Things are never quite as good or bad as they seem. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are living, breathing examples of that concept.
Brees has been considered one of the better quarterbacks in football since he and Shawn Payton first joined forces in the Big Easy in 2006. Prior to his Super Bowl triumph, however, he wasn’t in the conversation with signal callers like Manning, Farve, Brady, or Roethlisberger, all of whom have won championships.
Manning, on the other hand, is a three-time MVP and undisputedly the most cerebral passer in the game. Even though Manning is widely-respected by anyone and everyone affiliated with professional football, his Super Bowl defeat leaves him in familiar territory: he is once again the guy who has trouble winning the big game.
Football is a fickle mistress; one day you’re the best thing since sliced bread, and the next day you’re not even good enough to quarterback the Chicago Bears (see Kordell Stewart). John Elway may now be viewed as one of the top three quarterbacks to ever play the game, but until 1998, he was widely believed to be an amazing athlete who failed spectacularly in three Super Bowls in less than a decade.
Pre-Super Bowl, Brees was seen as a product of a pass-friendly system, while Manning was viewed as the epitome of what a quarterback could be in the modern game. One more ring and Manning was destined to be the greatest quarterback of all-time.
After the dust fell on Miami, however, many critics have shifted views. Manning now plays the role of star-crossed hero. Brees is not only Mardi Gras king, but New Orleans savior, future MVP, and all around good guy to boot.
The book has yet to be written on the careers of Drew Brees & Peyton Manning. The truth of the matter is that both men are great passers, capable of amazing feats when put into borderline situations. The destiny of each has as much to do with things like salary cap restrictions and collective bargaining as it does personal willpower.
It’s rather silly to offer predictions, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the ride.
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