as a fan of football, I mean, I love football. Both my kids can throw and catch, used to watch the bungles on my dad’s knee. I’m not old, but Ive watch Unitas, Montana, Anderson, all of the ‘modern’ greats throw the pig skin. Week in and week out its amazing to watch Peyton Manning play. I don’t say that as a parent fawning over their kid. I say that as someone that is truly in awe of someone elses skill on a football field. There isn’t a week that goes by that Manning doesn’t make multiple ‘omg’ physical AND mental plays.

His ability to know what the defense is going to do seemingly before they do is astounding. A team can run cover 2 all game and just one blitz, but that one blitz he WILL burn you. You watch the teams with other supposed ‘great’ QBs, they never face the coverages Manning does. Those players get blitzed, they face multiple coverages. You listen to the talking heads, ‘so and so said the key to beating Manning is to disguise what you’re doing’. No. No one even bothers disguising anymore. The Ravens don’t do the DDR defense anymore. The Patriots didn’t run the wtfisgoingondefense. The only way to beat the current incarnation of Peyton Manning is to drop 7 or 8 into tight zones and pray to God your front 4 moves him off his spot, and even then, that might not be enough. The bomb to Reggie to win the Jacksonville game had Manning moving to his right, barely setting his feet, and throwing a beautiful deep ball (which, if you listened to anyone, including his old coach, youd think he was the worst QB ever at throwing) and hitting Reggie in stride between C2 zones.

I get irritated by the media not because I need some sort of validation from them for my team, but because they are so blinded by some form of hatred or jealousy that they are unable to just shut up and get out of the way of the best QB in the game and perhaps of all time. I don’t need you telling me what he does wrong. I dont need you analyzing him. Just appreciate his greatness, collect your paycheck, and go home. Peyton Manning has been ripped off all but 3 years, because he’s the league wide MVP, not just this year, but every year. He makes the Colts better. He makes their defense better. He makes their offense better. He may not score on every drive, but he’ll almost always tilt the field. He’s been much better about providing a rest for his defense. No one manipulates the hurry up, no huddle and play clock like Manning. How many DL do you have to have on your roster to be fresh for 60 minutes of the Colts offense? Too many to fit on a 45-man roster.

None of this even discusses his ability to call a game pre-snap. But instead of basking in his greatness, instead of just purely appreciating it, the media has to find every little thing to nit pick about Peyton. He threw his teammates under the bus! (yea, he answered a question honestly, the same way every other QB in the league has, including the golden boy in the north east, but only Peyton gets killed) He’s a choker! (yes, he gave up 20 minute drives to Corey Dillon. He shanked field goals. He allowed 6 people to come free at the QB on 3 man rushes. He gave up on routes and balls constantly.) No one works harder and holds himself more accountable for mistakes than Peyton, but lets rip him anyhow. How many people has he made look like probowlers? Where’s Marcus Pollard? Bryan Fletcher or Ben Utecht? How was Dom Rhodes in Oakland or Buffalo? How did Rich DeMulling work out in Detroit? Aaron Moorehead almost looked competent a few times. Hell, he even got Ty Law into the Hall of Fame, the guy’s a miracle worker.

I love Peyton Manning. And so should everyone else.

I feel better now.