Manning joins Favre atop list of NFL greats
January 3
Indianapolis Star
"The Indianapolis Colts' Northwestside complex is under construction, expanding to meet its needs.
At the risk of disrespecting the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Colts owner Jim Irsay believes similar expansion is required there after Peyton Manning was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for a record-tying third time.
"Whenever I talk about Canton, Ohio, I always talk about maybe (there should be) an extra level at the place . . . a room upstairs,'' Irsay said. "Everyone there is in the Hall of Fame, but then there's certain guys, just a very rare few that seem to transcend a little higher within the hallowed grounds.''
Manning, the Colts' quarterback and cornerstone since being selected with the first pick in the 1998 draft, joins Brett Favre as the league's only three-time MVPs. Manning received 32 votes from The Associated Press' national panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters, easily outdistancing Miami quarterback Chad Pennington and Atlanta running back Michael Turner, who tied for second with four votes apiece.
Manning shared the 2003 award with Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair and won it outright in 2004.
Combined with the Colts' Super Bowl victory after the 2006 season, in which Manning also was named MVP, Irsay said Manning's ticket to that "room upstairs'' at the Hall of Fame should be punched.
"He's gone into that rare class of guys,'' Irsay said, adding that Colts receiver Marvin Harrison should end up there as well. "He has measured up to every single criteria you could use.''
Manning was quick to share the award with his teammates.
"I really feel like it's a team award with what our team went through this year,'' he said Friday from the team complex, shortly before the Colts departed for tonight's game in San Diego. "Just the way we responded to a little bit of football adversity at the beginning of the season, being 3-4.
"I just can't tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity to play with great football players and teammates.''
The latest honor comes in what has been Manning's most challenging season. He missed the preseason after undergoing two operations on his left knee, then had to fight through an erratic start as his rehabilitation spilled into the regular season. He dropped about 10 pounds, to 220. He lost strength in his left leg. He had to recapture his timing with his receivers, running backs and offensive linemen. Injuries to the latter further complicated matters.
Yet after the 3-4 start, Manning was the driving force as the Colts secured a seventh consecutive playoff berth. They closed the season with a nine-game winning streak, during which Manning directed four game-winning drives in the fourth quarter.
He compiled a 109.7 passer rating during the streak, including a gaudy 130.8 during Indy's 4-0 December.
In Irsay's eyes, one of Manning's most valuable traits has been his ability to play every game of every season. Manning ext
Link
Calendar
