As usual, the annual tongue bath given to Peyton Manning on every network and talk show ended with the expected results of Manning “disappointing” the fans and announcers.
Don’t get me wrong – I think Peyton is pretty awesome. He’s funny, he’s a leader and he has tremendous talent. However, the over the top belief in him reminds me of the time when Bill Parcells said “don’t get out the anointing oil yet” when the media wanted him to wax poetic about one of his players.
However, it becomes unbearable to hear people like Mike and Mike on ESPN and others talk incessantly about “Is Peyton the greatest?” and “Does this hurt his legacy?” The only legacy Peyton’s “failures” affects are those who drink his bathwater.
Here are the five reasons Peyton Manning didn’t win and you lost:
1. Sports announcers – if you spent just as much time fawning over Russell Wilson as you did Manning, you wouldn’t have tuned out listeners.
2. Fans – if you didn’t expect Peyton to be crowned champion, you would have enjoyed a great game and been able to relate better to new players and experiences.
3. The Denver Broncos – if you had put more faith in your game calling, you would have adjusted accordingly when you saw the Seahawks were on to you.
4. The passive fans – you wouldn’t have tuned out at halftime and witnesses a great performance by Bruno Mars, and a great performance by the Super Bowl Champs
5. HR Professionals – you would have gained great perspective on team dynamics by watching the whole game instead of bailing out because your “hero” was getting beat.
Next season, root for the sport, not one “hero”.