has had a couple of ok moments and he definitely has a very strong arm, but what the hell are the Browns doing drafting a 29 year old rookie when the team is very very far from contending?  Colt McCoy proved the past two seasons that he is not a starting caliber quarterback. The Browns have recently changed owners and GM so I really have no idea what direction they are going in.  Like the Jags and Chiefs I'd suggest snagging a QB early in the draft if the right guy is there.

29. New York Jets - Coming into the season I would have given Sanchez more respect for his past success. However, Sanchez is regressing in a big way.  At this point I'd suggest Rex Ryan turns the season over to Tim Tebow.  I would expect ridiculously ugly games similar to the Broncos last year but you'd turn a 6-10 year into maybe an 8-8 one.  The Jets need to ditch Tebow if they aren't going to go to him and bring in some serious competition for Sanchez.

28. Arizona Cardinals - This is the slightly less poor man's version of Kansas City.  Kevin Kolb and John Skelton are marginally better than Brady Quinn and Matt Cassell.  Kolb has poor pocket presence and has been historically brittle.  Skelton nuts up a bit more but is simply not very talented.  The needle here is pretty much status quo until Kolb emerges as what the Cardinals think they traded for two years ago or they acquire a new quarterback.

27. Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks have an intriguing QB situation but ultimately a fairly crappy one.  Yes Russell Wilson seems like a great guy and a leader but he doesn't quite have the tools or size to be a pro bowl caliber quarterback.  Then they spend all sorts of money to get the top free agent (not named Peyton Manning) in Matt Flynn but instead turn the offense over to their 3rd round rookie.  More alarming however is that Flynn couldn't beat out Wilson for the job.  The Seahawks have an outstanding defense and home field advantage but shoddy quarterback play will keep this a .500 team.  I suppose the arrow can only point up but I'm just not sure how much higher they will ultimately get as currently constructed.

26. Tennessee Titans - If Matt Hasselbeck wants to hang around another few years then in my mind that is an excellent BACKUP quarterback to have.  I was certainly intrigued by Jake Locker last year but his poor accuracy and inability to stay healthy thus far are reasons for concern.  The Titans should absolutely stick with him and the arrow should be pointing up as he gets more experience in the league.

25. St Louis Rams - After a very strong rookie season where Sam Bradford was rookie of the year, it's been mostly turd salads since.  The Rams did get a HAUL in trading last year's #2 pick to the Redskins but I think the argument can at least be made that they should have just drafted Robert Griffin.  The argument for Bradford is that he has NOTHING around him.  The next two or so years where the Rams cash in all these draft picks will be telling if Bradford is the solution.  Right now the arrow isn't really pointing up or down.

24. Miami Dolphins - Before Dolphins fans have a conniption the arrow is more than likely pointing up.  Thus far Ryan Tannehill has been pretty good for a rookie.  They've been in every game thus far this season except for the Texans game week 1.  I would have argued that Matt Moore should have started the year while Tannehill learned for a season.  I can say with confidence that Moore is the best backup quarterback in the league.  Note:  I can't say this with confidence but for the sake of this article I can.

23. Buffalo Bills - Ryan Fitzpatrick is the type of quarterback who can put up ok numbers, win you a few games, tantalize you into thinking playoffs is a possibility then crap all over himself in an ugly blowout loss.  Fitzpatrick is simply a .500 quarterback at best unless he's surrounded with elite talent.  The Bills love to draft 1st round running backs but one of these seasons they should throw their chips in on a quarterback.  I give them credit for aggressively trying to build their team but under center they need to get better.

22. Philadelphia Eagles - We've hit our first team with a quarterback whose arrow is pointing straight the eff down.  Mike Vick's days in Philly are officially numbered and perhaps his career as a starting quarterback is as well.  With Vick's contract bonus that kick in this offseason, it basically assures that he will be released following this year.  The Nick Foles era will soon be starting which most likely means the Eagles have not yet bottomed out in these rankings.

21. Minnesota Vikings - Christian Ponder intrigues me but I wonder if his ceiling is that of Alex Smith, caretaker extraordinaire.  Ponder is a sneaky good athlete and is surrounded by some intriguing young talent in Harvin, Peterson, and Rudolph.  I do think you can compete with Ponder on his current growth rate but with good coaching I expect more from him than middle of the line quarterback play.  His arrow should continue to point up.

20. Carolina Panthers - This season Cam Newton has been a complete and utter mess.  In his career as a starter he is 7-16.  I know as a fantasy football player Newton has immense value but this is real life.  Newton's tremendous athletic ability will only carry him so far.  Until he improves his crappy attitude and leadership skills, a porous win/loss record will more than likely follow him.  HOWEVER, I do think this is rock bottom for Newton.  With a stronger, disciplinary coach and skilled offensive coaches, Cam Newton can guide the Panthers to success for years to come.  The needle has crashed and burned in my opinion so now we will see if he can dust himself off and get better.

