Peyton Manning's Legacy

[outofplace]

We've been hearing about this all week, so let's give it a thread.

Is Manning really staking a claim to being the best quarterback in NFL history if he finally gets a Super Bowl ring Sunday? Obviously it raises his standing, but I'm not sure it puts him at the top.

To me, it's still Joe Montana at the top. He had the combination of great statistics, amazing comebacks and championships. Who else makes the elite group?

One thing that drove me nuts today was two local radio idiots coming up with a list of quarterbacks they would take ahead of Montana (Manning, Dan Marino, Tom Brady, Steve Young were on it).

The best was how uninformed they were. They dismissed Montana's mobility, which was an important part of his game. They listed that as an advantage for Brady over Montana, which flat out isn't true.

They also dismissed his numbers as a bunch of five-yard outs that Jerry Rice turned into big plays. Never mind that Montana led the 49ers to two Super Bowl championships without Rice. Freddie Solomon and Dwight Clark were nice receivers, but they weren't Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

End of rant...other opinions?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Montana and Unitas were the best I ever saw personally.
There's a case that perhaps Starr was better than Johnny U, but I respectfully disagree.
Check back on the history/stat books, Otto Graham is the best of 'em. He lost like 20 games in a 10 year career.
My dad grew up in DC, insists Baugh was the best. He could be right.
After a certain point of superlativeness, "best" is an opinion which can never be verified.
It's natural but pointless to insist otherwise.

 

[imjustagirl2]

Peyton's legacy will be as my babydaddy.

 

[BYH]

I love Peyton. I think he is great. He's the best and he has nothing to prove to me Sunday.

 

[imjustagirl2]

Um, BYH? You seem to have misposted. I think you were looking for the "make lies up about yourself" thread.

 

[slappy4428]

Peyton's legacy will be as my babydaddy.

**sigh**
Do we need another restraining order?

 

[imjustagirl2]

No. No restraining order necessary.

The only one I'd kidnap (for his own good) would be Brook. The rest will just have to live with the pain of not being with me.

 

[dooley_womack1]

He'd need to win a couple more to be anywhere in Montana territory

 

[Norman Stansfield]

Peyton certainly is no Dave Dickinson.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

QBs better than Manning, as far as historic impact, quality of teammates they had to lift, leadership and of course, the most important aspect: victory . . . . (no particular order):

Joe Montana
John Elway
Tom Brady
Johnny Unitas
Troy Aikman
Steve Young

Yes, I know Aikman had great teammates. But he was very underrated, just excellent, and a gamer. Young too. But the top three . . .Montana didn't get a truly great offense around him until after the first Super Bowl, and Elway lifted teams to great things before Davis got there. Brady . . .you won't see any of his WRs or RBs in the Hall of Fame.

I put Unitas because if I didn't, I'd hear about it. Can't say I ever saw him play.

QBs Manning is undoubtedly superior to:
Dan Marino and everyone below him.

The only thing I cannot stand about Manning, of course, is that pre-snap idiocy. Stop shouting, Peyton, the defense sees that no one is moving, and they're not fooled. It takes Elway's damn head shakes to the next level.

If he wins Sunday, his legacy will be that he broke through and became a champion after falling short for a lifetime. Nothing will change that, ever. And the overrated Marino will be pissed off.

 

[sportschick]

Peyton certainly is no Dave Dickinson.

Either of them are welcome to father my children.

 

[BYH]

Peyton certainly is no Dave Dickinson.

Either of them are welcome to father my children.

But they're older than 13. [/dead. to. Sportschick.]

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Piotr:

Umm ... did you just forget about Favre, or do you really think he's that far down the list?

Well, bollocks.

Completely forgot about Favre. Maybe it's because I dislike Peter King's work so much.

From 1992-2004, I would put him only behind Montana and Elway. What an amazing QB he was in his prime. Had the numbers like Manning, but was massive in big games once they got over the hump in 1996. Now, he kind of sucks.

Thanks, buckweaver. Now shouldn't you get over to the "fixing the game of baseball" thread and proclaim your innocence?

 

[dooley_womack1]

He'd need to win a couple more to be anywhere in Montana territory

Or, you know, win one.

I was basing my answer on the thread's question: What if he won his first Super Bowl? I was answering as if he had, which is what the thread asked.

 

[Oz]

Johnny Unitas set the standard. Joe Montana and everyone else is ranked below him in my books.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

Piotr:

Umm ... did you just forget about Favre, or do you really think he's that far down the list?

Well, bollocks.

Completely forgot about Favre. Maybe it's because I dislike Peter King's work so much.

From 1992-2004, I would put him only behind Montana and Elway. What an amazing QB he was in his prime. Had the numbers like Manning, but was massive in big games once they got over the hump in 1996. Now, he kind of sucks.

Now Favre kind of sucks?

I'd say he's getting up in age, or not what he once was. But sucks is a little harsh, I'd say.

 

[outofplace]

I'm not sure Marino gets the credit he deserves either. He never had the offensive talent around him that Manning does. The Dolphins never really had a quality running back for him. And I still think he made Duper and Clayton more than they made him.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Piotr:

Umm ... did you just forget about Favre, or do you really think he's that far down the list?

Well, bollocks.

Completely forgot about Favre. Maybe it's because I dislike Peter King's work so much.

From 1992-2004, I would put him only behind Montana and Elway. What an amazing QB he was in his prime. Had the numbers like Manning, but was massive in big games once they got over the hump in 1996. Now, he kind of sucks.

Now Favre kind of sucks?

I'd say he's getting up in age, or not what he once was. But sucks is a little harsh, I'd say.

He's become a guy who will throw the key interception.

As for Marino, I cannot stand his tendency to throw into triple coverage, thn ***** out the wideout for not making the catch. My favorite Marino story comes from SI about 12 years ago. They had a Scorecard feature about what different QBs gave their O-linemen for Christmas/end of season gift. Some guys gave golf clubs, watches, etc.

Marino? His guys, who lived in Miami, got Isotoner gloves. Guess what his main endorsement was?

Just always thought he was a prick. Add in the fact he's a horrible analyst (is anyone in that studio any good?), and simply wasn't a winner as a player.

 

[buckweaver]

He's become a guy who will throw the key interception.

Favre was the most feared quarterback in the league for nearly a decade. There was a long period of time when NOBODY wanted to play in Green Bay. There was a time that NOBODY wanted to give Favre the ball in a tie game late.

But now, he has no help. None.

And yes, you can make the argument that Elway and Brady (and Montana, early on) have done a lot with some pretty ****ty offenses over the years. But an aging Elway wouldn't be much better with this offense than an aging Favre is.

I'll digress before I get going.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

He's become a guy who will throw the key interception.

Favre was the most feared quarterback in the league for nearly a decade. There was a long period of time when NOBODY wanted to play in Green Bay. There was a time that NOBODY wanted to give Favre the ball in a tie game late.

But now, he has no help. None.

And yes, you can make the argument that Elway and Brady (and Montana, early on) have done a lot with some pretty ****ty offenses over the years. But an aging Elway wouldn't be much better with this offense than an aging Favre is.

I'll digress before I get going.

All true. But I can't help but think he's lost a lot.