We like to get misty-eyed about Peyton Manning playing for the Broncos. That’s what happens when a future Hall of Fame quarterback picks our town to play NFL football. That’s what happens when he picks the team he beat all those years as Manning did when he would end the Broncos’ season in Indianapolis.
Let’s be clear, though. Manning did not pick the Broncos, so he can enjoy life in the Rocky Mountains. He did not pick the Broncos since it’s cool to play for them. He is not playing for the Broncos as a way to hold on to his career.
He is playing for a chance to hoist another Lombardi trophy. The Broncos give him that opportunity with the firepower to work with on offense. They also have the defense to help him achieve his objective.
Manning still has it after he threw for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns last season. It’s remarkable when one thinks about it. Truth be told, I wondered if he was going to be the same player he was as a Colt after he suffered a neck injury.
There’s no reason to doubt him now.
Still, nothing lasts forever. Manning knows this. He is 37, and father time is ticking. He can only be effective for so long as age catches up to him. Odds are this might be his last shot. No one can assume he will have the same opportunity next season. For all we know, Manning may retire after this year if his body can’t hold up.
This is why there is a sense of urgency for Peyton to win a championship this season.
Manning has plenty of motivation to get his second championship in his career.
Manning does not want to go to the Hall of Fame with one LombardI Trophy. He does not want critics to say he only won one when he should have won more than one. That type of criticism bothers a great player, and that’s what fuels him to win one more.
There’s also his brother winning two more Super Bowl trophies than him in Eli Manning. It’s safe to say that is bothering the proud quarterback. He can say all the right things about how it’s not a big deal his brother has more championships than him, but he is not fooling anyone. No brother wants to deal with the statement that he is better than him in competitive sports.
Manning is 9-11 in his playoff career, and he has been one and done eight times. This is not a resume a Hall of Fame quarterback can be proud of. This bothers the Broncos quarterback a great deal. It’s not something he wishes to hear from his critics, but it’s out there and he wants to change the narrative.
Manning felt last year was the year the Broncos could have won it all. He did okay, but he wasn’t good enough. He did not make the plays when it mattered. He had a rough time of playing in the cold weather. As a proud competitor, he wants to atone for a performance like that.
He also does not want to put Broncos front office boss John Elway down by not winning a Super Bowl. He knows his boss put faith in him in getting a chance to lead the Broncos.
Looking at those factors, there is no question Manning is putting all the pressure on himself. Give him credit for not hiding from those responsibilities. He gets it. He knows his tenure as a Broncos quarterback is judged on whether or not he wins the Super Bowl.
Ever since Elway retired as a Broncos quarterback, his replacements were scared to deal with the expectations of replacing a Hall of Famer. Brian Griese was not good enough. Jake Plummer was always sensitive to criticism when he could not win the big game for the Broncos. Jay Cutler was a headcase.
It took a long time to replace a Hall of Famer in Elway until Manning came along.
There’s so much to like Manning. He is easy to root for when you look at how he conducts himself and how he takes his job seriously. He’s a pro’s pro. It should be a honor that he plays for the Broncos. Great quarterbacks like him don’t come often, and Broncos fans know that well after watching years of Elway’s replacements flop.
If life is fair, Manning would be awarded another Super Bowl.
We don’t live in an ideal world, though. The Broncos quarterback knows he has to earn it, and he is ready to accept the challenge. He wouldn’t want it any other way.
He would appreciate his second championship this time around after all the work he put into it.
This is what fuels him more than anything.
Leslie Monteiro
Leslie is a contributor for Lightning Rod Sports. He covered high school sports in Bergen County out in North Jersey, and has written op-ed columns on sports such as Bleacher Report and NY Sports Digest.
