Before I answer. Let me just say, Peyton Manning is a great QB. Not just thrower of the football, but a master of the tiny nuances of the position. Line Calls, Quick reads, shifts the offense to create mismatches, hard counts, switching tempo, pump fakes, on, and on, and on.....
BUT
When I ponder this question as a Patriots fan, the word HATE isn't the word that pops for me. I think it's ANNOYANCE.
See the thing is, all the things above I knowingly, and yes, begrudgingly praise about Manning........Tom Brady does it too. And with more team success I might add.
Manning has alot of individual success, which is nice. Plus ,I might add, his whole career he's been surrounded (wisely) with alot of 1st round talent to play with. He puts up nice aesthetic numbers,and highlights through a 16 game season.
Postseason however? He's an average QB. I have numbers (9-9) to back it up. I know some would whine about his poor maligned defense, and how they were the reason for his marginal success. Which is laughable because they don't seem to be crying about that maligned defense being put on a short field because of a killer pick. Weird. (Plus, wasn't Tony Dungy supposed to be some defensive wizard in his own right?)
No matter how long the regular season is, it's nothing more then an appetizer for playoffs. I mean, you enjoy it, but your really looking forward to that steak. Thats where the real satisfaction is!
That doesn't get enough attention. My opinion.
( You know, just thinking about it. Since I'm sticking to that bad food analogy, I guess the media likes tapas. )
Which brings me to the root of my ANNOYANCE.
PERCEPTION.
Basicly, the media. As alot of others have mentioned. They treat him with kid gloves. Aggravates me.
I don't think any other fan base can understand either, cause they don't have a dog in this fight. (Calm down Vick!)
Brady's never blamed a teammate for a loss. Never. And if he did go off on a tangent about the OL after Super Bowl 42, who wouldn't have agreed with him? Nope took the high road.
Manning throws his offensive line under the bus after every big loss, pretty much. Even gets his GM to back the bus up for him after, help hide every evidence of accountability, or at least misdirect it. Admirable.
And did the jETs fan say something about rule changes? LOL!
Polian re-emphasized defense out of the NFL, which was interesting since that happened to play in perfectly to his teams strength. Weird.
Don't believe me? How many QB's threw for 4,000 yards this past year? And how many times in history has it happened? Again, weird.
Hell, the Colts went to the Super Bowl this past year, with what I think was the 31st ranked rushing defense. Some say impressive, I say pathetic. The passing games to wide open, the defenders are, well, defenseless against a rhythm passing game now, without quick pressure from the front line.
Would you agree that is a slightly bigger advantage then a re-emphasis on a lunging low at a QB's knees rule? I would say so, but it doesn't seem to generate much outrage. Weird.
Complaining for calls? That is a total show your azz bias if you buy that. Manning.........No, I'm taking this further. Every QB, WR, OL, TE, DL,LB,DB, Coach, assistent coach, assistent to the assistent coach, and ballboy complain for calls. Manning does it as much as most, and gets some too. You really can't argue that. And the rate of momentum crushing PI's the Colts get is sick. You can set you watch to it, if there down. Sure the Pats get some too, but not at the Colts pace, and not as frequently crushing as they get. Anybody wants to call me out on that claim, I urge you to merely watch the last 4 years the Patriots played them before you call me a liar. If you had a shred of objectivity you wouldn't.
The kicker for me, was the disingenuous opinion of both Brady and Manning's aversion to congratulating the champs.
One was classless, unprofessional, and a poor sport.
The other was, well, knowingly disappointed, and heck he'll call them when he thinks it's convenient. No biggie.
Weird.
