Peyton's Premature Coronation
Today's National Football League is in a transitional period at the quarterback position. John Elway is no longer carrying the Broncos home on his shoulders in the fourth quarter. Jerry Rice is not lighting up scoreboards by catching Steve Young passes anymore. Dan Marino throws no more rockets in Miami. Brett Favre and Troy Aikman are older and banged up, and the Packers and Cowboys are not much more than nostalgic afterthoughts. Football fans are now presented with fresh faces and new talents that somehow have to fill the great void left by retired and aging superstars.
Brian Griese of the Denver Broncos has been efficient and courageous while prolifically leading a team that has glory fresh in its memory back to the post-season. Dante Culpepper and his prodigious receiver Randy Moss are leading the Vikings through a dominant season and into what could be a prosperous post-season. Donovan McNabb brings about reminiscence of a former electrifying Eagle's quarterback, a young Randall Cunningham. McNabb's legs and arm have helped make the Eagles the surprise team in the league.
While these young quarterbacks are proving they belong at the highest level of competetive football, it is going to take a lot more to fill the shoes of the great quarterbacks that we have recently bid farewell to. These kids are going to have to overcome lost battles to win wars. They are going to have to will their teams to victory even when they are on the brink of defeat. They are going to have to perform week after week like champions, year after year. Most of all, they have to be great when the game or situation is of great importance.
Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts is a quarterback with obvious potential to be legendary. He has a good arm, good pocket presence, and he makes his reads well. He has been annointed by many fans and announcers the status of possibly the greatest quarterback in the game today. When legends' careers end, fans and media are always too eager to annoint new greats rather than wait for them to unfold. The regal adjective great has become basically synonymous with good. Remember "Baby Jordan" Harold Minor, didn't think so. How about Rick Mirer or Jake Plummer being billed as the next Joe Montana. Seems ridiculous? It is, but it happens, over and over again. AAA baseball player Corey Patterson of the Cubs organization is still wet behind the ears, but has been called the next Ken Griffey, Jr.
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