Is Peyton the best ever though? A look at the statistics alone requires him to at least be in the discussion. In his 12 seasons he has thrown 366 TDs(3rd behind Dan Marino and Brett Favre), 4232 completions (a very distant third to Dan Marino and even more distant to Brett Favre), 50128 total yards (a close 4th to John Elway but no where close to Dan Marino and Brett Favre. His 131 wins put him within reach of 3rd place Dan Marino (147) and 2nd place John Elway (148).

When people talk about the greatest of all time, all the aforementioned players are in the conversation, but with some other players leading the talk, i.e. Joe Montana, Steve Young, Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach. While known of these guys are even in the same remote ballpark statistically there is one number that stands out for most of them- championships.

Montana won four Super Bowls; so did Terry Bradshaw. Young won three. Starr won the first two Super Bowls as well as five championships. Unitas has two championships under his belt as well as a Super Bowl win as well. Staubach led the Cowboys to four Super Bowls including two wins.

Manning has always shown unflappable leadership on andoff the field. Last season, one could not help but admire how he stood behind the actions of head coach Jim Caldwell even though it was obvious that he did not believe in what he was saying. The statistics will only continue to grow as the Iron Man-ning continues to play andhas a talented group of receivers around him.

In my opinion, most people equate success too often with the numbers. A look at the aforementioned players is proof positive that the quality of a quarterback is not in the yards or the TDs, but in the end result he is able to lead his team to. Manning is truly one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, but for him to enter the conversation as the best ever he will need to do something that has eluded him more often than not- win championships.

Say it ain’t so!!!

Freeney’s out because a Chargers linemen rolled over his left ankle during the 4th quarter last Sunday. He’s set to miss upwards of 4 games or so.

What will the Polian-Dungy connection do to remedy our backup woes? How about sign Pro Bowler Simeon Rice for a conditional agreement to take over our beloved Pro Bowler Defensive End while he heals?

Just prior to preseason, Rice was dismissed from his Tampa Bay contract due to a nagging shoulder injury, but Rice maintains it’s because he adamantly refused to take a pay cut. Denver picks him up, healthy and almost back to form, and then barely plays him in six games this season. We’re talking Simeon “Freight Train” Rice, a man who hits harder than most DEs and might give Freeney a run for his money regarding speed. This Bobby Bowden-trained elephant gun is No. 13 on the NFL’s all-time sack leader list with over 121 sacks in 172 career games!

Did I mention that Rice left Tampa with a Super Bowl ring? Yeah, he knows how to win big.

I say we got a steal while Freeney gets back to 100 percent. I wonder, when Freeney’s back, will Dungy try to keep his old defensive student and try him out at the left side for Robert Mathis or even try to place him at linebacker? Both unfamiliar positions, but Rice has the size, strength, intelligence and speed to give it an honest shot. I’m just spitballing here, though…

Also, Rice requested his release from the Broncos (this past Friday of all times!) as he was extremely unhappy with his playing time and that they were severely misusing him at an unfamiliar left defensive end position (so maybe Mathis’ position is safe). He replaces Freeney at the right side, which works out well.

NOTES:

- To acquire Rice, the Colts had to let go successful special teams Return Man T.J. Rushing and fullback Luke Lawton. No word yet on who will replace Rushing.
- Rice played under Tony Dungy when Dungy coached the Bucs in 2001.
- In 172 career games, Rice has 590 tackles, 37 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, five INTs and 60 pass deflections.
- Rice only missed 1 game in his first 10 years in the NFL.
- Rice has played in six games for the Broncos this season.
- He is 2nd in the league in current sack leaders only to Michael Strahan of the NY Giants.
- Rice is well-accustomed to sacking league leaders, including Brett Favre, John Elway, Tom Brady and our own Peyton Manning.

Links:

Two key plays on Sunday night’s game, and the Colts are demanding the NFL to fess up. (IndyStar)
Original article for above information on Freeney and Rice. (IndyStar)
Here’s ESPN‘s look at the deal between Rice and the Colts.
Only their fourth two-game losing streak in 81 games, and now they face a new QB snapping for the Chiefs this Sunday. (IndyStar)
Bob Kravitz is dead-on about the Special Teams and dead-wrong about the Coaching. What do you think about his midseason Colts report card? (IndyStar)