19. San Diego Chargers - For all his career we've watched Philip Rivers throw a football like he's tossing a shot put.  Nonetheless year after year he threw arguably the best deep ball in the NFL and enjoyed a good measure of success.  The past two seasons Rivers arm strength seems to have dipped noticeably.  Those deep shot put tosses are now being underthrown and picked off.  He's only 30 years old but I certainly am beginning to think we've seen the best of Rivers.  At the very least, if he can't throw the deep ball as well anymore then Rivers will need to reinvent himself in some capacity.  The needle has probably bottomed out but I don't think Rivers will reach top 10 QB status again either.

18. Oakland Raiders - Carson Palmer was arguably the toughest quarterback for me to rank.  I certainly don't think he's worth all the draft picks the Raiders forked up for him but at the same time, that steamy mess that is the Raiders clouds one's vision of what Palmer is as a quarterback.  Palmer is absolutely positively mediocre.  I would expect many of the younger quarterbacks on this list to leap frog him in the next year or two.  That being said, with the right team around him, Palmer could lead the Raiders into the playoffs.  Moving forward the Raiders will want to address their quarterback position pretty soon.  Maybe instead of drafting blazing fast wide receivers with early picks they will go QB.

17. Cincinnati Bengals - Raise your hand if you predicted Dalton to be the most successful of the 2011 rookie quarterbacks thus far.... (crickets chirping).  The Red Rifle may not have the most natural talent of this bunch but his maturity and leadership should be commended this early in his career.  I also think it will help him tremendously that he's began his career winning games and reaching the playoffs.  I'm not sure if Dalton will ever be a top 10 quarterback but he should become a consistent starter for many years.  The arrow points a little bit up.

16. Dallas Cowboys - Tony Romo is the ultimate trick or treat quarterback.  I'm getting the sense that the national opinion on Romo is that he's a bum/choker and that the Cowboys are going to need to move on from him.  I would argue that the problem in Dallas is Jerry Jones.  Jones likes to meddle and run his team.  This includes hiring a soft coach he can beat around and drafting players to create a buzz.  As a result he has a coach who can't lead men while making brutal coaching gaffes, and has a soft team incapable of closing games.  Both Wade Philips and Jason Garrett have been a disservice to Romo.  I'm no Romo fan or backer, but I feel his talent level could have been maximized better away from the circus that is the Cowboys.  All that being said, if the Cowboys continue to flop again this year there will be changes.  We know Jerry Jones isn't going to fire himself or back off.  The reality is that in Dallas you can't win consistently with Romo's up and down play.  This arrow points down.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Freeman's career through four seasons has been a bit of a roller coaster ride.  In 2010 he turned in a gem of a stat line with 25 td's to just 6 int's yet in 2011 he played like a used ball bag throwing 22 interceptions.  Like many of these guys I've commented on, coaching has a great deal to do with realizing their potential.  Under Greg Schiano thus far Freeman has looked much more like the 2010 version.  With the right team around him Freeman can lead a team to the playoffs and his arrow points up.  I would say his ceiling is that of a borderline top 10 QB.

14. San Francisco 49ers - Alex Smith is the ultimate caretaker quarterback.  Surrounded by an excellent team, Smith was an overtime away from going to the Super Bowl last season.  While some may argue that many to most of the quarterbacks below Smith could have done the same with this team, I would like to remind you that he led the 49ers to not one but TWO game winning drives against the Saints last January.  Having an excellent coach in Jim Harbaugh allows Smith to get the most out of his ability.  More than likely we've seen the best Alex Smith can do making his arrow flat lined for now.

13. Chicago Bears - Smokin' Jay Cutler is 23-9 as a starter the past three seasons.  Although his body language is epicly poor, the Bears do play hard for Cutler.  He has an absolute cannon and can make any throw you require.  Even if Cutler will never be a top five quarterback you can win with him and the Bears nearly made the Super Bowl in 2010.  I'm not sure if Cutler's pouting will always be overlooked by his teammates but for now he is more than viable to remain starter in the windy city.

12. Baltimore Ravens - I go back and forth on Joe Flacco just about every week.  However the fact of the matter is Flacco has won five playoff games and was a Lee Evans dropped pass away from reaching last season's Super Bowl.  Although I think Flacco will never truly be elite you can absolutely win with him.  I'm not sure though if Cam Cameron is the coach to lead the Ravens offense to its highest level of success.  I think Flacco has the ability to crack the top 10 but for now his arrow will continue to meander week to week.

11. Indianapolis Colts - Having watched the Colts through the first half of the season you can totally understand why they sucked so hard for Luck last season.  As excellent as Manning is do you want to surround a previously injured 36 year old quarterback with an aging, hole filled roster or turn the keys over to a 23 year old stud who has the tools to be your next Manning?  It was a no brainer and Luck may reward the Colts with a wild card berth in season one.  This is besides the point though as Luck should enjoy a great career where his potential is to become a top five quarterback in the NFL. 

