NFL: The Myth of the Mannings

Okay, I’ve had enough and now I’m ready to finally come right out and say it: The Mannings – yes Peyton too – are overrated.

I’ll pause and let you shout at your computer screen. (This is especially needed for all the members of the media that worship at the Manning temple every Sunday.)

If you’re read this blog at all in the past then you know that I’ve never been high on Eli. I’ve predicted that he couldn’t carry the Giants to the win all year and when it came to time for his to put up or shut up, Eli stumbled and fell.

But I must say, Peyton is a bit overrated too. Oh I don’t mean he isn’t a good quarterback. In fact, he is one of the best.. of all time. I’m not arguing against this point. Look at his numbers. They are incredible.

But somehow Manning has become known as an MVP and a quarterback that can win a game on his own. Well, he can win games one his own but not big games. And more often than not, those games that Manning pulls out were actually won by a defensive interception or a mistake by the opposing offense.

Don’t believe me? Just go back and look at the games. Go back and look at this season.

Manning was horrible early on when he didn’t have his entire o-line. Then he gets back his o-line, spends the second half of the season playing mostly bottom feeders in the NFL, and suddenly he is annointed MVP. Excuse me? No, I mean really.

Look at all the talent surrounding Manning. For years he has two of the top 6 wide outs in the NFL. He also had one of the best tight ends. He also had one of the best o-lines. Any decent quarterback would be very good and any good quarterback would be great.

Again, I understand the Peyton is one of the best of all time, but I also understand that he only one one Super Bowl with superior talent. That’s not good. In fact, that just might fall under the “choker” label.

And let’s not even talk about Eli. He only won because Asante Samuel dropped an easy pick in the Bowl last year. He only won because of a super-human pass rush. Take those two things away and he… well he looks like he did this past week. He loses and looks horrible.

So, yeah let’s stop with all this Manning loving okay? They need help to be good. Remove that help and they aren’t winning any big games. It’s just that plain and simple.