Our greatest athlete countdown reveals an RSS Decade Series first, ladies and gentlemen, a tie! For our #4 athlete, there was no way to separate these two quarterbacks. For the past decade, they've been the unquestioned face of the NFL. When you think of one, you think of the other...Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, or is it Peyton Manning and Tom Brady?
Tom Brady's Resume
-3-time Super Bowl Champion (36, 38, 39)
-2-time Super Bowl MVP (36, 38)
-4-time Pro Bowl selection
-2007 NFL MVP
Peyton Manning's Resume
-1-time Super Bowl Champion (41)
-1-time Super Bowl MVP (41)
-9-time Pro Bowl Selection
-3-time NFL MVP
The Facts
-In 2004, Manning set an NFL record by throwing for 49 TDs. The record was broken by Brady in 2007 with 50 TDs.
-Brady holds the record for most completions in a single Super Bowl and most career completions in the Super Bowl.
-Manning currently sits 4th on the career TD list and 6th on the career passing yards list.
-Manning has made the playoffs every year this decade except 2001, while Brady has made the postseason 6 times this decade.
-Brady holds the advantage head-to-head over Manning 7-3.
-Both have hosted episodes of Saturday Night Live.
Why They're Here
Clearly, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady belong on this list because they have been the two greatest athletes in the most important professional league in the country, the NFL. They truly are the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird of this generation. Throughout history, they will be linked as the two greatest quarterbacks of this, or perhaps any generation. Perhaps the greatest irony is the difference between the two's path to the NFL. Peyton Manning was born to be a professional quarterback. As the son of Saints great Archie Manning, Peyton was always pushed towards greatness. After attending Tennessee, Peyton was drafted first overall by the Colts in the 1998 Draft.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady had to compete for playing time at Michigan with future baseball flameout Drew Henson and future journeyman Brian Griese. In the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady would be drafted 199th overall, behind such great quarterbacks as Giovanni Carmazzi (0 career passing yards), Tee Martin (69 career passing yards), and Spergon Wynn (589 career passing yards). Both would also take different paths to the top of the NFL. Manning was the prototype for the perfect quarterback who could never win the big game until he finally won his Super Bowl. Brady was the cinderella champion who came from nowhere to become one of the winningest quarterbacks of all-time.
Lasting Impact
Interestingly enough, their lasting impact on the sports culture may find Brady switching his humble roots with Manning's pedigree. These days, it's Brady who finds himself as tabloid material on a daily basis. With his supermodel wife, Brady has gone from sixth-round draft pick to the glamour boy of the NFL.
Manning on the other hand feels like the everyman's quarterback, methodical and hard-working. His down-home blue-collar charm appeals to the masses, which might be why Manning's face is all over products from Gatorade to MasterCard. Who can forget this favorite?
So, both are proven winners in the biggest sport in the country at the single most important position in American sports, quarterback. Battles between these two in the past, and in the future, will go down in NFL lore among the very best rivalries in the game's history. By the end of Brady's career, he could have more Super Bowl victories than any other quarterback. By the end of Manning's career, he could hold nearly every important passing record there is. That's why it's impossible to separate the two. Which one is truly better than the other, you be the judge. For now, they both share the stage in our Athletes of the Decade countdown.
Only three more athletes to go! Who will claim the final podium positions on our Athletes of the Decade countdown? Remember, we at RSS want to know what you think, so feel free to leave your comments below. Also, don't forget to vote up our stories on BallHype, I'm sure we can pay you back someday. Until next time, it's bye for now!
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