10. Detroit Lions - Matt Stafford has all the tools to be an elite quarterback.  I'd argue that the only quarterback with more physical gifts is Aaron Rodgers.  Stafford throws ropes and has the tightest spiral you'll see.  However early in his career he was extremely injury prone.  Additionally he's off to a rough start in 2012.  While he probably opened the season as the #6 or 7 QB, Stafford does remain in the top 10.  His arrow is flat lined for now with the ability to move back up to that 7ish area or meander back into middle of the road territory.  Nonetheless the Lions have their man for the foreseeable future.

9. Washington Redskins - The Redskins swapped their first round pick in 2012 with the Rams in addition to giving them two more first rounders and another 2nd round pick.  All this was given up in order to draft Robert Griffin.  Although they paid out the ass, I feel that the Redskins won this trade.  The NFL has simply turned into a quarterback league.  After years of Jason Campbell, Mark Brunell, Gus Frerotte, Patrick Ramsey, and many others, the Redskins had simply had enough.  Griffin has thus far demonstrated the athletic ability of both Mike Vick and Cam Newton but with much more guile, poise, and maturity.  RG3, like Andrew Luck, is destined for perennial top five status.  In the nation's capital they could give a shit about  who gets elected president, they get to watch Griffin play the next 12+ years!

8. Houston Texans - Matt Schaub has very quietly turned into an upper echelon quarterback.  For those who think he's simply a better version of Alex Smith I do remind you that he threw for a league leading 4700+ yards in 2009.  Schaub doesn't put up the gaudy numbers anymore because the Texans don't ask him to.  Remember, football is about winning, even if it's at the expense of us fantasy owners.  The Texans formula to win is great defense, an excellent running game, and Matt Schaub's ability to strike downfield in play action.  For the Texans' fan sake I would have liked to have seen Schaub get his playoff legs last year but injuries will delay that until this year where we'll find out if he can meet their Super Bowl aspirations.  Schaub should be plenty good for the next three to five seasons.

7. Atlanta Falcons - Even though my contemporary David Glassman doesn't believe in Matt Ryan nearly as much as me, I do have to point out that Ryan is 50-19 in his NFL career.  The Falcons had never been over .500 in consecutive years in their franchise history.  This year they are on their way to doing that for a fifth straight year.  The red flag on Ryan's resume is his 0-3 playoff record where his teams have been outscored 102-47.  His career passer rating is 90.1 while his playoff rating is 71.2.  In addition, two of his three losses were home games.  However, this is the first year where the Falcons aren't going to rely on a fat, old, worn down RB come playoff time.  They have turned the keys 100% over to Matt Ryan and the passing game.  I do think this is the year he wins a playoff game but until that happens and happens consistently, Ryan can't get much higher than his current position.  

6. New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees will help owners win many fantasy leagues nationwide but unfortunately it isn't going to be a great year in New Orleans.  Bountygate and Goodell's sanctions have cost Brees his head coach/offensive guru for the entire 2012 season in Sean Payton.  As a result Brees, although putting up gaudy numbers, hasn't been as sharp particularly in late games.  Nonetheless Brees is only 33 years old, plays in a dome, and should be very effective for another five plus seasons.  I'd expect that he won't fall much further than this in 2012 but that he can reclaim top three status in future seasons.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers - Shhhhh, we need to be very quiet.  Nobody can know that Roethlisberger is sporting a 14-3 TD/Int rate and a rating of 101.4.  Although the Steelers defense may be aging a bit, its quarterback has been outstanding.  Roethlisberger has always played above his raw numbers by extending plays and throwing the best deep ball in football (now that Rivers stinks).  I also feel pretty dirty having used the words 'raw', 'extending', and 'deep ball' to describe Roethlisberger.  I'm not sure if nationally Roethlisberger will ever get his due as a top two or three quarterback but another Super Bowl win coupled with strong playoff performances would put him there for me.  At 30 years old Roethlisberger will continue to be a great quarterback another five plus years.

4. Denver Broncos - Peyton Manning is completely back.  Quite frankly I no longer care if his arm strength returns as Manning has proved he doesn't need it to have success.  He leads the league in passer rating at 109.0 and provided his health holds up should break many of that cock smoker Brett Favre's records.  I'm certainly pulling for him to do so.  I can definitively say that Peyton Manning is the greatest regular season quarterback in NFL history... I can, Patriots fans.  Unfortunately his post season resume doesn't match his regular season brilliance.  Manning, though, has motivation out the arse.  In no particular order, the Colts traded him, many suggested he should retire, most said his arm was too weak when he came back, his brother has one upped him in Super Bowl titles, and Brady separated himself further in the all time rankings with another Super Bowl appearance.  I think Manning will be effective another two or three years and the NFL is better off for it.

