Yeah, I think that will be the concensus again at Indy Star after this season.
Right, because the pats have our number, right? Oh wait, nevermind........
Funny how when the shoe is on the other foot Colts fans change tunes. For the longest time all we heard was how from Indy's vantage point it appeared as if the kicker and the defense and the team was the difference maker here. Then that very kicker moves to Indy and literally kicks the prolific passer into the AFCC game and his defense steps up behind a SS, and a RB tandem carries him to a championship in a co-MVP worthy SB performance, and suddenly Colt fans are talking about team wins in no way diminishing QB value.
Av played a large role in our super-bowl run, theres no doubt about it. But without Peyton Manning, this team doesn't even make the playoffs, much less get to the Super-Bowl. Also, KC and Balt gameplanned to stop Peyton, figuring they could contain Rhodes and Addai. That partially explains Peytons bad numbers in those 2 games, IMO. It's also why Rhodes and Addai were so effective. Oh yeah, there was also the record-breaking performance against the pats in which he CLEARLY outplayed "Mr. Clutch", who only managed to throw the season ending interception.
Hmm... if the Colts are now a team and Manning's contract in no way impacts their ability to field a defense, the ultimate test just may be which QB wins more rings with Vinatieri, and who wins any without him...
Again with the contract....... Peyton Mannings cap hit for next year is 8.2 million, according to
https://oncourse.iu.edu/access/content/user/bavanlan/Salary Cap/thoughts1.html. Bradys is 7,446,720 according to
http://www.patscap.com/index.html. As you can see, Toms cap number is almost as big as Peytons. Does his contract cripple the pats? Why does Peytons impact us while Toms doesn't affect the pats?
Would be the no more excuses comparison where rings should be the ultimate determinator of who is the best QB, because all things being equal - and apparently in Indy they now believe they are actually fielding a team with an overall edge talent wise - that should be the guy who wins.
Somehow, though, don't you get the feeling that if we win #4 this season comparisons will go right back to the meaningless stats and unfair advantage based status quo comparisons? LOL
Peytons got his ring. His legacy is secure already, even if he never wins another. If he stays healthy and plays as long as he says he wants to, he'll retire with EVERY passing record in the books. And IMO, if that happens, EVERY discussion about the Greatest Of All Time will START with Peyton Manning, regardless of what Tom does.