Off The Grid
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2010
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Philosophically, I've long since forgone the necessity for choosing one guy over another.
I have, for instance, little desire to resolve for myself which of the Dynasties that've flourished over the Years stands above the others: I am content to put the Bears of the 40's, the Browns of the 50's, the Packers of the 60's, the Steelers of the 70's, the Miners of the 80's, the CowBoys of the 90's, and of course our Patriots of Current Day in the same elite Tier...though the Patriots make it increasingly difficult to do so!!
As such, I feel no imperative to choose between Brady and Manning. I would be quite content to describe them as sharing space on the same elite level...except that I simply don't believe this to be the case.
Most of us are not mathematically inclined, yet recognize the value of mathematics ~ stats ~ in supporting Arguments. I myself am intensely mathematically inclined, yet conversely am far less inclined to argue with statistics in FootBall matters. I do not believe that Brady's 4 Super Bowls versus Manning's 0 ~ I consider his 2006 "Championship" utterly forfeit due to FaceGuardingGate ~ settle the matter any more decisively than Manning's gaudy TouchDown and Yardage stats: Nobody's putting Terry Bradshaw out there.
I don't believe that there is a statistic or a Formula or indeed any combination of tangible things that you can point to about which you can say that it proves beyond a reasonable doubt that one or the other is better.
And I'm perfectly fine with that.
And yet, I believe that one is decisively better than the other.
I cannot point to one incident to support my Belief.
I can only say this: When The Chips Are Down ~ when The Only Games That Really Matter are being played ~ there is absolutely no question who I want steering my Ship: Tom Brady.
And it's not even close.
***
As a Transcendentalist, I am forever examining and challenging my own Motivations and Thought Processes, and have done so extensively on this matter, all the way back to 2001, back before the Debate had its Beginning. I have of course asked myself if I was merely being an Homer to prefer Brady.
I am eminently fallible, but I don't believe that that is the case.
My application of the Electronic Term "Processing Speed" to FootBall not only dates back to the Brady versus Manning Debate: It was produced by the Brady versus Manning Debate.
A Player's Processing Speed ~ his ability to effectively Rapidly Read & React in a Tactical Environment ~ can of course only be inferred by watching him In Battle. It simply cannot be measured.
That of course makes it difficult both to assess and to employ as an Argument.
But it is, I believe, precisely what separates Brady from Manning.
Indeed, I believe it puts Brady far above Manning.
And I believe that is always has.
***
It was 2004 when the application of the term ~ Processing Speed ~ broke upon me in an Epiphany, and all I had seen suddenly clicked into place and made sense. 2004, we all recall, was in many ways the height of intensity of this Debate ~ Brady winning his 3rd Championship while Manning broke Marino's Record.
The big Argument against Brady, of course, was that he was but a Game Manager!!
Manning was of course put forth by his BallWashing Legions as a SuperStar held back by mediocre Defenses, while Brady was a mere Game Manager who road the back of great Defenses to Championships.
Indeed, there were and perhaps remain many fair-minded Patriot Fans who consider that to be the case.
But Manning has benefited with several Top 10 Defenses over the last Decade:
Indianapolis Colts Team Encyclopedia | Pro-Football-Reference.com
Denver Broncos Team Encyclopedia | Pro-Football-Reference.com
***
More to the point, though, though it's admittedly, once again, not something you can quantify:
When Manning's out there, I feel that he's a dangerous Foe, yes...But I don't now, nor have I ever, and this is going all the way back to 2004, to 2003, and indeed to 2001 when we first humilated'm, sensed that Confidence, that sense of Invincibility that I have always sensed in Tom Brady.
***
I don't believe that that's Wishful Thinking on my part.
It's in the Body Language.
Manning is a phenomenal QuarterBack...But I've always felt ~ always sensed ~ that he's just a little bit nervous, out there: That he's always only one unexpected defensive wrinkle away from Panic.
Brady?
I never get that sense.
That guy's Body Language always gives me the Idea that there isn't any Scenario that he isn't ready for.
That guy always give me the sense that he knows what's about to happen before it happens.
That's not the case, of course: FootBall is a Chess Match and there are literally dozens of Moves possible on any given Snap: One rarely actually knows what the other Team is going to do.
But there isn't a QuarterBack in the Game better prepared for anything than Tom Brady.
Nor, I believe, having watched him and others In Battle for 15 magnificent Years, is there a QuarterBack who reads and reacts to the Tactical LandScape more rapidly and effectively...or with such deadly Precision.
And when you watch him...you know that he knows that.
Manning?
Not so much.
There is a reason why Manning has failed so many Times over the Years once the Live Bullets started flying after New Years Day when The Only Games That Really Matter are played. Yes.
Processing Speed.
Put Manning in a Class Room in front of a ChalkBoard with Brady, and they are competitive: Manning is a Student of the Game who prepares as well as anyone...except perhaps Brady.
But send'm into Battle in January when Defensive Coordinators empty their Bags of Tricks, forcing Manning to Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome ~ to Rapidly Read and React in a Tactical Environment??
