Peyton Manning has continued to build upon his reputation as a player who can't get it done when it matters most. Once again, his team has been ousted from Super Bowl contention sooner than expected, and all he has to show for it is an undeserved MVP award.
His record in the playoffs remains less than admirable, but should anyone be surprised?
On a night were Manning threw for over 300 yards, it seems unfair to allow the loss to the San Diego Chargers to fall squarely on his shoulders. But unfair doesn't always mean incorrect.
Manning received the NFL's MVP award after being given sole credit for leading the Colts directly to the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak—as if the defense had nothing to do with their success.
Therefore, the same recognition that allowed him to receive that award should make this playoff loss his alone.
When Drew Brees was disregarded in MVP conversations, the argument was that the quarterback of a team who failed to make the playoffs doesn't deserve the honor.
Apparently, the quarterback whose team is now "one and done" after facing a fairly easy schedule en route to the playoffs proved to be more worthy. Everyone allowed themselves to be blinded by Manning's ability to dissect mediocre teams as the Colts climbed to a 12-4 record.
It's time to clear your eyes and accept some crucial bits of reality.
There should be no more room for excuses and no more acceptance of Manning's pitfalls in the postseason. Simply put, he is an exceptional regular season player who wins some exciting games and threatens single-season records regularly.
But he's also someone who chokes in the playoffs.
Gaudy statistics are beautiful. They'll earn someone plenty of endorsements, sell a ton of jerseys, and make him relevant in "greatest of all-time" discussions. But any true football fan prefers the quarterback who doesn't toy with their emotions—the quarterback who can throw 42 passes and still win a game.
And that's exactly what Manning does. Yet, for all of his good and great, there is the terrible that should negate his positives.
With Super Bowl contention on the line, the one touchdown Manning could muster against the Chargers came during an incredible display of situational recognition and intelligence by a veteran quarterback—but he still failed to be the NFL MVP the Colts needed when it mattered most.
Finishing drives with punts in the postseason is not what champions do.
Manning's one Super Bowl victory will always allow his fans to consider him a champion, but it's inaccurate to the reality of who he really is.
Winning the Super Bowl was Manning's exception—not the rule.
Doing enough to make it to the big game and defeat a Rex Grossman-led Chicago Bears squad shouldn't be good enough to consider Manning the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.
Such distinction should be an honor bestowed upon quarterbacks who arrive in the clutch.
Tom Brady deserves the honor, and Philip Rivers seems to be well on his way. Eli Manning may become more significant in these conversations before brother Peyton belongs.
Peyton's ability to transcend the game, and become a national celebrity, is irrelevant to what his legacy should be.
Rename the record books after him if you must. When it's all said and done, Manning's legacy will be in dire need of an effective Heimlich Maneuver.
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