Peyton Manning: Playing Through Neck Injury Will Prove QB's Brilliance

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning may not be as physically gifted as a thrower as he once was, but the challenge of playing through his neck injury this season will highlight his remarkable mental capacity for reading defenses.

ESPN’s AFC West blogger Bill Williamson notes that Manning has not been sharp when throwing to his right during preseason activities, and this may be a problem that persists in the Broncos’ 2012 campaign.

However, according to Williamson, both ESPN’s John Clayton and Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. believe that Manning will still be a productive player this season despite his limitations.

Manning recently addressed the issue of his arm strength in an interview with CBS Sports’ Jim Rome:

"I am 36 years old. My arm has a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns on it, so it’s probably not going to be the same as it was when it was 22, but I still think it can complete some passes."

Even when Manning was younger, he never had arm strength similar to Brett Favre or John Elway. The zip on his throws has always been fast enough, but that is not the attribute that made him great.

Manning often beats a defense before ever touching the ball. No quarterback in the NFL is as adept at recognizing what opposing defenses are going to run and making the required adjustment to create a favorable matchup.

The 36-year-old’s physical skills may have declined due to age and injury, be he is still just as sharp as he was before sitting out the 2011 season. His ability to call the perfect hot route or audible will not have gone away.

In the same interview, Manning noted that arm strength was not vital to his success.

“For me, it’s more about getting on the same page with your receivers, knowing when to throw certain passes.”

As the season progresses, he will get more familiar with talented pass-catchers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. He is the type of player who will have complete control of the offense from the start of the season, but it will take time for Manning and his receiving corps to adjust to the intricacies of each other’s preferences.

With time, Manning’s ability to read coverages and place the ball where it needs to be will allow him to compensate for physical limitations due to his injury. He will still win games and put up impressive numbers this season, and that will prove his phenomenal comprehension of the mental aspects of playing quarterback in the NFL.