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Elway or Manning?

charlotte49er

By charlotte49er,
in Carolina Panthers

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charlotte49er Newbie

charlotte49er

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Intersting article in the Indianapolis Star. Written by, Bob, "I'm anything but a Homer" Kravitz.

Can you choose between Manning and Elway?

It's like choosing between Picasso and Van Gogh, Bruce Springsteen and U2, Minka Kelly and Jessica Alba.

When Peyton Manning surpassed John Elway two weeks ago to move into third on the career passing yards list, it renewed a little debate that occasionally rages in my addled little head:

Elway or Manning?

Manning or Elway?

My credentials on this subject are uncharacteristically impeccable. I covered Elway in Denver from 1990 until his retirement in 1998. I've covered Manning from 2000 to the present. For the longest time, my quarterback Mount Rushmore consisted of Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Dan Marino and Elway, not necessarily in that order.

That has changed.

Elway out.

Manning in.

(Let me add that my Rushmore consists of quarterbacks I've seen. No offense to Otto Graham and John Unitas . . .)

Mike Shanahan, the Washington Redskins coach, worked with Montana and Steve Young while he was in San Francisco, and was offensive coordinator and head coach with the Broncos during Elway's greatest years. He also is an unabashed fan of Manning's. He won't pick one over the other -- I've asked him before, and he begged off -- but he appreciates greatness in all its various forms.

"John was so athletic, and he could make plays because of his arm strength and his ability to get away from pressure and make a play on his own," Shanahan said this week. "You go back to the early years when the Broncos went to three Super Bowls, most of his big plays were made off-schedule. Just because he was such an athlete, he found a way to win.

"With Peyton, it's his consistency throughout his career. I've never seen a guy who studied the game or understood the game as well as he does. I don't know anybody who has more control of his offense than Peyton. He understands what's going to happen before it happens.

"He's not going to scramble because he doesn't have to, because he's so knowledgeable about defenses, he's going to throw to the right guy 95 percent of the time and put you in the perfect play."

The Case For Elway:

This guy spent the first 14 years of his career as a one-man band. He took the Broncos to three Super Bowls in the late 1980s, did it with flawed teams whose weaknesses were exposed in blowout Super Bowl losses.

He did it with less help than almost any other legendary quarterback. Before Terrell Davis came along near the end of his Denver days, Elway's best running back was Bobby Humphrey. And before wide receiver Rod Smith came along late, he had the vastly overrated Three Amigos.

Early in his career, Elway struggled, and for years, he was shackled by then-coach Dan Reeves' conservative offense. It wasn't until Shanahan came along that Elway blossomed.

Perhaps the most remarkable and telling number of Elway's career was that he was sacked more than any quarterback in league history: 516 times, to Manning's 220. And yet he persisted and continued to make David Blaine kinds of magic. He was great, he was electric, he was tough as nails.

The Case For Manning:

Yes, Manning has been supported by better offensive players and coaches throughout his career, and he has played at a time when the rules and their interpretations have aided the passing game.

But Manning is more consistent than Elway ever was. In 12 years and five games, Manning has surpassed Elway's passing yards total, which he amassed in 16 years.

Manning is far less mistake-prone than Elway was. Manning's touchdown-to-interception number is 377 to 183; Elway was 300 to 226. Manning's career quarterback rating is 95.4; Elway was 79.9.

Manning is more cerebral, a coach on the field, something Elway never truly was.

Manning is more accurate; Elway could make more jaw-dropping throws, but he was also inclined to throw 5-yard curls into the dirt. Manning has a career 64.9 completion percentage; Elway completed 56.9 percent. And Manning has done it with a higher yards-per-pass-attempt average, merely the most important offensive statistic in the game.

The Broncos great gets Manning in just two areas: He ran for 3,407 yards; Manning just 696. And in the playoffs, Elway has the better winning percentage. Elway was just 7-7 after a 1996 playoff loss to Jacksonville, and heard all the same things we've heard about Manning over the years. Then along came Shanahan, seven straight playoff victories and two Super Bowl wins.

Currently, Manning is 9-9 in the postseason.

"I've never felt comfortable when people get into ranking and statistical categories, but it's very humbling to be in that kind of company," Manning said. "What an awesome player John was. He could make some throws and do some things only he could do."

Again, LeBron or Kobe? Roth or Updike? DeNiro or Pacino?

And yet, I've grabbed a chisel and begun to fashion a new mug on my Rushmore. (Who am I kidding? I called somebody to do it. I can't hang a picture on a wall, and I'm going to chisel a face out of rock?)

After all these years, I've been converted.

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Gazi Newbie

Gazi

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Manning. And the biggest plus was he wasn't a douche like Elways to screw the Colts franchise again and demanding a trade before being drafted.

Indianapolis is a small market, small city and Manning made them what they are today.

Better accuracy, average per play, yards, TDs, . you name it

On a side note, I read an article on ESPN where the guy who follows him noticed that Manning has lost something in his skills department. It's always interesting to watch these HOF QBs and how fast they lose their tools and retire. I give P another 3 years before he calls it quits.

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Gazi Newbie

Gazi

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I bet he won't go into coaching... he'll be in the broadcast booth within days of retiring.

He made too much money to go into the booth. He'll be on one of those pregame and postgame shows where he doesn't have to travel on weekends.

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Gazi Newbie

Gazi

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to have him come coach my QB.

.

I doubt that even works in today's NFL. These HOF guys who always strive for perfection have a hard time coaching and keeping their temper with these "privileged" NFL players today who treat it as a job and have no desire to be perfect.

Only few actually rise above their peers no matter the size or pedigree. You just have to be born with it I guess.

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Purity-Control Newbie

Purity-Control

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Given an identical supporting cast going into the big game at this point I would choose Elway.

IMO, He's the better big game/clutch QB. Manning looks flawless during the regular season and pedestrian in post season.

If Peyton can rake a couple more rings then I would say Peyton, but at this point I don't trust the guy in the post season.

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thefuzz Mentor

thefuzz

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Given an identical supporting cast going into the big game at this point I would choose Elway.

IMO, He's the better big game/clutch QB. Manning looks flawless during the regular season and pedestrian in post season.

If Peyton can rake a couple more rings then I would say Peyton, but at this point I don't trust the guy in the post season.

Please refer to Elway's first couple of SB's.

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