That has to be the most horrific excuse making I have ever seen. How many teams have two number one receivers (and a first round draft pick rookie), one of the best TEs in the league (top 8, at least), and one of the best running backs in the league? Along with a really good offensive line. Don't try to make it out like Manning has to deal with the same offensive talent around him as others, when the goal of that organization has been to surround him with top level talent for the last six years.
No, my point is that many here truely believe that Manning is nothing without his "All Star cast" of receivers. I say it ain't so. First, before Wayne arrived, it was Marvin and..... and who, without looking, can YOU name them?? And when reggie arrived, he really wasn't a "number 2" until his third year. He is having his best year currently, but there is no Marvin there as an "excuse" as to why he is having his best year. Can't "discount" Reggie's accomplishment by saying he does it because Marvin is on the other side. Further, I am alos saying that SAVE for a FEW teams, Manning could survive AND PROSPER with MANY DUOS currently out there, or recently available.
Jets-Coles and Cotch (along with that decent TE of a year or tow ago) CHECK
Fins-Chambers, Booker, (Miami's nice TE-forget his name too) CHECK
Steelers-Ward, Holmes, Miller, Parker CHECK
Browns-Edwards, Winslow, Lewis CHECK
CINCY CHECK
Donks-Jevon Walker Brandon Marshall, Stokely, and their TE CHECK
SDGates, LT, and at least ONE of their current(or recent) WR's CHECK
Boys CHECK
Philly-Westbrook, Stallworth(or Curtis now), Brown, LJ CHECK
Skins-Santana Moss, Randle El, Portis, Cooley CHECK
NYG-Plax, Toomer, Shockey, Tiki CHECK
GB-Driver, and their corp, mix in Bubba CHECK
Chicago-Berrien, Mushin, and their TE (Desmond Clark?)
N.O. Colston, Bush, Henderson, and the Duece CHECK
St. Louis Holt, Bruce, Jackson CHECK
Seattle-Ingram, Branch, Penn State dude (no longer there), Alexander CHECK
Zona-Fitzgerald, Boldin, James CHECK
I did not look up all 31 rosters to see who is current, but these guys were all together currently or recent past. I am sure that if I looked up the teams NOT represented, I might pluck a few more out. And of those I have mentioned, I could probably add some depth to those if I reviewed their rosters as well. You all make it sound like PM has an entire squad that is light years ahead of everyone else. Sure, they are very good, but these other teams have PLENTY of talent to be successful with. No Qb will do well without an decent O-line, but save for Glenn, the Colts O-line are not household names. Saturday made the ProBowl, just recently starting to get some pub, but as many are quick to point out, we are "undersized" at almost every position. Sure, the Colts have surrounded PM with talent, but MANY other teams have enough talent to be successful, and if Manning had guys like those mentioned above, I don't think his numbers or his wins suffer in the least. Either they would have attained a level close to our guys, or they don't get paid as much, which frees up cash to spend on the Defense, either way, he doesn't lose many (if any) wins.