02-04-2008, 08:22 AM
The thought occurs after yesterday's Super Bowl.
Remember, oh UT fans, how happy you were when Peyton Manning stayed his senior year at Tennessee?
Remember how Manning was going to be the Heisman Trophy Winner and lead the Vols to the National Championship and, well, nevermind.
But the lesson here is that Eli wasn't the only one who manipulated the NFL Draft. No- in his own way Peyton did so he wouldn't have to be pushed around by Bill Parcells and wouldn't have to take over the reigns of a 1-15 team and compete against a quarterback a year off leading a team to the Super Bowl.
But, what if he HAD taken the challenge? Manning would have played the Glenn Foley role of the Jets that year and likely would have succeeded in the Vinny Testaverde role the next one.
Who knows? We are talking about Peyton Manning in his second season against Vinny Testaverde as a grizzled veteran. Do you see where Manning might have had more upside potential for the Jets? That he would have been able to protect that 10 point lead at Denver against the Broncos? That the Jets would likely have won some Super Bowls in the seasons past while the Colts have gone as far as Ryan Leaf could have taken them.
Which would be . . .
But what we are REALLY talking about is the all time marketing dream of Peyton playing for the Jets and Eli for the Giants.
Willie, Mickey, and The Duke move over!
Can you imagine how big that would be with two brothers as New York Quarterbacks? You think Peyton's doing some ads from Naptown?
Heck, if you had Peyton with the Jets and Eli with the Giants people would actually go to the diner and chant "D-CAF! D-CAF!"
Instead, what we are likely going to have is Eli become the lead Manning now. There's nobody in the game you'd rather have in a two-minute offense now- that's established. Forget the two drives in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl- I'm talking about the touchdown drive against Dallas with 47 seconds left in the first half.
We are talking about New York vs. Indianapolis. Eli was doing ads for Seiko in the middle of THIS season before his stardom.
I've said it before. I'll say it again. Eli's the Super Bowl quarterback in his FOURTH year, Peyton was 6-10 (and being chastised by his kicker in his fifth- which is a little different than Tiki Barber trying to make a name for himself as a sportscaster) in his fourth.
In the Super Bowl, Eli beat the 18-0 Patriots- not the 4-12 Bears (what, that WASN'T THEIR RECORD LAST YEAR?).
Petyon's had dream coaches to play for- Tony Dungy and Jim Mora. Eli had sadistic Tom Coughlin.
Peyton's had lap dog Indianapolis press. Eli has had "tear your heart out" New York.
Peyton's had Edgerin James as a running back. Eli's had a bunch of guys named Harry.
Peyton had Marvin Harrison, Eli DIDN'T have Jeremy Shockey.
And even when Peyton had the TD pass record, he doesn't anymore, and it took Little Brother to upstage the man who DOES hold the record now.
And, now, we realize it is much, much easier to take Tennessee to the Citrus Bowl than Ole Miss to the Cotton.
But you know, if Peyton had left Tennessee when he could and was playing for the Jets instead of a soulless team that backstabbed their true fans in 1984, he'd have the New York Press behind him (the upside is there when you win).
And the arguements that would ensue would keep him in the limelight. Peyton v. Eli talk would make WFAN the top-rated talk station!
Furthermore, had Peyton come out early he'd have another season to pad his professional stats and would likely retire breaking all of Brett Favre's records. Without that extra season he won't. So he would likely retire as the All-Time QB, instead of being currently ranked fourth behind Tom, Brett, and Eli.
I love Peyton- he's a real class act. And he doesn't have to apologize for much of anything except, as it turns out, staying at UT for an extra year.
He's not the lead Manning anymore. New York trumps Indianapolis.
And the arguement isn't Peyton vs. Brady anymore. Oh, no. Only ONE Manning beats Tom Brady (unless, of course, you give the elder Manning repeated meetings, home field advantage, and more than a half to come back instead of 2:43)!
Yes, UT fans have to go back and brag on their boy being better than Ryan Leaf now!!!!!!!!