3. New England Patriots - If you include the playoffs Tom Brady's career record is 145-44.  Until Brady came along Bill Belichick was nothing more than a borderline head coach more than likely a lifetime defensive coordinator.  Until Tom Brady came along the New England Patriots were an up and down but mostly bungling franchise.  At this juncture, even at 35 years old, Brady is still in his prime (even if it's possibly the end of his prime).  If his skills were to deteriorate some, Brady relies on his noggin more than anything else and is a player I do think could be effective into his early 40's.  Some of you may think I'm hard on him but the reason is simply this...  The 2001-present New England Patriots are in the neighborhood of greatest team runs in NFL history.  Tom Brady is in the neighborhood of the greatest QB in NFL history.  The Brady-Belichick duo is in the neighborhood of top duos in NFL history.  As a fan, I'm a selfish cock sucker.  I don't want in the neighborhood, I want the best.  I hold these Patriots against the 60's Packers, 70's Steelers, and 80's 49ers.  I hold Tom Brady against Joe Montana, Otto Graham, Johnny Unitas, and Bart Starr.  I hold the duo against Montana-Walsh, Starr-Lombardi.  There is work to do for him to reach that.  So if some of you get pissy that I don't tongue his balls at every turn, well sue me.

2. New York Giants - If the ball is on your own 8 yard line with 2:51 remaining in the game down by 4 in a playoff or must win game I absolutely want Eli Manning over any other quarterback in that situation.  The reason is that with him I don't have to say, well, is it outdoors and crappy out?  Are you playing at home or on the road?  Is the defense he's playing against elite?  How has he played the previous 57+ minutes?  These questions do not matter whatsoever with Eli.  You are going to get a completely unphased, unafraid, stupid but for his own good quarterback.  Eli may have the occasional regular season stinker where the Giants get smoked at home by some shmuck team but when stakes are high he is at his best.  Manning is 31 years old and I'd argue just now hitting his prime.  He should be plenty good the next seven plus years.

1. Green Bay Packers - Talent-wise Aaron Rodgers is so much better than the rest of the league it isn't funny.  The Packers dumbness in coaching and Rodgers toeing the assured/arrogant line are the only things that could hold him back.  I would bet anything that Rodgers will retire a top 10 and probably top 5 all time QB.  He should win a few more MVP's.  I believe Rodgers will reach a couple more Super Bowls while winning at least one more.  He's only 28 years old and will remain the class of league for atleast five to seven more years if not longer.  

Let's Take a Deep Breath

Fact, the 2012 New England Patriots are a flawed team.  Their defensive backs are an utter mess, Belichick's game management has been spotty and arrogant at best, and they close games about as poorly as any team could.

However, and I write this for my own therapy too, there are many reasons to remain positive.

Patriots reasons....

• The Patriots are young.  This is the youngest team in Belichick's 13 years in New England.  Young teams notoriously have a tough time closing games and winning tight games.  I'll take you back to the 1993 Patriots.  This team started 1-11 losing games by a score of 19-16, 17-14, 10-9, 9-6, 13-10, 17-13, 6-0, and 17-14.  The 93 Pats then figured it out as they went on to win their final four games then rode that momentum into 1994 where they went 10-6 and made the playoffs.
  
  You want a more recent example?  The 2010 Detroit Lions started 2-10 losing games by a score of 19-14, 35-32, 28-26,  23-20, 14-12, and 24-20.  They then ripped off four wins to close the year and rode that momentum into a 10-6 playoff season in 2011.
  
  Do you think a young team with Tom Brady, several key veterans, and Bill Belichick coaching can gain similar momentum in a quicker time frame by figuring out how to win close games?  I do too.
• Josh McDaniels will figure out how to best use his offensive weapons.  It's his first year coaching this specific Patriots team.  The play calling may still be maddening at times but it will get better.
• After dishing out money to Gronkowski and Hernandez, they HAVE to begin getting utilized better.  Those contracts indicate that these two guys is what the Patriots are building around.  Hernandez has been hurt and Gronkowski is far too talented to stay on his current pace of an 80 catch, 900 yard season .
• Chandler Jones has been a beast.  No reason to think he won't keep that up.
• The one part of Belichick that drives me nuts is his arrogance.  It's like he wants to do things differently so that NFL Films can wax poetically about how much of a genius he is.  You know what kills arrogance and breeds humility/humbleness?  Losing.  Get back to better clock and game management, Bill.
• The Patriots have lost two NFC games.  These mean less than dick when it comes to end of the year tie-breakers.
• It's not like the Patriots are getting smoked.  They've lost three games by a total of four points.  They could be similarly flawed yet 6-0 and I wouldn't be typing this up.
• The secondary CAN'T play worse.... right?

AFC East reasons for optimism....

• Although I do think the entire AFC East is feisty enough to beat the Patriots any Sunday and I truly don't see any of these teams as door knobs, the division is still not very good.  I see the Jets, Dolphins, and Bills as teams that will win in the neighborhood of 6 to 9 games.
• The Patriots will win 10 games.

AFC reasons for optimism......

