In 11th season, Manning is king of today’s QBs
Now that Brett Favre has walked away from the NFL after 17 seasons, 253 consecutive regular-season starts and a passel of league career passing records, the baton has been passed.
It’s here now, in Indianapolis, firmly in the hand of the Colts’ cornerstone.
Peyton Manning, who turned 32 in March, enters his 11th season as the NFL’s active leader in virtually every significant passing category. He embraces his status as one of the league’s elder statesmen.
“I do take a lot of pride in going into my 11th year,” Manning said Friday as the Colts opened a three-day minicamp. “I always admire guys that have played as long as (Steve) McNair did or Favre did or (Dan) Marino did.
“It’s not an easy position to have longevity.”
Manning’s teammates have helped. Spending his entire career behind one of the league’s most protective offensive lines, he said, makes him feel like he has the body of a 28-year-old. He has been sacked just 191 times in 160 games, at a rate of once for each 29.3 dropback attempts. Favre’s sack-to-dropback ratio was 1-to-20.9.
indystar.com
5/17/08
