Peyton Manning Wins Sports Illustrated's 2013 Sportsman of the Year

Peyton Manning added yet another award to his resume on Sunday, as he was named Sports Illustrated's 2013 Sportsman of the Year. 

SI's official Twitter feed has the news:

After he missed the entire 2011 season with a neck injury, it looked like Manning's terrific career was nearing its completion. But the four-time MVP won Comeback Player of the Year in his first season with the Denver Broncos and has only increased that success in 2013. 

With two games still remaining on the schedule, Manning has thrown for a career-high 4,811 yards to go with 47 touchdowns (just two away from his career high) and just 10 interceptions. 

He leads the league in completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns, has the Broncos at 11-3 and atop the AFC and is a strong candidate to win MVP. 

Manning, according to SI's Peter King, who announced the award on NBC during halftime of the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers contest, is the eighth NFL player to win this award since its inception in 1954. 

The last was Drew Brees in 2010, while Brett Favre won in 2007, and Tom Brady was honored in 2005. 

Per King, others who were considered for the honor included New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera and Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. 

Arizona Diamondbacks announcer Steve Berthiaume was somewhat perplexed about the magazine's final decision:

Nevertheless, this is more of a case of there being too many good candidates. Manning is in the midst of a potentially historic individual season and SI couldn't pass him up for the prestigious award.