"He couldn't beat Florida" is why he got a bad rap for his college days. Peyton led the Vols to rankings of #22, #3, #9, and #7. He won 3 bowl games and an SEC championship. He led Tennessee to 3 straight victories over Bama (who was our biggest rival at the time, and we hadn't beat them in 9 years). The 4 years Peyton was at Tennessee, Florida finished #7, #2, #1 and #4. Who can blame Manning for losing? Despite finishing 39-5 against SEC opponents, Manning is a choker.
Football is a team sport. Somebody claiming a QB is the best, or is clutch by the number of Super Bowls they have won is incomplete. QB's only have control over about 45% of the game, the other 55% is obviously crucial in winning a Super Bowl.
Manning has had a few bad playoff appearances. No excuses. It happens. Manning has had good games, when the Colts lost for which he was called a choker, Steelers 2005 (Manning posted a rating of 91) and Chargers 2007 (rating of 97)*. In relation to the losses, people said of Manning, "He can't win the big one."He was even criticized for regular season losses. In 2004 at New England, in the 4th quarter with a 3 point deficit James fumbled on the goal line. The next possession with 24 seconds left Vanderjagt missed a 48 yarder. Colts lose. "Manning can't win the big one." Big one? This is regular season. Of course in 2005 when Manning did beat the Pats people said, "Big one? This is regular season."
Manning is the only QB to post a perfect passer rating in the playoffs. He has a Super Bowl. He's been to the playoffs 6 straight seasons. He's overcome terrible defenses to get to the playoffs. He won a Super Bowl with possibly the worst run defense ever. The last time Mr. Clutch (Tom Brady) didn't have a top 10 run defense, he didn't make the playoffs.
The Colts lost to the Steelers because of a missed field goal (indoors, on turf). "Manning is a choker" was the reason. Brady beats the Raiders on a bogus call and a long field goal in 3 inches of snow. "Brady is clutch." is the reason.
A little known fact is that Peyton Manning has never thrown an interception in the 2 minute drill with the game on the line. Brady has done it 3 times (twice in the playoffs, twice against the Colts). Not that Brady isn't clutch, it's just silly that he is considered clutch while Manning is considered the choker.
Now you can see why the ignorance of these statements is laughable. Peyton Manning has a Super Bowl Ring, and all stats show that he makes his teammates better**. But he is a product of a system, and a choker? Right.
* Manning lost when he posted a 91 rating and a 97 rating in the playoffs, but has won when he posted ratings of 39 and 71. Brady has won in the playoffs with ratings of 66, 57, and lost with ratings of 82 and 79. This further illustrates the fact that it's not always up to the QB.
**Players tend to have their best years with the Colts: E James, J Pathon, K Dilger, M Pollard, B Stokely, D Rhodes, R Lilja. Many players that have played with Brady have had equal, or better season performances with other QB's: T Brown, D Branch, D Graham, C Dillon, D Patten, D Stallworth, J Gaffney. To say that Manning has the stats he has because of his weapons is absurd. His weapons change all the time but he continues to rack up huge stats year in, and year out.
