Legacy

By John McMullen

Win or lose Sunday Peyton Manning is headed to Canton.

But, Super Bowl XLI will likely define what kind of Hall of Famer Peyton becomes.

Will Archie’s son be labeled a great individual player (like a Dan Marino, Ernie Banks, Charles Barkey or Karl Malone) or will he get over the hump and become a “winner” forever more?

From the outside, it has always looked like Manning was too concerned with his legacy. The former MVP has always pressed in the playoffs and -- as failure after failure mounted -- his critics looked on with glee.

Every time Manning failed to get to the big game, it fueled some of the most obtuse criticism I have ever witnessed.

Inside the locker rooms in the NFL -- it’s an accepted fact that quarterbacks will get more credit than they deserve when their clubs win and more criticism when the losses pile up. Manning knows that better than anyone.

When the former Tennessee star was lighting up the scoreboard during the regular season, few gushed about Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne or Tarik Glenn or the departed Edgerrin James. It was all Peyton.

In turn -- when the inevitable playoff collapses came -- Manning had to take the brunt of the blame.

Now, as Peyton stands just 24 hours away from turning “choker” into champion -- you can’t help but chuckle.

Manning has never performed poorer in the playoffs (72-115, 787 yards (6.8 YPA), 2TDs, 6INT, 66.8 rating), yet his teammates have picked him up and are carrying him to the finish line.

A finish line that will define a legacy that already existed.

-John McMullen’s column appears every Saturday on this page. You can reach him at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com


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