FanPost

On Peyton Manning Leaving Remember This!

This fanpost, where the issue of what Manning's legacy in Indianapolis would be were he go to off and win 3 or 4 Super Bowls someplace else, made me want to restate a some items that I deem to be relevant.

1. No QB has EVER won Super Bowls for 2 teams. (Kurt Warner was the only QB to ever come close.)

2. Only 2 QBs older than 35 have ever won Super Bowls: Johnny Unitas (age 37) and John Elway (age 38).

So while Peyton Manning has a chance in theory of winning Super Bowls elsewhere, in practice, based on the past history of an NFL that has seen a lot of great QBs, it isn't likely. Also, today's NFL, which makes it easier than ever before for QBs to put up big numbers and win games thanks to the rules changes and new offenses, makes it less likely because the advantages of having a big-time passing game are devalued. For example: Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matt Stafford, Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger combined to win 1 playoff game last year (when Brees and Stafford played each other). Meanwhile, Tim Tebow and T.J. Yates won playoff games, plus Joe Flacco and Alex Smith both came within 1 play of making the Super Bowl!

Another thing: don't dare underrate the 2006 team that Manning won a Super Bowl with either. Before assuming that Manning is going to waltz into some new situation and lead it to glory, tell me if this team has TEN PRO BOWLERS like the Colts did in Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai, Tarik Glenn, Jeff Saturday, Bob Sanders, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Cato June. (To speak nothing of the good guys that weren't Pro Bowlers but played very well in the Colts' system like Dominic Rhodes, Ryan Diem, Raheem Brock, Gary Brackett, Nick Harper etc.) Just because the Colts weren't as talented as some of those Patriots and Steelers teams DOES NOT MEAN that they weren't consistently one of the 5 or 6 most talented teams in the NFL. They were.

Sure, Manning may take his new team on a playoff run or three. But unless it is a GREAT TEAM like the 2006 Colts were, don't expect anything more. For some examples: take the Broncos, Dolphins, Cardinals, Chiefs or Jets. Look at their depth charts. Can you imagine any of those teams doing the 3 WR stuff that Manning likes to do? How, when most of them only have ONE good WR? (Most of them don't have versatile RBs and TEs either.) But what about Manning's ability to make their offensive personnel? Well, if it was Peyton Manning at 26, now your're talking. But Manning at 36? That is when it is time to lean on your supporting cast. It is just that most of the teams seeking Manning don't have enough of a supporting cast to do anything beyond getting eliminated in the second week of the playoffs.

And as for the rumors that Reggie Wayne and/or Pierre Garcon are going to follow Manning to his new team: how much cap space do these teams have? And if they have to release OLs or defensive players in order to fit Manning - and whoever Manning brings with him - under the cap, how much closer does that get them to being a championship team?

Manning will likely put up big numbers, win a lot of games, and go to the playoffs with his new team. Good for him. But it is extremely unlikely to result in a Super Bowl win. Believing otherwise is not only thinking that Manning will somehow defy decades of NFL history, but it is akin to taking the position that the Colts were this horrible team that was holding Manning back all these years. If you disagree with my position that the Colts were an extremely good team during Manning's best years, then fine. But realize this it isn't just my position! Were the Colts this horrid sad sack franchise, Manning would have left town for a better organization years ago! He didn't because he knew that Indianapolis was a good situation that would give him a several shots to win a Super Bowl, which he did indeed have. Whatever situation Manning is going to now, it won't be as good as Indy was from 2002-2009. Therefore, it would be ridiculous for anyone to believe that there the results are going to be any better, or even as good.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.