With results ranging from Albert Haynesworth to Brett Favre, it can be hard to tell whether a high-priced and high-mileage star player can take an NFL franchise from on-the-precipice to the promised land. Can one huge signing, like Peyton Manning maybe, put your favorite squad over the top? Somewhat surprisingly, the answer has (in recent history) been "yes."
Sure, NFL lore is filled with over-the-hill veterans playing one last gasp in a different uniform and many of those situations resulted in painful memories for players and fans alike. In fact, the less said about the Haynesworths of the world, the better. The Arizona Cardinals' error with Emmitt Smith is likewise best forgotten. Jevon Kearse to Philadelphia in 2004 was designed to put Donovan McNabb's Eagles on the Super Bowl-winning slate. It did not happen.
Pessimistic fans also point to Desmond Howard and Larry Brown as famous free agent failures, but seriously, did anyone not named Al Davis ever think that a return man or a DB was going to get you to the Super Bowl?
Nonetheless, successful free agent catapults are not difficult to find--beginning with the granddaddy of them all: Reggie White to the Green Bay Packers. White defined the "missing piece" theory of veteran acquisitions. Before the Hall of Fame sackmaster arrived, the Packer defensive line was stocked with players who should have been better: Santana Dotson, Sean Jones and Gilbert Brown. When "The Minister of Defense" joined them in Cheesehead land, the 1996 World Champion Green Bay Packers allowed 19 touchdowns. All. Year.
Brett Favre said of White: "He may have been best player I've ever seen and certainly was the best I've ever played with or against."
Favre himself went on to fulfill the "missing piece" role in Minnesota in 2009, when he was one Bounty Gate away from the Super Bowl. Famous No. 4 had the best season of his career at age 40. He threw 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions while completing 68.4% of his passes on the way to a QB rating of 107.2.
Favre also brought the ever-illusive "winning culture" to the Vikings. Detractors may always label the wing-and-a-prayer passer a reckless gunslinger, but 186 victories have a way of making believers out of a clubhouse.
Kurt Warner took the "Tinker Bell theory" of quarterbacking to a new level twice in a single career. Bagger to MVP to washed-up benchwarmer to a second record-setting Super Bowl. If that doesn't make you believe in miracles, you have no business being a sports fan. Who knew all he needed was a glove?
Of course, Denver fans devoutly hope that Peyton Manning as a Bronco will turn out to be a combination of Warner and Joe Montana. After losing his job to injury (sound familiar?), Montana asked to be traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993.
President and General Manager Carl Peterson remembered:
My 80-year-old mother [called and said], 'Why are you trading for a 37-year-old quarterback who is coming off of two major surgeries?' ... But you can't pay for that kind of experience or success... [or leadership]. I don't know that I've ever seen players play as hard for an individual.
None of these success stories happened in a vacuum. White had Farve, Farve had Adrian Peterson, Warner had Larry Fitzgerald. And Joe Cool had Will Shields, Marcus Allen and an exceptional defense.
What will Manning have as he tries to finish his own Hall of Fame career at Mile High?
• He'll have a defensive guru head coach with an improving second-year 4-3 D. If Champ Bailey can produce for another year or two, he'll have a secondary that doesn't give up too much. But the Broncos need to do something at defensive tackle: Broderick Bunkley's departure is a problem in light of D.J. Williams' six-game suspension. Run D will be in the hands of uneven Kevin Dickerson and Justin Bannan as well as rookie Derek Wolfe. Stay tuned.
• Manning may have a decent rushing attack if Willis McGahee can also keep the cylinders churning for another season. Denver is looking to rookie Ronnie Hillman to, at the least, compete with disappointing Knowshon Moreno and, at best, become the Darren Sproles-type of speedster that offenses currently dream of. Just imagine what Peyton Manning could do with one of those. Or ask Drew Brees.
• Manning will not lack for wide receiving talent with Eric Decker and DeMaryius Thomas plus whichever rookies shine in the next months. He'll also have two pretty good TEs in Joel Dreessen and former Colt Jacob Tamme. He'll even have stalwart, smart Brandon Stokely in his camp. It's too bad that Stokely isn't the athlete that he once was, because this faithful Manning friend will have the shortest synchronicity curve with his once and present quarterback.
• And Peyton will have an offensive line that was terrific in 2011--at run blocking. In pass protection, let's just say that there is room for (much) improvement. It's time for LT Ryan Clady to earn the contract extension he's about to get. Maybe they should give him a copy of The Blind Side.
Manning has two Baylor University centers auditioning for the role of Jeff Saturday: Philip Blake and J.D. Walton. Good luck living up to that.
Without a Thomas Moore or Howard Mudd in sight, the building job falls to second-year O-line coach, Dave Magazu. But no pressure, dude, it's only Peyton Manning back there.
The same Peyton Manning who has had four neck surgeries since his last live snap. This fact has resulted in similar concerns to those expressed by Mr. Peterson's mama. Peyton Manning is guaranteed $18 million for the 2012 NFL season. The rest of his third loaded NFL contract depends almost entirely upon health.
