[PhatTBoll]

The problem with evaluating the "greatness" of invididual players is that it invariably requires that we look at a career as a package, rather than as a collection of discreet events (games).
Does Manning have a history of coming up short in big games? Of course. Is he beginning to show improvement in big games? Absolutely. Nobody has even mentioned the Tampa Monday night game last year. Down 3 touchdowns, with 4 minutes left, on the road, against the undefeated, defending Super bowl champs, and he led them back to victory. The first playoff game against Denver: faced with a team that had just waxed them two weeks earlier, he turns in an almost flawless performance. The second playoff game against KC: another flawless performance that almost went to waste because of Indy's flummoxed defense and special teams coverage. And then the New England game, where the officials decided that the rules should stop applying to the Pats defensive backs.
None of the Peyton-bashers has even mentioned these games, except the NE game which tends to prove their point. Do the first three games I discussed even enter into the calculus? Or do they get tossed out because they don't support your opinion?

As for the argument that Peyton has been surrounded by so much talent and hasn't gotten the job done...Did it ever occur to you that the main reason why Marvin has gotten so much credit for being such a great receiver is that he has Peyton Manning throwing him the ball? Have you even considered that?

A final assignment for the Peyton-bashers:

Reconcile these statements:

1. Defense wins championships.

2. Over the course of Peyton Manning's career, the Colts' defense has been below average.

3. Peyton Manning is not a great quarterback because he has not won a championship.

4. Peyton Manning does not play defense.

Let's hear it.