Manning vs. Manning, Who’d You Rather?

Dorian “The Trashman” Colbert, RosterWatch.com

Manning won his second Super Bowl tonight, and with that the question inevitably bubbling up in brains worldwide is whether that catapults him ahead of brother Peyton in the NFL pantheon. I would argue no. We have all been subject to the gruesome train wreck that was the Colts’ season, and what was the only missing part? That’s right, Peyton. The elder Manning is the lynch pin that was holding everything together for that pathetic excuse for a professional football team, and their 2-14 record proves it. I have a feeling that with the plethora of weapons the Giants have on both sides of the ball, they could make a decent run with any competent quarterback at the helm. Eli is one hell of a come from behind gunslinger, but Peyton probably is too. We just don’t get to see him come from behind that often. The route through the NFC is also perennially easier to get to the big game than the loaded AFC. Shoot, Seattle could have had a shot if they’d gotten to face this year’s Cowboys, Redskins, and Eagles teams twice.And sure, Eli has one more ring his big brother, but that really doesn’t mean much. Trent Dilfer has one more ring than Dan Marino, yet I don’t know anyone outside of Maryland who would say he was a better quarterback.

What it all comes down to, at least for this site’s purposes, is who you would rather have on your fantasy team. Peyton is a first round or turn pick in 95% of drafts around the country. Eli is a fifth rounder if he’s lucky. That tells me something. People expect Peyton to be the more consistently productive quarterback. With their seasons, and often their money, on the line there are few men on this earth who they’d rather have to depend on than Peyton Manning. Unfortunately, he is coming off a potentially career ending neck injury into an off season filled with uncertainty. I still wouldn’t bet against him. Eli is still a coin flip for me. You’re never really sure what you’re going to get. His most recent championship makes me a little more comfortable with him, but I don’t know if it’s really just more faith in the receiving corps of Cruz,Nicks, and Manningham. If you throw the ball up, one of them is going to come down with it. Let’s just hope Peyton stays in the AFC and we can put this argument to rest once and for all. Here’s looking to an all Manning Super Bowl in 2013!