Posted on 01/10/2005 7:57:52 AM PST by agenda_express
By BARRY WILNER AP Football Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Peyton Manning's phenomenal season earned him his second straight Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award. He was nearly a unanimous choice.
The Indianapolis Colts' star quarterback, who surpassed Dan Marino and Steve Young with his passing prowess in 2004, earned all but one of 48 votes from a national panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover pro football. Manning tied with Steve McNair for the award last season, but this time only Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick drew a vote.
Manning joined the likes of Joe Montana, John Unitas, Steve Young and Kurt Warner as quarterbacks with two MVP awards. Brett Favre is the only player to win it three times.
"Individually, I accomplished a lot in a short period of time," Manning said. "But no question, we did not win a Super Bowl in the time I've been here as a quarterback."
Ever the team man, and ever championship-oriented, Manning refuses to concentrate on his statistics. He might have thrown for 49 touchdowns, surpassing Dan Marino's 20-year-old NFL record. And he may have shattered Young's passer rating record with a 121.1 mark. And he might have established other league marks and a bunch more team records.
But to Manning, unless it all culminates in a championship, it's not what he's after.
"Just because you played well in Week 2 or Week 10 doesn't mean anything for the playoffs," Manning said. "Except that you're capable of doing it."
Manning was capable of doing almost anything in leading the Colts to a 12-4 record and the AFC South title. They routed Denver 49-24 in the first round of the playoffs - the MVP voting was held before the postseason - and play at New England on Sunday.
He also turned two of his previously unaccomplished receivers, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley, into threats almost on a par with Manning's favorite target, perennial Pro Bowler Marvin Harrison. All caught at least 10 touchdown passes and went over 1,000 yards in receiving - an unprecedented combination for three teammates.
"Peyton is such a competitor, he has such high expectations to go out and win," Wayne said. "You want to make a play for him and bail him out of tough situations."
Tough situations? Manning tends to make everything look easy.
Sort of like Young and Montana and Unitas and Warner and Favre did. But all of them have that championship along with their MVPs. Manning doesn't.
And it drives him to do even more.
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someone want to tell me why he wasnt unanimous?
I mean come on.....
How did Vick get a vote in a down year for him?
At least he isn't the "co" MVP. That was ridiculous.
well any other year, I would say Vick was a top candidate, but what Vick did is good, Peyton broke unbreakable records....
yeah it was....
just pick one!!!
I would have given it to McNair though.......this year showed that without McNair (and yes Eddie George), the Titans didnt go anywhere...
-- PASSING -- -- RUSHING --
YEAR CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT ATT YDS AVG LNG TD
2004 181 321 2313 56.4 7.21 62 14 12 46.0 78.1 120 902 7.5 58 3
14 TD's with 12 picks. His rushing numbers are amazing.
yeah
but the MVP is more than just stats.....
Either way though, playstation type stats will trump what you did for your team.
Give Vick another year or two and I think he will be winning them.....
You don't need a gypsy to figure out the Rookie of the Year this year.
If Manning can't win this week against a Patriot secondary that is plagued with injuries, he's no mvp.
Not unless he can get his completion percentage over 60%. He has never really come close.
yeah especially because its already been awarded :P
This may be Vick's last fully healthy year.
His brother Marcus is vying for the VT QB job this spring.
Depends on the defense, too, though. If their D comes to play, it will be a Colts "W".
I think he can....
I think the only think that will stop him is his scrambling. If he doesnt get killed, he will do that probably next year.
If Tim Couch can do it, certainly Vick can.....
Possibly...you never know...
I think that if he does get hurt running, that will improve him as a QB....
The same thing happened to McNair. REmember how he was in college? Know he is one of the best QBs in the league.....
Had to pick on Couch didn't you? I know you are a Browns fan but Couch led them to the playoffs in the year Holcolm got all the credit. If Vick has not developed accuracy yet I wonder if he ever will. That is something you get long before your forth year in the pros.
You see I think that in the west coast, Vick will need a year to adjust...
Couch sucked. Of course he was running for his life half of the time so who really knows right? :)
Of course I picked couch...I still have his jersey
I like the Colts pass rush. But I think Dillon will run for 150 yards against them, Patriots will eat up time of possession. It'll be like the Bills-Giants superbowl. By controlling the clock ,the Patriot defensive front 7 who are the best in football, will be able to blitz and put pressure on Manning. If the Colts can shut down Dillon, time of possession evens out. And if Manning up to the challenge could throw for 400 yards against that secondary. The key will be to tire out the Patriots front 7.
The Chargers could've had him. They took Ryan Leaf instead also known as Mr. $20 million pissed away.
Peyton seems like a decent fellow but his rookie brother and old man are asses.
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