Remember, oh UT fans, how happy you were when Peyton Manning stayed his senior year at Tennessee?
Remember how Manning was going to be the Heisman Trophy Winner and lead the Vols to the National Championship and, well, nevermind.
But the lesson here is that Eli wasn't the only one who manipulated the NFL Draft. No- in his own way Peyton did so he wouldn't have to be pushed around by Bill Parcells and wouldn't have to take over the reigns of a 1-15 team and compete against a quarterback a year off leading a team to the Super Bowl.
But, what if he HAD taken the challenge? Manning would have played the Glenn Foley role of the Jets that year and likely would have succeeded in the Vinny Testaverde role the next one.
Who knows? We are talking about Peyton Manning in his second season against Vinny Testaverde as a grizzled veteran. Do you see where Manning might have had more upside potential for the Jets? That he would have been able to protect that 10 point lead at Denver against the Broncos? That the Jets would likely have won some Super Bowls in the seasons past while the Colts have gone as far as Ryan Leaf could have taken them.
Which would be . . .
But what we are REALLY talking about is the all time marketing dream of Peyton playing for the Jets and Eli for the Giants.
Willie, Mickey, and The Duke move over!
Can you imagine how big that would be with two brothers as New York Quarterbacks? You think Peyton's doing some ads from Naptown?
Heck, if you had Peyton with the Jets and Eli with the Giants people would actually go to the diner and chant "D-CAF! D-CAF!"
Instead, what we are likely going to have is Eli become the lead Manning now. There's nobody in the game you'd rather have in a two-minute offense now- that's established. Forget the two drives in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl- I'm talking about the touchdown drive against Dallas with 47 seconds left in the first half.
We are talking about New York vs. Indianapolis. Eli was doing ads for Seiko in the middle of THIS season before his stardom.
I've said it before. I'll say it again. Eli's the Super Bowl quarterback in his FOURTH year, Peyton was 6-10 (and being chastised by his kicker in his fifth- which is a little different than Tiki Barber trying to make a name for himself as a sportscaster) in his fourth.
In the Super Bowl, Eli beat the 18-0 Patriots- not the 4-12 Bears (what, that WASN'T THEIR RECORD LAST YEAR?).
Petyon's had dream coaches to play for- Tony Dungy and Jim Mora. Eli had sadistic Tom Coughlin.
Peyton's had lap dog Indianapolis press. Eli has had "tear your heart out" New York.
Peyton's had Edgerin James as a running back. Eli's had a bunch of guys named Harry.
Peyton had Marvin Harrison, Eli DIDN'T have Jeremy Shockey.
And even when Peyton had the TD pass record, he doesn't anymore, and it took Little Brother to upstage the man who DOES hold the record now.
And, now, we realize it is much, much easier to take Tennessee to the Citrus Bowl than Ole Miss to the Cotton.
But you know, if Peyton had left Tennessee when he could and was playing for the Jets instead of a soulless team that backstabbed their true fans in 1984, he'd have the New York Press behind him (the upside is there when you win).
And the arguements that would ensue would keep him in the limelight. Peyton v. Eli talk would make WFAN the top-rated talk station!
Furthermore, had Peyton come out early he'd have another season to pad his professional stats and would likely retire breaking all of Brett Favre's records. Without that extra season he won't. So he would likely retire as the All-Time QB, instead of being currently ranked fourth behind Tom, Brett, and Eli.
I love Peyton- he's a real class act. And he doesn't have to apologize for much of anything except, as it turns out, staying at UT for an extra year.
He's not the lead Manning anymore. New York trumps Indianapolis.
And the arguement isn't Peyton vs. Brady anymore. Oh, no. Only ONE Manning beats Tom Brady (unless, of course, you give the elder Manning repeated meetings, home field advantage, and more than a half to come back instead of 2:43)!
Yes, UT fans have to go back and brag on their boy being better than Ryan Leaf now!!!!!!!!