Musket Fire
FanSided

Brady, Manning are Forever Intertwined

By Jaydeen Allen

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) shake hands and speak after the game in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) shake hands and speak after the game in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Jordan or Kobe?

Ali or Frazier?

Federer or Nadal?

These are just some examples of debates that take part in schools, break rooms, barbershops, or the in-laws’ place. No matter where you go, or who you ask, there will always be a conversation about Who is better?

 And that is certainly the case when it comes to Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

With Manning announcing his retirement Monday afternoon, it may have come with a sigh of relief for the New England Patriots or any AFC West Team and their fans. But it will surely feel odd to not have Manning no longer in the NFL, especially because football fans can no longer look forward to another Brady-Manning matchup in the regular season.

We’ve been blessed and very fortunate to have been in an era to witness two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. We are also very lucky to have seen these two quarterbacks face each other. Seventeen times.

Depending on who you ask, whether you are a Patriots fan or Colts/Broncos fan, there will always be a bias towards one of the quarterbacks. One has more titles, while the other has the stats.

But when they were on the same playing field, all that never mattered. Excitement and competitiveness of the game seemed to occupy fans’ minds.

As much as people say that “Brady-Manning” was played out after a while, we are more likely than not going to be treated to a rivalry like this ever again.

In debating who is better, there are common arguments such as:

“Manning never had a Belichick”

“Brady never had talent similar to Manning”

“Brady has had better defenses than Manning”

“Manning has benefited from playing in a dome”

Manning’s greatness cannot be discredited just because he is 2-3 in the Super Bowl with a postseason record of 14-13 (also a record of nine 1-and-dones). It does not disqualify him from being in discussion for one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

Brady’s greatness also cannot be slandered just because he may not have put up eye-popping numbers week-to-week at the beginning of his career and has a hall of fame head coach. It also doesn’t mean he is strictly a “system QB”.

Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; A fan holds up a sign about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning during the fourth quarter of New England
Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; A fan holds up a sign about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning during the fourth quarter of New England /

More from Musket Fire

The debate will be ongoing until Brady decides to hang up the cleats. However, it looks like that may not be any time soon. One may wonder if Brady will surpass Manning’s records in three or four more seasons. Will we look at the debate the same or will Brady clear himself as the greatest of all time?

We’ll just have to wait and see, but one thing is for sure.

Without one another, the quarterbacks that we have witnessed and know of today would not exist. So instead of the comparisons every time their names are brought up, let’s sit back and remember how great it has been watching these two amazing quarterbacks.

Home/Patriots News