The Next Elway?

When Peyton Manning entered the NFL draft, I was quick to anoint him the ‘next Elway’. People who heard me say this were quick to point out that we’d just have to wait and see. Maybe I was biased because of my love for the Tennessee Volunteers, but I knew then that Peyton was special. Not just special because he had the class and desire to come back to school for his senior year for a chance at a National Championship. Not just special because he was 6’5”, the son of an NFL great Quarterback, and had all the tools. Peyton was special because he was the most rare combination of physical tools, character, leadership, intelligence, desire to win, and work ethic ever to enter the league.

After becoming the #1 overall pick and going to the Indianapolis Colts (in spite of ludicrous suggestions by some publications that the Colts should take Ryan Leaf over Manning because of his stronger arm), Manning had an excellent start to his young career. After a few years there were some who questioned whether or not he could ever cut down on his interception rate; questioning that was answered soon thereafter when Manning fine-tuned his game to become one of the most efficient QB’s in the league. And yet, there were those who doubted.

When Manning followed up his Co-MVP year in 2003 with his record-breaking 2004 season, only to fall to the Patriots in the playoffs, the mumbling really picked up steam. ‘Not a winner’, ‘can’t get it done in the big games’, or ‘he’s just a good stats guy’ were the most popular descriptions I heard. People were comparing Manning to NFL Quarterbacks of old again, but they were comparisons now being made between Peyton and the two Dan’s; Marino and Fouts.

‘The next Elway’ is what I said in 1998. ‘The next Elway is what I say in 2007, on the eve of a matc-hup between the Colts and their arch-nemeses; Tom Brady and the Patriots. If the Patriots triumph over the Colts again this year, Manning’s legacy will be all but cemented in most people’s minds. He’ll be the greatest statistical QB of all time, but he’ll never be a winner. Can you guess how I would describe Manning, if given only three words, should he his team suffer yet another playoff defeat? ‘The next Elway’.

I’ll never cease to be amazed at how much emphasis Hall of Fame votes, and reputation in general in the NFL, are based on championships. Sure Terry Bradshaw won four championships, but would you really want him over Manning? Joe Theismann won a Lombardy Trophy, would you want him doing anything for you over Manning (including announcing an NFL game!)? Trent Dilfer won a ring, would… I’m done making this point. ‘Football is the ultimate team sport’ is a common phrase, used just yesterday by new Dolphins’ coach Cam Cameron. If it is (and it probably is), then why does one QB take all the blame for his team’s losses, and another QB, who couldn’t hold a candle up to him were their roles reversed, gets all the credit for guiding his team to three championships (you know who you are Brady)?

More than the emphasis on championships, there is something else that always amazes me. It amazes me how we incorporate revisionist history into the legacy of NFL quarterbacks who won a championship, and yet we’re so ready to label other players careers as busts, or disappointments, before they’ve had a chance to completely write their legacy. As soon as Brett Favre won a title all his interceptions and boneheaded plays that previously had fans wondering if they could ever win with this guy, were quickly disregarded as part of Favre’s gunslinger mentality, a part of his greatness, no less! Steve Young was a scrambling QB struggling to establish himself from underneath the shadow of Joe Montana until he played one of the best Super Bowl’s ever by a QB, and suddenly he was a guy who had always been a winner, and finally overcame the challenges he faced. Even Marino was the next great quarterback, going to the Super Bowl in just his second year. He had “it”, he was already a winner; and now he’s labeled as a guy who couldn’t win the big one in spite of his stats, and has to take jabs from far inferior former quarterbacks like Boomer Esiason.

And let’s not forget John Elway himself. Sure he had, “the drive”. He made several Super Bowls throughout his career. But he didn’t win one until his last two seasons, well past his prime. Now we look back at his entire career as historical, epic, and clutch.

Guy’s like Esiason should be polishing the shoes of Dan Marino. Guys like Brady and Roethlisberger should be standing in awe of the way Peyton Manning is taking their position to new heights. Instead, Peyton’s left eating humble pie. If he wins a Super Bowl this year (which I sincerely think he will), much of that stigma will go away. But it shouldn’t have to go away. It shouldn’t be there to begin with. His career is not over, his history is still unwritten. We shouldn’t be having to discuss this at all, but we are. In fact, I take some blame for comparing Manning to Elway to begin with. Maybe he isn’t the next Elway. I think when it’s all said and done, he’s an even better player. He should be allowed to just be the first Peyton Manning.