• The AFC stinks.  If Denver beats San Diego tonight then the only teams above .500 will be the Texans and Ravens who are both 5-1.
• Have you watched the Ravens?  That defense is getting very old.  They have won games by the score of 31-30 and 31-29.  Oh and the lost Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb for the season yesterday.
• Not to mention T-Sizzle is still out.  The Ravens are flawed.
• Aaron Rodgers shredded the bijesus out of the Texans at Houston on SNF.  So much for that great defense.
• Do Matt Schaub and Gary Kubiak scare you?  Me either.
• Who else is in the AFC?  Denver?  Manning, albeit still a genius, has a noodley arm and his defense stinks.  San Diego? Pfff, I won't waste my breath.  The Steelers?  You can't rule them out but they are 2-3 with no running game and an aging defense.  The AFC East we discussed isn't there yet and the AFC South minus Houston is garbage.  The Raiders, Chiefs, and Browns are total door knobs.  The Bengals?  They lost to the Browns!
• Seriously, the AFC stinks.

NFL reasons for optimism....

• Getting through the NFC playoffs will be an utter gauntlet.  Giants, Bears, Packers, Falcons, and 49ers are all legit teams to win the super bowl in 2012.  They will have to beat one another to make it.
• I'd argue the Eagles, Vikings, Seahawks, and possibly the Cardinals or Cowboys will be in contention and WOULD make the playoffs in the AFC.
• The last two Super Bowl champions were very flawed and had uneven regular seasons.  The 2010 Packers were 8-6 at one point and only made the playoffs thanks to the Eagles miracle win against the Giants.  You know what happened then?  They played their best football in the playoffs rolling their way to a championship.  I have a high school friend who's a Packers fan.  What do you think he'd say to me if I said to him, "Hey you may have won Super Bowl XLV but your team was flawed and you only made it cuz of that Giants-Eagles game."  He'd say, fahk you, we won the Super Bowl.  Then he'd watch his SB DVD.
  
  The 2011 Giants were actually outscored on the season.  They scored 394 points and allowed 400.  They went 9-7. Statistically they are by far the worst Super Bowl champion ever.  * Side note, statistically they were, but as an actual SB winner, they were not the worst, hell to the no. *  They lost twice to the shitastic Redskins.  They had a stretch where they lost five of six games.  I have a friend who I played flag football with who likes the Giants.  Do you know what he'd say if I told him, "the Giants were flawed and statistically the worst super bowl champion ever."  He'd say fahk you.  Then he'd rub it in my face that they've beaten the Patriots in two super bowls.  Then he'd go watch his SB DVD.
• And let's say the Patriots remain flawed and happen to make the Super Bowl anyway due to the stinkyness of the AFC.  From that point you just have to win a single game even if it's against a better team.  And you know what?  If Wes Welker holds onto the ball then the 2011 Patriots would have played out just how the 2012 Patriots could play out.  A good team with many flaws winning a championship.
  
  It ain't about the style points people so let's allow the season to unfold.... except I will still post on fb incessantly each week how we are porked.

Brooklyn Nets.... Really?

Really, the Brooklyn Nets?  That's the next hopeful super team?  The Nets?  Of all the great franchises Dwight Howard could try to land on, he wants to join up with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson to bring the historic Nets franchise their first NBA Crown?

It started with the Boston Celtics pulling Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett together.  At the time this seemed organic - three veterans teaming up via trades to make a push for a title - but little did we know this would become the new NBA.  The young guys of the league took notice.  Why wait until you are 32 years old to make this move?  After all, this is a league with a handful of contenders (that's being generous), about six to eight teams who can top out in the second round of the playoffs, and finally another 15 or so who just flat out suck and are waiting for their break - either through the lottery (Sonics/Thunder), or in the case of a sweet city, a free agent who wants to bring his services there (New York/Los Angeles).

While the young players took notice of what the Celtics did, other teams had to take notice.  And by teams I mean ownership.  You have to land/possess that true superstar and fight your balls off to lure his pals to team up.

Obviously the Heat took this strategy to a, very clearly premeditated, extreme.  James, Wade, and Bosh teamed up guaranteed a billion titles, blah blah blah blah blah.  You know the story.  This was undoubtedly the most effective super-team creation due to the sheer talent and youth of these three players.  What it has now created is even more wannabes.  I don't particularly like it but at the same time I really can't blame players/teams for going in this direction.  If you don't try to go super team then your options are to either take lots of time and energy to carefully put together a team like the Spurs, Pistons (earlier 2000's), or Pacers. OR ruthlessly tank, gather a ton of picks, and expiring contracts in hopes of pulling off a nasty trade or luring a free agent.

There is one caveat though for getting free agents.  Your city better be desirable.  Sorry Minnesota, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Portland, Toronto, Cleveland, Washington, Charlotte, Denver, Utah, Golden State, and New Orleans.  You guys are all doomed to suck unless you go the Sonics/Thunder route and win a franchise changing player in the lottery.  THAT BEING SAID, don't fuck it up with incompetent management.... Cleveland..... otherwise your free agent will head to a more desirable city to join up with another superstar.  If he doesn't leave through free agency then he'll probably try and force a trade.... Denver.... so that he can play in a more desirable city with another superstar.