He's simply not in Brady's League.
I have, for instance, little desire to resolve for myself which of the Dynasties that've flourished over the Years stands above the others: I am content to put the Bears of the 40's, the Browns of the 50's, the Packers of the 60's, the Steelers of the 70's, the Miners of the 80's, the CowBoys of the 90's, and of course our Patriots of Current Day in the same elite Tier...though the Patriots make it increasingly difficult to do so!!
As such, I feel no imperative to choose between Brady and Manning. I would be quite content to describe them as sharing space on the same elite level...except that I simply don't believe this to be the case.
Most of us are not mathematically inclined, yet recognize the value of mathematics ~ stats ~ in supporting Arguments. I myself am intensely mathematically inclined, yet conversely am far less inclined to argue with statistics in FootBall matters. I do not believe that Brady's 4 Super Bowls versus Manning's 0 ~ I consider his 2006 "Championship" utterly forfeit due to FaceGuardingGate ~ settle the matter any more decisively than Manning's gaudy TouchDown and Yardage stats: Nobody's putting Terry Bradshaw out there.
I don't believe that there is a statistic or a Formula or indeed any combination of tangible things that you can point to about which you can say that it proves beyond a reasonable doubt that one or the other is better.
And I'm perfectly fine with that.
And yet, I believe that one is decisively better than the other.
I cannot point to one incident to support my Belief.
I can only say this: When The Chips Are Down ~ when The Only Games That Really Matter are being played ~ there is absolutely no question who I want steering my Ship: Tom Brady.
And it's not even close.
***
As a Transcendentalist, I am forever examining and challenging my own Motivations and Thought Processes, and have done so extensively on this matter, all the way back to 2001, back before the Debate had its Beginning. I have of course asked myself if I was merely being an Homer to prefer Brady.
I am eminently fallible, but I don't believe that that is the case.
My application of the Electronic Term "Processing Speed" to FootBall not only dates back to the Brady versus Manning Debate: It was produced by the Brady versus Manning Debate.
A Player's Processing Speed ~ his ability to effectively Rapidly Read & React in a Tactical Environment ~ can of course only be inferred by watching him In Battle. It simply cannot be measured.
That of course makes it difficult both to assess and to employ as an Argument.
But it is, I believe, precisely what separates Brady from Manning.
Indeed, I believe it puts Brady far above Manning.
And I believe that is always has.
***
It was 2004 when the application of the term ~ Processing Speed ~ broke upon me in an Epiphany, and all I had seen suddenly clicked into place and made sense. 2004, we all recall, was in many ways the height of intensity of this Debate ~ Brady winning his 3rd Championship while Manning broke Marino's Record.
The big Argument against Brady, of course, was that he was but a Game Manager!!
Manning was of course put forth by his BallWashing Legions as a SuperStar held back by mediocre Defenses, while Brady was a mere Game Manager who road the back of great Defenses to Championships.
Indeed, there were and perhaps remain many fair-minded Patriot Fans who consider that to be the case.
But Manning has benefited with several Top 10 Defenses over the last Decade:
Indianapolis Colts Team Encyclopedia | Pro-Football-Reference.com
Denver Broncos Team Encyclopedia | Pro-Football-Reference.com
***
More to the point, though, though it's admittedly, once again, not something you can quantify:
When Manning's out there, I feel that he's a dangerous Foe, yes...But I don't now, nor have I ever, and this is going all the way back to 2004, to 2003, and indeed to 2001 when we first humilated'm, sensed that Confidence, that sense of Invincibility that I have always sensed in Tom Brady.
***
I don't believe that that's Wishful Thinking on my part.
It's in the Body Language.
Manning is a phenomenal QuarterBack...But I've always felt ~ always sensed ~ that he's just a little bit nervous, out there: That he's always only one unexpected defensive wrinkle away from Panic.
Brady?
I never get that sense.
That guy's Body Language always gives me the Idea that there isn't any Scenario that he isn't ready for.
That guy always give me the sense that he knows what's about to happen before it happens.
That's not the case, of course: FootBall is a Chess Match and there are literally dozens of Moves possible on any given Snap: One rarely actually knows what the other Team is going to do.
But there isn't a QuarterBack in the Game better prepared for anything than Tom Brady.
Nor, I believe, having watched him and others In Battle for 15 magnificent Years, is there a QuarterBack who reads and reacts to the Tactical LandScape more rapidly and effectively...or with such deadly Precision.
And when you watch him...you know that he knows that.
Manning?
Not so much.
There is a reason why Manning has failed so many Times over the Years once the Live Bullets started flying after New Years Day when The Only Games That Really Matter are played. Yes.
Processing Speed.
Put Manning in a Class Room in front of a ChalkBoard with Brady, and they are competitive: Manning is a Student of the Game who prepares as well as anyone...except perhaps Brady.
But send'm into Battle in January when Defensive Coordinators empty their Bags of Tricks, forcing Manning to Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome ~ to Rapidly Read and React in a Tactical Environment??
He's simply not in Brady's League.