Breer on Manning's Decline

mayoclinic · Jan 14, 2015

I'm certainly not a Bert Breer fan, but thought this was a good read:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...fl-future-up-in-the-air-after-humbling-defeat

From NFL personnel people:

A string of text messages from guys paid to evaluate football players confirmed what we could all vividly see in the Denver Broncos' season-ending loss: Manning's body can no longer cash the checks his mind is so incredibly capable of writing.

From an AFC executive: "Saw a lack of velocity, declining arm strength. No juice or zip on throws. Shelf life."

One NFC scout said: "It's sad watching him, even more sad how Denver treated one of the greatest. Arm looks shot, sad seeing him look like that, knowing how big a competitor he is."

An AFC scout: "Missed deep ball, routine throws were getting knocked down because he couldn't drive the ball, timing was off. Never looked like he could get in a routine. He couldn't dictate the game like normal because he just couldn't make the throws that needed to be made."

And an NFC exec: "Terrible overthrows and incompletions. He may be hurt."

And when asked if they thought this was it, the NFC exec said, "Just look at his last five weeks," while the AFC exec opined that the Broncos know it is: "My suspicions are we saw the spike in their rushing offense (over the second half of the season) to help him."

And from the Colts' players:

"Make him uncomfortable in the pocket," said defensive lineman Arthur Jones. "He's not the best in cold weather. It was anything -- get a hand up, punch the pocket, get guys in the face. We were watching him on the sideline ***** and complain to his offensive line. Any time you see that as a defensive player, you're like a shark -- there's blood in the water."

It's not like the idea of hitting a quarterback to beat him is a new one. But Manning's complete inability to counteract this approach was striking. Between scattershot downfield strikes and intermediate throws lacking NFL velocity, it quickly became clear to everyone in the building -- and most of all, the Colts -- that this wasn't the same guy.

"When we kept seeing him throwing it 5 yards, 6 yards over his receivers, we were like, 'We got it right here,' " said veteran D-lineman Ricky Jean Francois. "You've never known Peyton to overthrow guys. You've known him to put it right on the numbers. And when he kept overthrowing it? That was blood in the water. We had to get after him."

Nothing that we haven't all noticed and discussed, but certainly the most open I've seen in the media.

Oswlek · Jan 14, 2015

Breer is a turd, but as long as he's quoting other people it's a useful read.

SHOWTIME15 · Jan 14, 2015

Peyton's quad injury obviously had something to do with his decline

dales804 · Jan 14, 2015

One NFC scout said: "It's sad watching him, even more sad how Denver treated one of the greatest. Arm looks shot, sad seeing him look like that, knowing how big a competitor he is."

What did Denver do to treat him so badly? Am I missing something? Didn't they do everything they could to win now?

Fixit · Jan 14, 2015

dales804 said:
What did Denver do to treat him so badly? Am I missing something? Didn't they do everything they could to win now?

I wonder if he was referring to the boobirds.

dales804 · Jan 14, 2015

Fixit said:
I wonder if he was referring to the boobirds.

Me too. If so, who gives a crap? Fans are pissed their team looked like ass at home against an underdog. They paid well to go to the game and have every right to voice their displeasure.

Rob0729 · Jan 14, 2015

TommyBrady12 said:
Peyton's quad injury obviously had something to do with his decline

Except he was declining before he got the injury. He played like crap vs the Rams and the second half of the Chiefs' game. He was healthy then.

I think the quad injury is part of the excuse making for Manning.

Dagg · Jan 14, 2015

We all know his arm is in decline, I personally do not think it could have gone from where it was in Sept to where it was in Jan without the aid of some other injury.

deters · Jan 14, 2015

PatsWickedPissah · Jan 14, 2015

I definitely believe some of the awful play has been because of injury. But a year older Peyton won't be as good as the pre-injury Peyton that got smoked by the Pats & the Lambs.
Stats lover Peyton would hate this but in 2015 he'd really benefit from a scenario where Denver put in a game manager in Q4 of all games where they were way ahead. I know, I know.

mayoclinic · Jan 14, 2015

Rob0729 said:
Except he was declining before he got the injury. He played like crap vs the Rams and the second half of the Chiefs' game. He was healthy then.

I think the quad injury is part of the excuse making for Manning.

I'm sure the quad - whatever the true nature of the injury was - didn't help. But I think that Manning's body is no longer capable of standing up to the rigors of a full season, and teams are wising up to how to beat him. Take away the middle of the field and the crossing routes and make him throw the ball downfield or outside, and his arm strength just isn't up to the job.

Sicilian · Jan 14, 2015

The injury might have played some role, but I honestly think the bigger factor was a team FINALLY played him the way you should right now: Man up, press, make him beat you deep down the sideline. Teams played him scared long after there was no longer a reason to, and he's smart enough to keep taking the easy throws and open men to shred soft defenses. The Colts played him like a mortal, and he played like an old man.

Wheelman · Jan 14, 2015

The media are even mentioning his one and dones more often than I can remember. And on top of that, the so called analysts are not even defending Manning's one and dones like they used to.

PATS16N0 · Jan 14, 2015

Wheelman said:
The media are even mentioning his one and dones more often than I can remember. And on top of that, the so called analysts are not even defending Manning's one and dones like they used to.

Which network you watching? All I'm seeing is excuses and his "injury"
I heard the same idiots who were saying "Denver is the most talented and complete team in football" switch to "They need to give Peyton a complete team"

Jackson 2 · Jan 14, 2015

Hey, people can feel sorry for him all they want. Very likely a nice guy , but I'm filled with, including college, 20 years of having this yokel's "greatness" jammed down my throat by fans who refused to consider the possibility that anyone else was remotely close to him, thought every failure was due to those around him and worshipped his royal family. Screw'em.

Fencer · Jan 14, 2015

I'm sure he had multiple injuries, which he gets more easily and recovers from more slowly than he used to.

Injuries have a way of inducing each other; when you're compensating for one problem, another is more likely to occur.

Wheelman · Jan 14, 2015

PATS16N0 said:
Which network you watching? All I'm seeing is excuses and his "injury"
I heard the same idiots who were saying "Denver is the most talented and complete team in football" switch to "They need to give Peyton a complete team"

I was just watching NFL Network. I think it was Andrew Siciliano just mentioned ninth one and done right after they showed Colts/Broncos highlights and none of the other 3 guys said anything. I would have expected that d-bag Michael Silver to defend Manning but he didn't.

PrairiePat · Jan 14, 2015

Aaron Rodgers has a leg injury too.... pretty stark difference between a hobbled Rodgers and a hobbled Manning at this point.

PATS16N0 · Jan 14, 2015

He went to the first playoff game so I don't really see any change at all.

luuked · Jan 14, 2015

PrairiePat said:
Aaron Rodgers has a leg injury too.... pretty stark difference between a hobbled Rodgers and a hobbled Manning at this point.

To be fair it all depends how much an injury affects your mechanics..

I actually liked Bedards recent piece on
Manning:

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/01/14/peyton-manning-retire-injuries/

It's just his conjecture, but he at least tries to approach the whole thing from a somewhat reasonable angle.

Breer on Manning's Decline

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