So where does it leave us?  It leaves us with the New York Knicks trying to slap together Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony while (last year) hoping to lure Chris Paul.  It leaves us with the Los Angeles Lakers all but having Chris Paul to team up with Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum.  And now it supposedly leaves us with the fucking NETS being a desirable team to piece together our next super team.

Now any of us with half a brain know that the Knicks aren't contending for shit.  We also know that a team of Dwight Howard and Joe Johnson as two of your best three players is about as mentally tough as an overtired 5 year old girl.  Nonetheless, the stars of the league have made it very clear where THEY want to form their team.

Is it San Antonio with the best coach in the league and tons of wily vets?  Nah, too low key.
Is it Detroit with lots of great history and a reputation of tough teams?  It's cold and crappy there.
Is it Boston who has the most championships and impeccable tradition?  Eff that I'm not going to get seen enough there...

Nope.  Trade me to the NETS!!!!!

Some thoughts.....

While I try to wait for a good topic to come to mind here are a few random thoughts......

- NFL Networks top 100 players of 2012 got the top player right for the second consecutive season with Aaron Rodgers being #1 for this upcoming season.  Rodgers accuracy, athleticism, and overall skill set really set him apart from the rest of the league and in time could set him apart from many of the all time greats.

Rodgers' career quarterback rating is a ridiculous 104.1 while number 2 all time is Tony Romo at 96.9 (really Romo is #2????).  Let's remember that Rodgers plays half his games at Lambeau where the weather can often be absolutely brutal - not to mention he heads to Chicago every year too.  In addition to this mark, his career playoff qb rating is 105.5 - which even includes that stinker vs the Giants last January.  You may have guessed it but this too is #1 all time with Bart Starr's 104.8 being #2.  Rodgers has thrown 93 career touchdowns to just 38 interceptions.  Where does his TD/INT ratio place him? Number 1.  Anyone who speaks of Favre being better simply has their eyes shut or is trying to be a contrarian.  Volume and durability, although impressive, does not touch  laser sharp efficiency.  There is no reason to think that Rodgers doesn't slap together at least 8-10 more solid to excellent seasons.  I also expect him to get another ring or two.

He is the number 1 player for 2012 and frankly it isn't even close.

Sure I'm a Tom Brady honk but I think being placed #4 behind Calvin Johnson was incorrect.  I will grant you that Megatron is the best non-QB in the league, however, the 2006 Patriots made up of absolute BUM receivers went 12-4 and should have played in the super bowl if not for a late collapse versus the Colts.  Megatron, on the other hand, has played for one 10-6 team.  Wide Receivers are a sexy glamour position but you can't tell me that you would start your team for 2012 (and 2012 only) with Calvin Johnson over Tom Brady, it simply isn't true.

Darrelle Revis was ranked as the highest defensive player at #5 which I don't have a problem with.  I do waffle back and forth on the shut down corner or dynamite pass rusher.  Having followed the Patriots my whole life and having my heart torn out in two super bowls versus a team who can get after the quarterback I think I, by the slimmest of margins, would take the pass rusher.  Give me Demarcus Ware, Jared Allen, or Jason Pierre-Paul who can get pressure without the need to blitz.

- I thought I would be more upset about the Heat winning the title but to be honest I'm not.  LeBron grew tremendously these playoffs.   He took the Heat, placed them on his shoulders and simply would not be denied.  James averaged 30+ with 10+ boards and probably played some of the greatest defense of all time.  Think about this, who else can guard all five positions?  He's unreal.  Yes I agree he's still a shmuck and says some stupid things but on the court you have to respect what he did.

No they won't win 7 or 8 titles like he said on that embarrassing evening when he first arrived to Miami but I think there is little doubt he'll win 3 or 4.

- This postseason the NHL broadcasted every playoff game whether it be on NBC Sports, NBC, NHL Network, etc.  This was a tremendous decision and for the first round of the playoffs I found myself watching just about every series.  However once the Bruins got bounced my interest started to die down.  I will undoubtedly give this another shot next season and maybe the non-Bruins run will become more appealing.  For now, however, I'd still put the NFL and NBA ahead of the NHL for me in terms of being able to watch two random teams play in the playoffs.

- My friends are hosting a tecmo tourney on July 21st for anyone interested.  I'm not certain yet that I can go but gah damn that's a great game.  The simplistic left to right play, the players and their ratings going up and down through the season, statistics finally being kept... all these reasons make this a one of a kind game.  I'm not much of a gamer anymore and it's my love of NES and its simple yet fun approach that is probably the reason.

I still have the trophy from the last time this tournament was held in March of 2006.  We do a double elimination tournament where all 28 teams (28 teams in 1991) are written onto ping pong balls and placed into a jar.  Before you square off both players pull a team from the jar.  You are allowed to manipulate your teams playbook in case it is absolutely rotten (looking at you Cardinals).  Also the season must be reset prior to playing your games so that everyone's condition is average.

