Digesting Daily

Oehser has thoughts this fine Monday

Whitlock went in to rank Manning eighth among all-time NFL quarterbacks, writing, “He might one day move into the top five of this list. But not today. Manning is perfect for the Madden video game era. You put him in the 1960s and 1970s — when defenders could beat up QBs — and he just might be Jim Everett. Remember the scrambling play Eli Manning made to win XLII? Peyton would have never made that play because he would’ve fallen to the ground long before a defender touched him. Again, I like Peyton. He just has some work to do before we overlook his shortcomings and anoint him.”

Look. I don’t know where Manning ranks or will rank. I do think people are tired of arguing it, and I know I am. As far as Manning’s legacy, I tend to agree with BigBlueShoe of Stampede Blue when he says Manning’s legacy is just fine, and I think to penalize him for one interception in a Super Bowl is as silly as thinking that the Super Bowl XLI victory — or evena second one — somehow legitamized his career. It alreay was legitimate, and he’s still an all-time great whatever happened Sunday. So, let’s put something of a bow on it by saying it really doesn’t matter where he’s ranked. Does he wish he had the interception in Super Bowl XLIV back? Sure. Would the Colts have been there without him? Certainly not. Is he the best of his era? I believe so. Do people put too much emphasis on Super Bowl titles when judging quarterbacks? Absolutely. Very definitely absolutely.