Peyton Manning vs. Michelle Obama: Poll Ranks Manning as a Trustworthy Fellow

A recent poll from Reuters/Ipsos ranked Peyton Manning in a tie for 23rd most popular personality (with Bill Gates and Paul McCartney). Manning was the only athlete in the top 25 for popularity, and he was the highest ranked athlete on the trustworthiness scale.  

It's certainly no surprise that he outranked some thoroughly demonized guys like Tiger Woods and LeBron James. But the fact that he scored higher on the trustworthiness scale than (among others) Michelle Obama, Will Smith, Rachael Ray and Steven Spielberg is intriguing.

What does Manning have that makes him more trustworthy than these luminaries? Why is Manning viewed by the public as a man with whom they'd feel comfortable?

I'd like to break down a few possible reasons for his high ranking. I'd also like to invite you to comment on Manning's perceived trustworthiness. Why did he beat out Spielberg and the First Lady? Is his lofty ranking justified?

Manning's Public Persona

Manning has always kept his family life close to the vest. We know he's married and we know that he has twins. We know he has a younger brother who is a considerably less talented quarterback than he is.

We know his dad was a pro quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. We know that his older brother had a promising football career derailed by injury.

Beyond that, we really don't know that much about Manning's family situation. Wisely, he keeps his private life private. He's never been in any serious trouble. Other famous athletes have been caught philandering (Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant) or have had problems with the law (Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick).

Manning has carefully cultivated a "good guy" image. He comes across as affable, smart and funny in commercials and TV spots. His hilarious guest appearance on SNL in 2007 showed that he could laugh at himself and that he had impeccable comic timing. His Southern drawl is endearing and he has a self-effacing persona.

He has been a positive force in the Indianapolis community and even has a Children's Hospital named after him. Whether he's encouraging a butcher to "cut that meat" or playing ping pong with Justin Timberlake, Manning plays as a famous fellow who you could chat up at a backyard barbecue. You trust guys like that.

Manning's Sports Accomplishments

Prior to the 2006 season, Manning had racked up a couple MVP awards and numerous regular season records. He was known as a stat machine with great arm strength, incomparable game knowledge and estimable pocket presence. With the Colts victory in Super Bowl XLI, Manning achieved respect commensurate with his regular-season achievements.

Through all of his success, Manning has remained a team-first guy. This article from ESPN (which came out after Manning won his fourth MVP award following the 2009 season) is dripping with quotes from Manning about his teammates. He is constantly praising the guys around him and gives credit to coaches and his family for his accomplishments.  

Manning has loads of respect around the league. Coaches, players and media folks invariably compliment him on his class and skill. Not only has he won the trust of his teammates as the unquestioned leader of the Colts, but he also backed up his status as a team guy through a new, cap-friendly contract.

By negotiating a contract that paid him the same amount as Tom Brady, Manning enabled the team to have enough money to re-sign Joseph Addai. 

In sum, it's not just Manning's considerable respect and success on-field that make him so trustworthy-- it's also his carefully cultivated public persona. Manning has something that Spielberg and Mrs. Obama don't have. He's funny and personable in a relatable way.

So fire up the grill and invite him over for some brats!