If I remember correctly - and my wife will tell you I absolutely do not - I beat Glassman, Gumby, Cannata, Witz, then Gumby again in the title game.  The game against Witz was an absolute nail biter where I *believe* I was the Cowboys and he was the Lions (it could be vice versa but those were the teams).  He was driving down by 4 or 5 and made it inside the 10 when time expired.

Anyways I've rambled far too long.  Tecmo rules!

Comeback!!!

The blog has been dormant for too long... I'll be making a comeback so my 9 readers please stay tuned!

An Overhyped Legacy

I've been watching the NFL Network's top 100 players of all time and was greatly disappointed to see that Bart Starr was ranked #51. This means that presumably the experts feel that the following group of players were better: Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, John Elway, Roger Staubach, Otto Graham, Sammy Baugh, Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre (pukes), and possibly Terry Bradshaw. Some of them sure, some meh, some hell no.

I'm not going to debate this though, none of us watched Starr play, and if you've read my facebook statuses over the past few years you are probably sick of hearing Glassman and myself circle jerk to him.

So whose legacy am I going to attack for the next 5,000 words??? Favre??? Too predictable, too easy. Marino??? Nah, I think his legacy is about right among the experts. Some of the old guys like Graham, Baugh, Unitas, Staubach, or Bradshaw??? Let's keep it current, someone we all saw. Montana??? I should slit my wrists and light myself on fire if the thought ever crept into my head. Manning & Brady will retire as two of the top five ever so it's dumb to go there either.

This leaves us with my boy John Elway. It's not really a mystery how I feel about Elway. Elway though is pretty damn overrated. I've seen lists that put him as a top 3 quarterback which is asinine. Elway is probably a top 15 all time quarterback at best and I'm going to tell you why he's not even really all that much better than Buffalo Bill great Jim Kelly who gets about one zillionth as much praise.

Both Elway and Kelly came out of the 1983 draft. Elway was the 1st selection overall taken by the Baltimore Colts while Kelly went 14th to the Bills. Elway was a star athlete who was also drafted by the Yankees and debated playing baseball for a living. He put up a huge snivelly stink about the Colts and forced his way out like a bitch, similar to Eli Manning. All of this immediately put Elway on the map.

Kelly on the other hand didn't make his way over to Buffalo until 1986, instead opting to play two seasons in the USFL where he was 1984 league MVP and in those two years amassed 9,842 passing yards and 83 TD's (granted against a bunch of shit bums, but still, Jesus Christ).

From 1986 to 1996 both men played in the NFL at the same time and both the Broncos and Bills owned the AFC - which, as we'll get to, isn't saying a whole lot. The 4 or 5 best teams each season were in the NFC.

So what's the two biggest reasons why everyone strokes it to Elway? What does he got that Kelly doesn't.

1. He has a signature, all time moment - The Drive. In the 1986 AFC Championship Game Elway led the Broncos on a 98 yard touchdown drive at the end of the 4th quarter to tie the game and force overtime. The Broncos obviously went on to win.

Now anytime a team has the ball with only a few minutes left every announcer parallels the moment to Elways. It's hard to argue that this wasn't one of the great playoff moments in NFL history, shit was sick, but it makes everyone think "4th quarter comebacks" and "John Elway" like they are synonomous. (In Kelly's first AFC Championship game the Bills were too busy raping the Raiders 51-3 so there wasn't a moment like this).

2. Elway won 2 Super Bowls, Kelly didn't win any. We'll get back to this....
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From 1986 to 1993 the Broncos and Bills represented the AFC in 7 of the 8 Super Bowls (they went 0-7). Here's a breakdown of how their numbers match up in this stretch:

Pro Bowls: Elway 5, Kelly 5 - EVEN
First Team All Pro: Elway 0, Kelly 1 (1991) - ADVANTAGE KELLY
Passing Yards: Elway 26,094 Kelly 26,413 - DEAD ASS EVEN
TD's & INT's: Elway 136-115, Kelly 179-126 - BIG ADVANTAGE KELLY (I was pretty shocked at how badly Kelly rolled him here)
Win-Loss record: Elway 71-45-1, Kelly 76-42 - EVEN
Playoff W/L record: Elway 7-5, Kelly 8-6 - EVEN
Super Bowl Performances: Both fucking blew - EVEN

Let's get one caveat out of the way. The Buffalo Bills in this stretch were more talented than the Denver Broncos... easily. Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley, etc, etc

The argument could be said that John Elway CARRIED a sad group to 3 Super Bowls and all this success. I can't dispute that, he did. However these two teams didn't quite peak at the same time in this eight year stretch. This wasn't like Brady and Manning having to go through one another to get to the Super Bowl. The Broncos owned the first half of this run, the Bills had the second. They only met in the playoffs once which was the 1991 AFC Championship Game won by Buffalo 10-7. Had they peaked at the same time, I'm sorry to say Broncos fans, your boy Elway doesn't get to a single Super Bowl. The Bills would have squashed them. They were just a much better team.

