Marvin Harrison was a pretty good young receiver before Manning got there. WRs usually take time to become great players and he averaged something like 850 yard and 7 TDs his first two seasons in the league, which are pretty good numbers. His production actually decreased when Manning was drafted in 98.
There's is no denying he benefited from having Peyton, but he was a pretty good player on a tremendously bad team before Manning arrived.
Harrison's production didn't decrease when Manning got here, he only played in 12 games in 98 whereas he played 15 in each of his first two season. His avg YPC went up when Manning go there and he had 7 TDs, compared to 8 and 7 his first two seasons. If he had played the same number of games he would have easily passed his first two season's stats.
And his first full season with Manning in 99 the guy had 1600 yards and 12TDs.
Manning can't win with you guys, if he's throwing to a 1st rounder he's good because of the talent that surrounds him, if he's throwing to a 4th, a 6th, and a practice squad guy you say "what if they're good? Just because they're doing well doesn't mean it's because of Manning".
Really, I know this is a Pats board and you guys are the greatest homers in sports, but give it a rest. Manning makes the players around him better. It isn't like this is the first time this has happened, it's happened his whole career. Remember last year, the Colts were on the way down because of the changes to the receiving corp?
Didn't happen did it?
And I'll just put this out too since this is going to be my only post: all this talk about Brady being so great in big games compared to Manning? Yeah right. 2006 AFC title game, who came up big? Manning lost (as has been pointed out over and over and over to you guys) two PO games to the Chargers while Brady won two games against the Chargers. Who had the better game? Manning, by far, both times. Brady played like crap in both those games, but his team won.
Last year in the PO's how great was Brady against the Ravens? What did he end up with, 3 INTs and 1 fumble? Was that not a "big game"? how about in 2007, the SB, the biggest game of Brady's life. They lost. How big was he in that game? How about in 2005 against the Broncos?
Seems to me Brady hasn't been all that "clutch" in a long time. His 4th quarter stats on the road are awful and how many games the past two seasons have the Pats blown or almost blown? Remember last years Colts/Pats game?
Brady used to have a much higher PO rating than Manning, remember that? that was one of the things you guys loved to say "Manning's rating goes down in the PO's, Brady's goes up". Have you looked at Brady's PO rating the past few seasons? It's gone DOWN. He's lower than Manning and Brady's rating in something like 3 of his last 6 PO games has been in the 60's.
How is that happening if Brady is such a "big gamer"? How is that happening if he "plays best when it matters most"? Wasn't last years PO game important? How about those two Chargers PO games? The Pats won but Brady tossed 3 INTS in both of them and played like crap. How about the 2007 SB? Wasn't that a "big game"? Seems to me if Brady played "his best" when "it mattered most" the 18-0 16 point favorite Patriots wouldn't have lost to a 10-6 WC team.
