Note: My research is only complete through 1985, but I am extremely confident no player before then qualifies because careers were much shorter. Please let me know if my data is inaccurate.Peyton Manning was named the 2008 NFL MVP today, and now the debate can really begin. Historically, will Manning or Brett Favre be remembered as the better quarterback?
Both have one Super Bowl ring and both have won three NFL MVPs, the only players to achieve such a feat. The future Hall of Famers even share the odd distinction of being a co-MVP -- Manning shared it with Steve McNair in 2003 and Favre shared it with Barry Sanders in 1997.
The Indianapolis Colts quarterback, however, did move past Favre in one category by receiving 32 of this year's 50 votes from The Associated Press. He actually only needed one to set the mark.
Manning has now received MVP votes in seven of his 11 NFL seasons, breaking a record shared by Favre and Jerry Rice, who each had career totals of six. Steve Young and Joe Montana received MVP votes in four individual seasons.
In addition to his three first-place finishes (2008, 2004, 2003), Manning has finished second (2005), tied for second (1999), third (2006) and tied for fifth (2000). Favre won the award in three consecutive years (1997, 1996, 1995) and also has second- (2007, 2002) and third-place (2001) finishes in his 18-year career.
For the curious, Rice finished second (1995, 1987), third (1994, 1993) sixth (1986) and seventh (1990) in a 20-year career.
Receiving any MVP votes in a career can be a difficult task -- future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson has received no votes outside of his 2006 MVP season -- and Manning's consistent greatness should not be overlooked.
Nota bene:
- Jerry Rice's feat is astounding in itself because wide receivers are not often recognized by MVP voters. Since Rice's career began in 1985, only Randy Moss (1998) and Sterling Sharpe (1993) and tight end Mark Bavaro (1986) received any MVP votes.
- Eight players received MVP votes in 2008, marking the most split ballot since 1993, when nine players received votes: Emmitt Smith (26), Steve Young (21), Jerry Rice (15), John Elway (10), Troy Aikman (3), Warren Moon (2), Marcus Allen (2), Phil Simms (1), Sterling Sharpe (1).
Peyton Manning is obviously better.
ReplyDeletePeyton Manning: the best QB ever.
ReplyDeletePeyton is 7% better than Brett. I didn't pull that number out of the sky..... (think farther down)
ReplyDeleteMy main concern for Peyton is that Madden 10 will have him on the cover. You should do a study showing being on the cover of a video game spells doom for your career.
John Elway.
ReplyDeleteBetter quarterback: Manning
ReplyDeleteBetter football player: Favre
Payton is a textbook quarterback, but he's not even the best Manning when it comes to knowing how to will a team to win.
Watching Favre is to watch someone at who loves playing football the same way he did when he was 12. May be true for Payton, too, since he was probably doing drills his dad made up for him at 12.
There's certainly no regional bias in the above comments. :P
ReplyDeleteManning may have more years with MVP votes, but so far his teams were less successful in those MVP years than Favre's teams, at least judging by playoff success.
Not counting this year, in their MVP-vote garnering seasons, each has one Super Bowl win and one two-win playoff season. Beyond that, Favre has a Super Bowl loss, 2 1-win playoffs and and first-game loss, while Manning rounds out with one one-win playoff and 3 first-game losses.
It's definitely possible he could post a solid playoff season here, though, which would improve his record.