Frame it how ever you want, but the reality is both QBs worked their asses off to achieve their successes. Manning achieved his #1 draft status not because he was handed anything but because he was the best college QB coming into the pros in many years. Manning carried his Colts for a decade plus not because he had silver spoon privileges but because he had talent and drive.
When it comes to analyzing what type of person someone is, I believe you are how you were raised. Clearly Brady comes from a sugary-sweet family patterned after 1950's network TV (we should all be so lucky). Manning grew up in a football family that enjoyed the benefits of the NFL lifestyle but also experienced first hand the harsh realities of that occupation. I have no doubt Archie views NFL employment like many do...Players are slabs of meat who makes owners rich until they become expendable....so cash in all you can when you can. And if you ever have leverage over ownership, use it like the owners use you. The Mannings spawn learned these lessons well and leveraged every opportunity available. Why these guys get criticized for this is beyond me.
Brady has taken a different approach, though I wonder how different it would have been if he didn't achieve financial mega-security they moment he tied the knot. While Brady only asks for 60 cents on the dollar in QB wages, ownership has achieved a ten-fold increase in franchise value during his tenure.
Ranking the Krafts' good fortunes since buying this team:
#1 Building Gillette.....stadium ownership is the foundation that propels franchise valuation
#2 Hiring BB
#3 Drafting Brady
#4 Brady marrying Gisele, who indirectly subsidizes Patriots players salaries
What MVP would be indifferent about wages?