Lonestar
12-10-2009, 09:48 PM
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Posted: 12/10/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
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Peyton Manning has been included in America's favorite bar-stool argument for going on six seasons now.
Bartenders know the debate well — who's the best quarterback of all time?
Ever since Manning threw 49 touchdown passes in 2004 — with Brandon Stokley catching No. 49 — the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback has been included in the discussion.
But after 11 remarkably consistent seasons of posting numbers only the league's most elite passers could share, there is something scary about Manning's 12th season as he prepares to play the Broncos on Sunday at his home venue of Lucas Oil Stadium — he has never been more accurate.
A 64.4 percent career thrower entering this season, Manning is completing 70 percent of passes this year, which if it holds would be a career high.
"Nothing I can give you an easy answer to," Manning said during a conference call with the Denver media Wednesday. "The idea every game is to try to get the ball to our receivers and tight ends. We have a lot of guys who catch the football well."
That's just it, though. Manning is playing in a season in which he has lost Marvin Harrison to retirement and slot receiver Anthony Gonzalez to a knee injury.
Harrison and Gonzalez have been replaced by Pierre Garcon, who had four catches as a rookie last season, and Austin Collie, a rookie from Brigham Young who was drafted in the fourth round.
Is it possible that after years of compiling a case as the best-ever quarterback, Manning has saved his best for his 12th season?
"He's not getting any worse," said Stokley, now in his third season as the Broncos' slot receiver after spending four seasons running routes for Manning. "That doesn't surprise me that his percentage is up at all."
That 70 percent completion rate, by the way, has occurred while Manning has thrown for a league-high 3,685 yards through 12 victorious games. So it's not like he has become a dunk-and-dink passer as he approaches his mid-30s.
"I feel like every year, just because of another year of experience, you ought to be a better player than the year before," Manning said. "It's 16 or 17 more games that you've had to learn from, different defenses that you've seen, more repetitions that you've had with your receivers."
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13964838
The Denver Post
Posted: 12/10/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
.
Peyton Manning has been included in America's favorite bar-stool argument for going on six seasons now.
Bartenders know the debate well — who's the best quarterback of all time?
Ever since Manning threw 49 touchdown passes in 2004 — with Brandon Stokley catching No. 49 — the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback has been included in the discussion.
But after 11 remarkably consistent seasons of posting numbers only the league's most elite passers could share, there is something scary about Manning's 12th season as he prepares to play the Broncos on Sunday at his home venue of Lucas Oil Stadium — he has never been more accurate.
A 64.4 percent career thrower entering this season, Manning is completing 70 percent of passes this year, which if it holds would be a career high.
"Nothing I can give you an easy answer to," Manning said during a conference call with the Denver media Wednesday. "The idea every game is to try to get the ball to our receivers and tight ends. We have a lot of guys who catch the football well."
That's just it, though. Manning is playing in a season in which he has lost Marvin Harrison to retirement and slot receiver Anthony Gonzalez to a knee injury.
Harrison and Gonzalez have been replaced by Pierre Garcon, who had four catches as a rookie last season, and Austin Collie, a rookie from Brigham Young who was drafted in the fourth round.
Is it possible that after years of compiling a case as the best-ever quarterback, Manning has saved his best for his 12th season?
"He's not getting any worse," said Stokley, now in his third season as the Broncos' slot receiver after spending four seasons running routes for Manning. "That doesn't surprise me that his percentage is up at all."
That 70 percent completion rate, by the way, has occurred while Manning has thrown for a league-high 3,685 yards through 12 victorious games. So it's not like he has become a dunk-and-dink passer as he approaches his mid-30s.
"I feel like every year, just because of another year of experience, you ought to be a better player than the year before," Manning said. "It's 16 or 17 more games that you've had to learn from, different defenses that you've seen, more repetitions that you've had with your receivers."
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13964838