Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts suffered the sixth postseason loss in his eight-year career Sunday, prompting his critics to answer calls from the choir. They’re calling him a choke artist, and so shall I. Columnists such as D.J. Gallo of ESPN The Magazine held little back Monday, and for good reason. Manning is an easy target.
He is quickly becoming the next Best Player Never to Win a League Title. Gallo said the Colts’ starting quarterback should take more responsibility next season when the Colts are “inevitably eliminated.” Ouch.
Peyton, you’re the best man for the job under center on Sundays, in my opinion, but you’ve got an overactive gag reflex for playoff games that’s going to cost you a spot in Canton if you don’t make amends.
Sure, he has division crowns and passing records, and he has found his way into the all-time top-five for QB rating after the 2004 season, but where are the rings? That’s what critics will ask when you retire, not how many regular season wins you have. It’s playoff games that matter.
The same goes for bowl games. While playing for Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee, Manning claimed 33 school records and won a pair of Citrus Bowls (invites annually go to the second-best team in the SEC).
But who could forget his performance in the 1998 Fiesta Bowl? Volunteers’ fans drove all the way out to Tempe, Ariz., to see him lose 42-17 to co-national champion Nebraska. Bravo.
Manning seemed a shoo-in for the Heisman Trophy that year before losing to Steve Spurrier and rival Florida for the fourth straight year. Even eventual winner Charles Woodson probably lobbied for him.
Having once again thwarted Manning’s chances at an SEC title, Spurrier explained why he thought Manning returned for his senior year.
“He wanted to be a three-time Citrus Bowl MVP,” Spurrier said.
Don’t feel too bad for Fulmer in light of all of this. In 1999 the Volunteers, minus Manning, returned to Tempe, where they topped Florida State in the Anticlimactic Bowl, a fitting premiere for the Bowl Championship Series era. (I still don’t understand how the ‘Noles got into that one.)
The downfall for Manning in college and the pros is, without a doubt, the big game. The most recent in his NFL career, prior to last week, came last year when he finally got the chance to play for a conference title. For it, he saved one of his worst performances. Manning handed Tom Brady and New England a ticket to Super Bowl XXXIX by way of four interceptions.
As a Manning fan, it’s painful to rip into the guy like this, but he has clearly earned his criticism. In a world where there’s only room for one Dan Marino, Manning must re-define himself next season and do the impossible: Defy his legacy.
There’s always room for another John Elway. What a difference two Super Bowl rings makes.
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