Manning's performance this offseason has gone a ways towards allaying fears. The quarterback's accuracy has returned in full force, although he did not throw deep in May OTAs. At least not publicly. Manning is already molding the Denver offense into an approximation of the no-huddle, flying-audible, wide-tight end unit that used to wear blue and white. It appears that the anticipated "learning of a new offense" in Denver will be done by the rest of the offense. Gee, what a surprise.
Montana and Favre led their last teams to the Conference Championship Game; Warner led his to the Super Bowl. Will Manning be the one to take the crown with separate teams? If anyone can win the Big One wearing two different uniforms, it will be No. 18.
Follow Barbara Bruno on Twitter: www.twitter.com/allprofootball
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I especially agree with your remarks regarding alcohol and bad behavior. If I were an owner, beer would be cut off after the first quarter of the game. Of course I'd probably face mass mutiny but, really, who needs the fallout? I'm not against fun and I"m not against rowdiness but the line between rowdy and violent or downright disgusting is thin unfortunately. That said, I have to admit that when i was at the SB with a bunch of really drunk Pats fans, they behaved like true gentlemen. Shocked me, but true story.
Thanks again.
Barbara
My knock on Peyton is that he's over rated in the 1st place. By that I mean he should have more rings than Eli. He's certainly had the opportunities, but he seems to have issues closing the deal.
My guess, if we're still talking about the Broncos at the end of the season, it'll be about their failure to launch.
I do not think that P. Manning is over-rated, although I did expect someone to bring up the "winning the big one" argument. It pains me as a true lover of watching 18 play to say that of course that is a point. He'll probably never crack Montana in the clutch category. And, though it pains me much more, even the last two SB Pats losses cannot be blamed on Brady - off pass to Welker notwithstanding. But since I have spent his entire career marveling at his precision and mastery and since all NFL players outside of the NE consider Manning the best ever seen in their lives - I don't think "only" having one ring defines the man. Marino, anyone?
I do agree that the expectations for a new set of folks on O and a D with a DT problem will be out of line. But I surely intend to enjoy watching them try.
Thanks for the comment and keeping me chronologically tactful.
If you'd been the Manning brothers' high school football coach, would you have predicted Eli would have more SB wins than Peyton? If you had, it likely would've been for one reason only. Eli has something intangible that I can only refer to as, being a winner. Joe Montana had it. And until last year, I thought Tom Brady had it.
Now if Peyton does it with the Broncos, you write another blog, and I'll write a retraction. Provided I'm still able to fool the Grim Reaper, that is.
Unless you count the fact that Posh Beckham seriously needs to rethink her wardrobe and start eating something occasionally.
All that is great, but you don't normally get a real-time sack by your own team in practice, and the neck is one part of the body that shouldn't be risked.
Honestly, I thnk he'd make a great QB coach. Him mentoring Tebow might have resulted in something incredible, but he seems to think he's not ready for that.
I wish him well, hope he has a great season, and ends the season with the ability to walk on his own.
I was kind of hoping that he would have the opportunity to mentor Tebow. And I think I will hold my breath until he gets up every time he's sacked. I can't imagine how much his wife must worry. And I'm not even a Denver fan.
Manning mentoring Tebow - I don't know. They are totally different styles. Manning's idea of movement is a couple of slides while he motions his receiver over. Tebow has always been 50% run. I do think that the character inherent in both men would have made a learning environment possible and both are gifted as leaders - although again in totally different styles. Too much money and too many differences ultimately I think.
As to fanship, I have found that the longer I am an analyst and commentator, the more I cheer for players - except my Redskins where I'll always root for anything in Burgundy and Gold. And Manning will always be at the top of my players list. Until the day he hangs 'em up.
See my other comment about his wife. I agree agree agree. But what are you going to do? It's what he lives for, his legacy, his artform. I would beg him to quit, but would understand why he didn't.
thanks for the comment - I appreciate it.
That cost me the enjoyment of a Favre-Manning Super Bowl. Instead, I had to endure the "ZOMG, the Saints deserve this, Katrina, Katrina" crap.
Still holding out for Manning-Bowl!
Eli has always had a better running game (except for the dual year of Addai/Rhodes and we know how that turned out), a bigger D, a bigger O-line and an great coach. The switch to Caldwell killed the Colts - along with Bill "we don't need no stinkin' backup" Polian. And, yes we have to say it, Eli has been more clutch. Peyton is too intense for his own good, but that's what I admire about him.
Based on the past times the bros have played in the pros, Eli has reverted to little brother status - but I'll bet that changes with two SB MVP's - if and only if, they can get a third generation of that D-line going to harass Peyton.
But let's keep hoping! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Your reasons for Eli's success compared to Peyton's is why I will always respect Peyton over Brady in the Great Debate. Tom had Vrabel, Harrison, Law (Peyton's kryptonite), Wilfork, Warren, and Seymour, all in their primes.
Peyton had Freeney and an undersized Tampa 2 that just never got the defensive line support in the middle that you need to support that kind of speed defense.
What happens when the defensive mastermind of Belicheck falters? They haven't won a title in 8 years.
Thank God for Rex Grossman and rain, lol.