Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning’s profile at CBS Sportsline

Peyton Manning’s GameLog at CBS Sportsline

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Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American Football Conference (AFC) quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.

He is the son of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and Olivia Manning. Additionally, he is the older brother of current New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and the younger brother of former Ole Miss receiver Cooper Manning, whose college career was cut short by spinal stenosis. Peyton played high school football in New Orleans, for Louisiana’s Isidore Newman School, then college football for the University of Tennessee and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. That same year, Peyton married his college girlfriend, Ashley.

Manning holds several NFL passing records, including: Touchdown passes in a single season (49 in 2004), most consecutive seasons with over 4,000 yards passing (6 from 1999 through 2004), and most seasons with 4,000 or more yards passing in a career (7). His career 94.4 passing rating in the NFL ranks first among active QB’s with at least 1,500 passing attempts, and second all-time to Steve Young’s 96.8. Manning has thrown for 275 touchdowns in his career (ranking him seventh all-time), and has thrown for a total of 37,586 yards in his career (ranking him thirteenth all-time).

 

At Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, Manning started three consecutive seasons at quarterback. He threw for 7,207 yards and 92 touchdowns, leading his team to a 34-5 record. Manning was the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Louisiana.

Because of his father’s legacy at Ole Miss, Peyton Manning stunned many when he chose to attend and play for the University of Tennessee. Manning would become Tennessee’s all-time leading passer with 11,201 yards, 863 completions and 89 touchdowns, while compiling a 39-6 record as a starter, setting an SEC record for career wins (although Georgia’s David Greene would set a new record of 42 wins in 2005). In his college career, he threw only 33 interceptions in 1,381 attempts, an NCAA record for best all-time interception percentage. He was 3-1 in his four bowl appearances. Although after three years he had completed his degree, a BA in speech communication with a 3.61 GPA and Phi Beta Kappa honors, and was projected to be the top overall pick in the NFL Draft, Manning returned to Tennessee for his senior year. Despite an early season loss to archrival Florida, Manning put up even more impressive numbers in his last season (3,819 yards, 36 touchdowns) in leading the Vols to the SEC title and finished second in 1997 Heisman Trophy voting to the University of Michigan’s Charles Woodson. Manning received the 1997 James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. In 2005, Tennessee retired Manning’s number, making him only the 3rd Tennessee player to have his number retired while still living. Also, one of the streets leading to Neyland Stadium has been re-named Peyton Manning Pass.

College awards

  • 1997 Davey O’Brien Award – Awarded to the Nation’s Top Senior Quarterback
  • 1997 Johnny Unitas Award – Awarded to the Nation’s Top Quarterback
  • 1997 Maxwell Award – Nation’s Top Player
  • 1997 College Football All-America Team
  • 1997 James E. Sullivan Award – Awarded by the Amateur Athletic Union to the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States
  • 1997 Today’s Top VIII Award – honors eight outstanding senior student-athletes
  • 1997 SEC Championship MVP
  • 1997 Capital One Bowl Overall MVP
    Manning was selected first overall in the 1998 draft by the Indianapolis Colts and has started every game in his NFL career, missing only one snap due to injury despite sustaining injuries as serious as a broken jaw inflicted by defensive end Lorenzo Bromell. He was the NFL co-MVP in 2003, sharing the honor with then Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair. In 2004, Manning became the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time, signing a $99.2m contract for seven years with a $34.5m signing bonus, which averages out to $14.17m annually. Under the contract, Manning is also eligible to earn an extra $19m in incentives.

In scouting reports, Manning is known as a “pure” pocket passer rather than a “scrambler.” Manning is well known for his frantic hand gestures and shouting before the play while calling out audibles.

1998-1999 season
Peyton Manning was the first draft pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, selected by Indianapolis, and started immediately for the team. Manning passed for 3,739 with 26 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He set five different NFL rookie records, including most touchdown passes in a season and was named to the NFL All-Rookie First Team. Despite this, the Colts only finished 3-13.

Dell Home Systems

1999-2000 season

Prior to the beginning of the season, the Colts selected Edgerrin James during the NFL draft. Manning and James turned the Colts franchise around, leading the team to a 13-3 record, an AFC East championship, and the play-offs. One of the team’s three losses, however, was to now-rival New England. The Colts led 28-7 at halftime, but ultimately lost, 31-28. Manning passed for over 4,000 yards and 26 touchdown passes, as the team earned a first round bye as the AFC’s second seed, behind Jacksonville.  In the playoffs, however, the Colts fell 19-16 to the Super Bowl bound Tennessee Titans. Manning completed 19 of 43 passes with no touchdowns.

2003-2004 season

Manning threw for 4,267 yards and 29 touchdowns during the regular season, assisting his team to a 12-4 record despite having a defense that ranked only 20th in the NFL in points allowed (336). Manning then went on to lead his team to a 41-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in the wildcard playoff round, his first playoff win after 3 first round losses in the past 3 seasons. He completed 22 of 26 passes for 377 yards and 5 touchdowns in the game, earning him a perfect 158.3 Passer Rating. Then in the divisional playoffs, Manning led the Colts to a 38 – 31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the first puntless game in NFL playoff history, throwing for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns, and earning an impressive 138.8 passer rating. However, Manning was shut down by the New England Patriots defense in the AFC title game, as he posted the third lowest passer rating of his career at 35.5. The Patriots defense intercepted Manning four times (three of them by Ty Law) and held Manning’s offense to just 14 points as the Colts lost the game 24 – 14.

