Peyton Manning’s Legacy Already Secure

In an interesting piece, Shutdown Corner’s Frank Schwab refutes the idea that every big game Peyton Manning plays in is somehow a referendum on his legacy.

"“Remember when facing Tom Brady and the Patriots in the AFC championship game was Manning’s legacy on the line? Sure was … until he didn’t follow up that win by winning the Super Bowl. Somehow the Super Bowl was all Manning’s fault, and means he isn’t that great. That game wasn’t about Manning, although he didn’t play well. It was about a great Seahawks team that dominated the NFL last season from start to finish.”"

As Broncos fans, we’re sick and tired of the mediots blowing the value of Manning’s legacy out of proportion. People seem to forget that he’s won a Super Bowl, for crying out loud.

Granted, he’s 1-2 in Super Bowl action, but as a quarterback, it’s hard to argue that there’s ever been a better one, in the history of the NFL, than Peyton Manning.

My view is a little bit skewed. Perhaps I see things through Orange colored glasses, but other than John Elway, Manning is the GOAT. The greatest of all time.

The same people who will argue that Joe Montana is the best QB ever, because he won 4 Super Bowls, will also say that Terry Bradshaw isn’t in the conversation, even though he won 4 too. His stats weren’t prolific enough, etc. Blah blah blah.

However, it is my opinion that rings do factor into who the greatest QBs ever are, but they’re not the end-all be-all. There’s no question, for example, that Dan Marino is one of the best to ever play the game, but he can’t be the best ever, because he didn’t win the big one.

By the time Peyton Manning hangs up his cleats for good, he’ll own every career passing record in the NFL. He’s already won an all time best 5 league MVPs. He’s broken the single season touchdown record twice. He’s led two different teams to the Super Bowl. He’s a 13 time Pro Bowler and a 7 time first team All-Pro. And again, I remind everyone, he has won a datgum Super Bowl!

I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Schwab. The talking heads in the media need to give it a rest. Peyton Manning cemented his place as a first ballot Hall of Famer before he ever came to Denver. Since he became a Bronco, he’s only built on that legend in ways that can never be duplicated.

And guess what? He’s not finished. He still has 3 years left on his deal with the Broncos. And John Elway just reloaded the roster. It’s Super Bowl or bust again. Last year, they busted. This year could very well be a different story.

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