Manning revolutionized how quarterbacks play
If he’s done after 18 seasons, Broncos star has left indelible mark
DENVER — Not since he was a skinny 18-year-old freshman at the University of Tennessee has Peyton Manning served as a backup.
With his longtime understudy Brock Osweiler making his seventh straight start for Denver Sunday, Manning will be the No. 2 quarterback for the first time since replacing an injured Todd Helton against Mississippi State Sept. 24, 1994. That’s 7,772 days. A fourth interception in a loss to Kansas City in mid-November, combined with a searing jolt of pain in his left foot, brought a premature end to Manning’s day and maybe even his magnificent career.
Manning, who remains tied with Brett Favre for most regular season wins — 186 — by a starting quarterback, spent the next six weeks in street clothes before being able to suit up again.
His legacy, though, was on display in every NFL game played during his absence. Like Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White on defence or Jerry Rice and Don Hutson at wide receiver, Manning changed the game.
“He was on the forefront of basically a revolution in the way offences are run in the National Football League,” Joe Theismann said. “His footprint was bigger than just the cities he played in. He transformed the position. The style of offence that he ran in Indianapolis was revolutionary and nobody ever figured out how to stop it there — or in Denver.
“The only thing that’s basically slowed Peyton Manning down was Father Time.”
Whether or not he’s back in the shotgun this month or next season hollering out ‘Omaha!’ No. 18 has left an indelible imprint on America’s most popular sport. And on Madison Avenue.
His dry wit and star power have been a staple of late-night television and commercials for nearly two decades. And when he stepped onto the football field as the top overall draft pick by the Colts in 1998, Archie Manning’s kid was equal parts transcendent and throwback.
A pioneer in the way he deciphered defences and directed play at the line of scrimmage, pacing from tackle to tackle, pointing and hollering, he became a model for every quarterback who’s come along since. He was at the vanguard of the aerial fireworks shows that light up today’s scoreboards and big screen TVs.
Manning was old school in the way he served as his own de facto play caller, endearing him to the players of a previous epoch, noted former All-Pro safety John Lynch, whose playing career spanned Manning’s arrival.
Lynch called the five-time MVP a “genuine game changer” and said he’s among the biggest reasons the NFL is so popular.”
His work ethic and machinations at the line allowed him to find the underbelly of any defensive formation, adjust accordingly, and deliver the pass with precision.
Theismann said Manning’s “understanding of the game and work ethic were at the highest standard. He was the barometer by which so many measured excellence in the league. Brock’s had literally the best seat in the house to be able to learn.”
Indeed, Osweiler said, “There’s not a day that’s gone by since I’ve been in the league that I haven’t learned something from Peyton.”
Manning missed all the 2011 season following neck fusion surgery. This year has been agonizing, too.
Bothered by a torn left plantar fascia for months, Manning threw just nine TD passes and 17 interceptions — which still leads the league even though he hasn’t played since Nov. 15. While he was sidelined, several unsubstantiated reports painted the league’s only five-time MVP as a bad teammate or a cheat. The NFL Network alleged he’d refuse to serve as Osweiler’s backup once healthy and Al Jazeera reported Manning obtained HGH from an anti-aging clinic in Indianapolis, although his accuser recanted.
Those reports pained teammates and friends.
“It does, incredibly,” Lynch said, “because the guy’s had such a wonderful career. He’s meant so much to this league. Those are the things that really bother me, because he frankly doesn’t deserve it.”
Lynch tells about he and Manning driving to Colorado Springs on a golf outing when they saw a group of kids playing football. Manning looked at Lynch and said, “Let’s surprise these guys.” They pulled over and played with them for an hour.
“I’ve seen so much of that kind of stuff, it’s a shame all this other stuff comes up. He’s a big boy. He’ll handle it well and he has. But you feel like this is a guy who should have the opportunity to go out on top.”