Brady and Manning Still Pushing Each Other After All These Years

Last summer before training camp, two of the greatest NFL competitors, two of the greatest to do what they do, combined their powers. It was like the Justice League partnering with the Avengers.

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning on one team in a game of high-stakes golf—best-ball format—against two dudes named Ed and Sam. The two dudes, as the story goes, had a one-stroke lead after 16 holes on a course near Pebble Beach. Brady then birdied 17 and Manning 18. They won, and another chapter in the Brady-Manning rivalry was written.

After last year's Super Bowl, the one where Manning was obliterated, Brady and Manning saw each other again at Pebble Beach. This time, there was no competition against ol' Ed and Sam. Just an honest chat. This week, Brady was asked about what was said. He declined to go into specifics, but his quote in many ways symbolized how he feels about Manning.

"We've always had a good relationship," Brady told reporters. "I met him pretty early in my career. We used to face them twice a year with them in our division. Always admired him as a player and got to know him as a person over the years, and we have a great relationship. It's been a lot of fun. He's a great player and he's as good as anybody that has ever played..."

Manning was asked about Brady and how Brady was able to prove the doubters, who earlier this season were saying Brady was done, wrong.

Steven Senne/Associated Press

"It all depends on how much credit you give to quotes, sources, 'they,' 'people.' I've always wanted to meet 'they,' and I've always wanted to meet sources because they seem to say a lot," Manning said, going all media critic. "I'm not speaking for Tom, but my guess is he didn't give 'they' or those people a lot of credibility. As far as me, I'm my own biggest critic. I'm always trying to correct my mistakes and take my coaching. You get graded every game and kind of get graded every practice, and you're always looking to improve. Like I said, I think it's probably a question for Tom what you're really trying to ask, but I think most players are pretty hard on themselves, and they're trying to get better."

The Manning-Brady rivalry has many layers—like the men themselves—but one team official who knows both men put it as well as I've ever heard.

For years now, one has been the other's fear engine. They of course have their normal drive to be great that separates them from the ordinary and puts them in the elite class with the Montanas and Elways and Moons and Starrs.

But, unlike most elites, Manning and Brady also have each other. One is always in close orbit of the next. Those gravitational forces serve as a source of inspiration and a source of fear. A healthy fear.

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Manning: I'm not going to let him outwork me. More film study this week. More practice reps. Sharper, sharper, sharper. I know that's what he's doing.

Brady: I'm not going to let him outwork me. More film study this week. More practice reps. Sharper, sharper, sharper. I know that's what he's doing.

We could talk statistics. How many times they've met. Who is winning. Who is better. That's not unimportant, but it's also not vital.

What's important is we get to see this again. Sure, in the media, we overdo the coverage. It's easy to become cynical, but this battle is still enjoyable. It has an unusual energy because the more these two fight, the more interesting it becomes. Usually, the public would be bored with this, but few are.

Joe Montana didn't have his rival. Almost no other great quarterback did. Maybe Michael Jordan had Isiah Thomas. Magic had Bird, but it was brief. Gretzky? He was unrivaled. There was John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. Ali-Frazier. Closest to Manning-Brady might be Nicklaus-Palmer, but that's golf. It's not a real sport. 

We get to watch two Hall of Famers go at it again and again and again. Like no two elite athletes possibly ever have before.

When Brady was asked if his rivalry with Manning pushed him, Brady responded with a joke.

"I'm pretty self-motivated," Brady said. "He's always someone I've really looked up to, studied and admired. He's older than me. He has more playing experience than me.

"So, maybe when I'm his age..."

Brady's got jokes.

Don't believe that for a second. Manning pushes Brady and Brady pushes Manning. We get to see it.

Again.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.