Manning for MVP...Ever?

Outrageous as it may seem, if there wasn't a dude called Aaron Rodgers playing near perfect quarterback for the Packers right now, Peyton Manning could legitimately considered for this year's MVP. Look, I know you can't actually give a guy who is inactive for the entire year the MVP award, but what a tribute it would be to probably the MVPE(Most Valuable PLayer Ever) to any one franchise ever. If we truly take pride in the person that is most valuable to his team getting the award, I think Manning should command some real attention in the argument.

With Peyton, the Colts have been a perennial regular season powerhouse in the AFC and have dominated their South division since its birth. With Curtis Picasso Painter and Kerry Collins, the 2011 Peytonless Colts have put together games that are anything but masterpieces, on their way to a putrid 0-8 start. This offense and entire team was built solely around Peyton's right arm and brilliant football mind, and the Colts are simply in a state of utter chaos without him around. Supposedly, Manning was surrounded by great weapons. Well how are Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne faring this year without Peyton behind center? Not too good is the answer to that. Peyton had to throw Reggie Wayne open, and Curtis Painter isn't squeezing the balls into the tiny windows that Peyton could. Dallas Clark's numbers this year are pedestrian at best. But not only have Manning's effects been felt in the offense, the defense has also struggle due to Manning's absense.The defense was built to play from ahead early and get after the passer with a couple of great pass rushing defensive ends. Now that they are constantly on the field and must defend a more grind it out game, they are getting smashed in the mouth by the run and are a terrible 31st in the league in total defense. Even their defense struggles because of Manning.

And can the comparisons with Tom Brady just stop? Each have had great success as an NFL quarterback, and I don't want to take anything away from what Tom Brady has done. But, the Patriots without Tom Brady are still a solid functioning franchise with whatever quarterback they team up with the great Bill Belichick at the helm(See Matt Cassel wikipedia 2008). What the Colts are without Peyton Manning speaks volumes about his value to the entire team. And in a game where the individual's success depends so much on his teammates and coaches' schemes, Peyton has been one of the only players to take a team's success and put it directly on his shoulders. Here's to you MVPE.