Manning isn't moving
For a Patriots fan, I have an unnatural appreciation for Peyton Manning. All things considered, he's the best quarterback I've ever seen. Throw in my wife's Manning obsession and there is way too much Manning love in the Rosenthal household.
My belief in Manning's ability to play the hand that is dealt is why I'm relatively unconcerned with his recent surgery. It would be a shock if he's not ready for Week 1. And while he could be rusty, it would be an equal shock if he doesn't play well against the Bears, Vikings, and Jaguars in his opening three games before Indy's bye.
It's fair to expect Manning to throw a few less attempts and be slightly less effective before he can rest up during the bye. Thus I tweaked Manning's projections downward today. But changing the stats from those three games had minimal effect.
There was a huge gap between Tom Brady and Manning, and a bigger one between Manning and my third quarterback - Carson Palmer. Now Manning is a little close to Palmer than he is to Brady. No big deal. Either way, Manning remains my number two quarterback and a fine top-30 pick. Marvin Harrison's knees are the ones I'm worried about.
Comments
Hah! I'd thought myself the ONLY Yankee ~ that's someone from New England, no more, no less, for those reading at home! ~ that actually ADMIRES General Peyton Manning!
He's got a FRIGHTENING intensity level, an amazing work ethic, and the heart of a lion.
However, he was STILL on the way to being this generation's Dan Marino ~ that's not a compliment! ~ until, in 2005, he found the vision, the guts, and the discipline to TRUST his Running Game in critical situations. At that point, the Colts transformed from a Frightening team...to a Dangerous team.
Posted by: Christopher Brack | July 16, 2008 02:05 AM
Addendum
However, I still place General Tom Brady one tier above him, and I can boil it down to one reason: Mental Quickness.
I don't believe there is ANY QuarterBack in the NFL who processes Reads as quickly as Tom Brady. And it is to that attribute...that I attribute his amazing post-season success against the best teams in the world.
Posted by: Christopher Brack | July 16, 2008 02:09 AM
I know, he processes those reads so quickly its almost as if he knew what the defense was going to do before the ball is snapped.
Posted by: b roo | July 16, 2008 10:16 AM
OK, usually I'm offering feminine hygiene products to your ilk, but THAT was pretty funny!
Posted by: Christopher Brack | July 16, 2008 01:12 PM
You set it up so perfectly there's no way I could resist. Just shocked nobody beat me to the punchline.
Posted by: b roo | July 17, 2008 04:59 PM
The reason nobody beat you to the punch line is that there ISN'T a punch line, BUB.
Evidently you were in a coma when the "evidence" came out.
And perhaps you missed the part where Brady SHATTERED the TD record ~ playing in Frozen Foxboro, for God's sake! ~ AFTER we STOPPED taping???
Check MATE, Beeyotch!
THANK you and Good NIGHT! ;o)
Posted by: Christopher Brack | July 18, 2008 07:26 PM
Yeah, good thing you loaded up and lost your super bowl post taping...won 3 before that if I remember, commish burns tapes..wth?
bitter Rams fan
Posted by: CarolinaRam | July 19, 2008 07:45 PM