Granted, it's like choosing between Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson, but if you give me one game, one drive, one got-to-score situation, I'm taking Brady 100 percent of the time.
I don't write this because I'm a hopeless contrarian -- at least not in this case.
I write this because I'm sane.
Statistically, in the regular season, Manning vs. Brady is a virtual wash. They are close in regular-season winning percentage, quarterback rating, completion percentage, interception rate and points per game. Head-to-head in the regular season, again, the numbers are similar. Keep in mind, too, Brady plays most of his games outdoors, in the elements; Manning gets at least half his games indoors, and plays in the weather-friendly AFC South.
So I go to the tiebreaker:
The postseason. When it matters most. When reputations are made and legends are built.
Brady is 14-4 in the postseason, has won three Super Bowls and would have had a fourth if not for a miraculous catch by the New York Giants' David Tyree. (OK, they got a gift on the Tuck Rule, so we're fine with three.)
Manning is 9-9, including 1-1 in the Super Bowl.
This, then, is where the world famous Indianapolis-based "Yeah, but . . ." chorus chimes in with all the timeworn arguments on Manning's behalf. My Starbucks buddy, Jeff, sang all the familiar refrains Friday when I showed him the poll results.
Not really, not in the postseason. In 18 playoff games with Brady, the Patriots defense has allowed an average of 19 points per game. In 18 games with Manning, the Colts have given up a playoff average of 21. So it's not like Brady is winning every game 10-7 while Manning needs to score 35 to beat people.
Here's more: In Manning's nine postseason losses, his team has allowed an average of 25.4 points per game; in Brady's four losses, the Patriots have allowed 28.
"Yeah, but Manning has more responsibility and has more control over this offense."
I've actually heard locals diminish Brady because he checks the chart on his wrist, unlike Manning, who just computes it all in his head. Is this a math test where you have to show your work? If you get the answer right, it doesn't matter how you got there. We're comparing wins and losses and statistics, not SAT scores.
"Yeah, but the year Brady was out with an injury, the Patriots still went 11-5. If the Colts lost Manning, they'd win four games."
All that tells us is that Matt Cassel, now a starting quarterback in Kansas City, was and is a whole lot better than Jim Sorgi and Curtis Painter put together. You don't think a Cassel-quality backup could come off the bench in Indianapolis and win games with all those Pro Bowlers on both sides of the football? We're going to diminish Brady because his team was smart enough to get him a solid backup?
"Yeah, but . . ."
People. You're running out of "yeah, buts . . ." My boy Jeff tried this one out: "Yeah, but don't you think, in terms of raw skills, if you had both guys throwing it through a tire . . ."
They aren't throwing it through tires -- although I might pay to watch that. Maybe you saw the other night when Brady, without Randy Moss and playing with a bunch of smurf receivers, dropped 39 points on the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
Have you ever stopped to wonder what kinds of statistics Brady would have amassed by now if he had Manning's weaponry?
Consider this: During the Brady era, he has had three skill-position players (Troy Brown, Wes Welker and Moss) go to a total of four Pro Bowls while they played for the Patriots. In the Manning era, six skill-position players (Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai and Ken Dilger) have gone to 19 Pro Bowls.
Name all the great running backs Brady has had at his disposal . . .
OK, still waiting.
Sammy Morris? Kevin Faulk? Corey Dillon? Antowain Smith? How about Laurence Maroney?
The one full year Brady had multiple Pro Bowl help, namely Moss and Welker, he broke Manning's single-season touchdown pass record and took the Patriots within one Giants drive of a perfect season.
Look, both cities are blessed to have first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famers on their teams. But every time these teams play -- which is to say, virtually every year -- the debate rages anew and the Manning "Yeah, but . . ." chorus clears its throat and sings its familiar tune.
As always, it's off key.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101121/SPORTS03/11210353/IndyStar-com-poll-voters-go-with-Colts-Manning-but-a-case-can-be-made-and-I-m-making-it-for-the-Patriots-Brady?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|IndyStar.com|s