This leads to another question, who exactly did Elway defeat in the AFC to make this run of dominance in the conference? Talk about STINK. I guess their big rivals were the Browns and big bad Bernie Kosar. Miami was decent in the mid 80's, besides that though who else????

Like I said earlier the top 4 or 5 teams were in the NFC every year. This was about the 49ers, Bears, Redskins, Giants, and Cowboys. In this time frame, 1984 to 1996 in fact, the NFC won 13 straight Super Bowls - 11 blow outs and 2 close games. One of those close games featured the only AFC team who was probably better and should have beaten their NFC counterpart.... the 1990 Buffalo Bills.

In Super Bowl XXV, the Bills allowed Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick to dictate the way this game was played. It was a hard hitting, grind em out, and sustaining drives kind of game. EXACTLY up the Giants alley and not what the high scoring Bills wanted. Nonetheless, Kelly led a nice little drive himself to put the Bills within a Scott Norwood 47 yard field goal of winning the game. We know how it ended... wide right and the only time the Bills would sniff a chance at a title.

In the end though, Elway and Kelly played each other to a draw during this stretch - the PRIME of both players.
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Kelly went on to play 3 more seasons. He never made another pro bowl but he had decent years in 1994 & 1995. In 1995 & 1996 the Bills reached the playoffs but by this time their dominant nucleus was growing old. Kelly started to suck in his final year throwing 14 TD's and 19 INT's and it was time to hang em up.

In 1990, 91, and 92 Elway threw for 15, 13, and 10 touchdowns, yes 10. His ratings were 78.5, 75.4 and a Jamarcus Russelesque 65.7.

In 1993 and 1994 Elway bounced back with two nice years as the Broncos started to get him a few weapons but they were still pretty ordinary going 16-16. They weren't anything close to a Super Bowl contender.

Then from 1995 to 1998 Elway (and the Broncos) had a resurgence. By this point he was 35 years old. Had he hooked up with Barry Bonds folks at Balco??? What exactly happened from 1995 to 1998??

Terrell Davis. That's what happened.

Besides Earl Campbell and Eric Dickerson , no running back has had a four year run to start his career like Terrell Davis. No running back in NFL History was better in the playoffs. I won't argue this and anybody who tries to tell me another running back will be yelled down until I lose my voice. Terrell Davis played in 8 playoff games.... here are his numbers (get some tissues).

1996 Loss to Jacksonville: 14 carries 91 yards 1 TD

1997 Win vs Jacksonville: 31 carries 184 yards 2 TD's
1997 Win vs Kansas City: 25 carries 101 yards 2 TD's
1997 Win vs Pittsburgh: 26 carries 139 yards 1 TD
1997 Win vs Green Bay: 30 carries 157 yards 3 TD's - Super Bowl MVP

1998 Win vs Miami: 21 carries 199 yards 2 TD's
1998 Win vs NY Jets: 32 carries 167 yards 1 TD
1998 Win vs Atlanta: 25 carries 102 yards

Gooooood.... Loooorrrrd!!!! In 8 games he totalled 1,140 yards, 5.6 yards per carry, and 12 TD's. If you only count the two Super Bowl years (7 games) he had 1,049 yards and 11 TD's. If you stretched this pace out over 16 games (and let's not ignore that this was done against presumably the best teams the NFL had to offer when everyone knew he was getting the rock) he would have 2,398 yards and 25 TD's.

How did Elway do in this time???

1997 Win vs Jacksonville: 16-24 223 yards 1 TD
1997 Win vs Kansas City: 10-19 170 yards
1997 Win vs Pittsburgh: 18-31 210 yards 2 TDs's 1 INT
1997 Win vs Green Bay: 12-22 123 yards 1 INT, 1 TD Run

1998 Win vs Miami: 14-23 182 yards 1 TD
1998 Win vs NY Jets: 13-34 (yikes) 173 yards 1 TD
1998 Win vs Atlanta: 18-29 336 yards 1 TD 1 INT, 1 TD Run - Super Bowl MVP

These numbers certainly aren't bad, NY Jets game aside, but he wasn't asked to win games. I'll give him credit that ending his hall of fame career as a Super Bowl MVP is a pretty nasty way to do so (but TD wasn't exactly minced meat in that game either).

Pat Bowlen, Denver Broncos owner, has the famous line upon receiving Super Bowl XXXII's trophy: "This one's... for John!" What he really meant to say was: "This one's... for John... courtesy... of TD!"

Elway's longevity was impressive. He was fine taking a back seat in order to get to the promised land which I can only applaud. He remained very effective until the end, BUT he NEVER sniffs even another Super Bowl APPEARANCE, let alone win, without Terrell Davis, one of the greatest RB's of all time.

Thanks to this fortune, Elway has transformed in everyone's mind from the guy who always got rolled in lopsided Super Bowls to a "top 3 quarterback" while poor Jim Kelly has night terrors thinking about Norwood's shank which cost him and his legacy. He will NEVER be mentioned in the same echelon as Elway, a place where he belongs (or where Elway should be?). Drives me nuts....