2004-2005 season
In 2004, Manning had one of the greatest regular seasons in NFL history, putting up 4,557 yards, a 121.1 quarterback rating, and 49 touchdowns, surpassing the record for TD passes in a season (48) held by Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino for two decades. His quarterback rating in 2004 also surpassed the previous single-season mark of 112.8 set by Hall of Fame San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young. In addition to his individual achievements, Manning also led the Colts to a 12-4 record and their second consecutive AFC South division title. As a result, he was a near-unanimous selection for the 2004 NFL MVP in drawing 49 of 50 votes (Michael Vick received one vote), was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year respectively. However, the Colts’ 2004 season ended in Foxborough for a second straight year with a 20 – 3 loss in the AFC Divisional Playoff game against New England when Manning played his worst game of the year, recording a season-low passer rating of 69.3 and posting a season-low 3 points of offense. It was Manning’s seventh consecutive loss to the Patriots in Foxborough, MA. The Colts’ three points were their lowest single game point total since their opening game of the 2003 season.

2005-2006 season
AFC quarterback Peyton Manning, during the 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii

AFC quarterback Peyton Manning, during the 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii

In 2005 the Colts had a greatly improved defense over that of recent years. In week 15, the Colts had a perfect 13-0 record, and had secured the AFC South, home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and a first round bye. Nevertheless, Tony Dungy made the decision to play all of his regular starters against the Chargers in the hopes of keeping his team sharp for the playoffs. However, the Colts played a sub-par game against the Chargers and fell short of the win; the score was 26-17.[23] Manning finished the season with 3,747 passing yards, the first time he had thrown for under 4,000 yards since his rookie season of 1998, largely due to the fact that Manning sat out much of the final two games with the top AFC seed clinched.

On January 15, 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers visited the RCA Dome for the second AFC divisional playoff game of the 2005 season. The Steelers shocked most fans and analysts by gaining a 14-3 lead by halftime. In the 4th quarter the Colts were almost able to pull off an improbable comeback, after a series of unlikely (and controversial) events. With only a few minutes left in the game, Manning threw what looked to be the game-ending interception to Troy Polamalu, but the interception was overturned (a call the NFL later admitted was incorrect).  The Colts went on to score, and were able to get the ball back down three points near the end of the game. On 4th down Manning was sacked near his own goal line, and the game seemed to be over as the Steelers were one yard from a touchdown. On the play the ball was handed off to Bettis who fumbled the ball. It was picked up by Colts defender Nick Harper who appeared to have a clear path down the sideline for what might have been the game-winning score. However, he inexplicably cut to the center of the field where Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was running backwards hoping to get into position to tackle. He managed to dive in front of Harper and tackle him by the leg, saving a touchdown. The Colts drove down the field from their own 42 yard line to the Steelers 27 yard line, before Mike Vanderjagt missed a field goal as time ran out. (It was the first time a 6th seeded team would eventually go on to win the Super Bowl when the Steelers won Super Bowl XL.)

Peyton came in second in voting for the 2005 MVP award to Shaun Alexander (19 to 13, out of 50 voters), ending his streak at two years. He was named the 2005 winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He was also nominated for the 2005 FedEx Air Player of the Year Award, along with Tom Brady and Carson Palmer, the winner of the award. The two runners up were both also quarterbacks for the Pro Bowl that year.

2006-2007 season
The Colts started 9-0 but finished the season with a 12-4 record and got the third seed in the playoffs. Manning had a good season, throwing for over 30 touchdowns, over 4000 yards, and leading the NFL in Quarterback rating. Besides that, by throwing 31 TD passes and only 9 interceptions he became the second quarterback in league history (the other being Donovan McNabb) to throw over 30 touchdowns and less than 10 interceptions in a single season. Manning’s Colts defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs on January 6 by a score of 23-8. The Colts won their Divisional Playoff game on Saturday, January 13, 2007 by the score of 15-6 against the Baltimore Ravens. Adam Vinatieri tied an NFL record with 5 field goals in a playoff game. The Colts played the New England Patriots on Sunday, January 21, 2007 for the AFC Championship. The Colts had home field advantage because they were the #3 seed and won the tiebreaker with New England because they beat them earlier in the year. The Colts went on to beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship game 38-34, after coming back from an 18-point deficit.

NFL awards

    • 1998 NFL All-Rookie First Team
    • 2001 Week 2 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2003 Week 4 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2003 Week 15 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2003 Co-MVP (Steve McNair)
    • 2003 Bert Bell Award
    • 2004 Offensive Player of the Year
    • 2004 Week 3 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2004 Week 10 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2004 Week 12 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2004 Week 16 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2004 November AFC Offensive Player of the Month
    • 2004 MVP
    • 2004 Bert Bell Award
    • 2005 Week 9 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2005 Byron “Whizzer” White Humanitarian Award
    • 2005 Pro Bowl MVP
    • 2005 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
    • 2006 Week 2 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
    • 2006 Week 7 AFC Offensive Player of the Week
      2006 October AFC Offensive Player of the Month

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