Word: peyton
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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There is something about Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning that just gets people worked up. His singularly impressive statistics, his enormous contract, his ubiquitous TV commercials--all add up to, well, what exactly? To fans, he's a telegenic superstar. To detractors, he's overexposed and overrated. After all, he has never won the Super Bowl. Even after his finest moment as a pro, throwing for 347 yds. in a 38-34 comeback win over the archrival New England Patriots in the game that will give Manning a chance to win the big one, the critics can't resist piling...
Manning's $98 million contract, which included a $34.5 million signing bonus, is another easy target. So is his birth into football royalty. While it's true that Peyton Manning has worked hard to hone his God-given talent, it doesn't hurt to have had a father like Archie Manning, the Ole Miss legend and New Orleans Saints standout quarterback. All the Manning boys are genetic freaks: younger brother Eli is a starting quarterback, though not an effective one for now, with the New York Giants, and older brother Cooper was slashing toward stardom before a spinal disorder ended...
...negotiations, though Archie has denied that. Eli has struggled for the Giants, while the quarterback for whom he was traded, Philip Rivers, made the Pro Bowl this year after leading the Chargers to a stellar season. It's a small yet satisfying slither of revenge for the anti-Peyton army...
Since he's in his first full season as quarterback, Eli will get a pass if the Giants falter. But the pressure is clearly on Peyton. Although he has thrown for 4,000 yds. in each of the past six seasons, tossed 49 touchdown passes last year--breaking Dan Marino's 1984 record--and twice won the NFL's MVP award, the critics chirp that he has never made it to the Super Bowl. "Peyton feels the weight on his shoulders," says John Michael Vincent, an Indianapolis sports-radio host. "There's going to be a lot of disappointment...
...This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.] The Mannings Compared How they played: QBs Eli, Peyton and Archie's stats in their first 17 NFL starts Eli Peyton Archie WON-LOST RECORD 8-9 4-13 4-10-3 PASS ATTEMPTS 520 608 373 COMPLETIONS 265 347 180 COMPLETION % 51 57.1 48.3 PASSING YARDS 3,297 4,023 2,393 TOUCHDOWN PASSES 24 28 15 INTERCEPTIONS 18 30 19 PASSER RATING 71.9 72 61.2 Although a bit inconsistent throughout his young career, Eli has been at his best late in the game...