Peyton and Eli Manning

Belmont, Belcourt Biographies

Description

Peyton and Eli Manning have led amazing lives and have changed the football world forever. This book follows both men's lives from their humble beginnings to becoming two of the most acclaimed quarterbacks in the NFL.Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He has set many records, won three MVPs, and is a Super Bowl Champion. This book explores Peyton's upbringing, his high school and college football careers, and details his breakthrough into the NFL, all the way through April 2013. Eli Manning may be the most overanalyzed, discussed, dissected, and criticized quarterbacks New York has ever had. But now that he's beaten the Patriots in not one, but two Super Bowls within a four-year period, Manning has proven that he is in the same class as the "elite" quarterbacks. Inside, you will discover where it all started and learn why so many fans love Eli so much.From family to football to the future, all you need to know about Peyton and Eli Manning is right here, right now, in the most up to date coverage of both of their lives. This book also includes all of both Manning's college and NFL statistics.

Sujets

• Bibliographies
• Bibliography

Informations

• Publié par: Belmont & Belcourt Books
• Date de parution: 06 juillet 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781619841819
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

P EYTON AND E LI M ANNING
An Unauthorized Biography
Copyright © 2012 by Belmont & Belcourt Biographies

All rights reserved. Neither this book nor any parts within it may be sold or reproduced in any form without permission.

eISBN: 9781619841819
Table of Contents

PEYTON MANNING
Basics
Peyton on the Field
Working Hard
A Big-time College Career
On to the NFL
Moving up the ranks
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Personal life
Manning in popular culture
Charity
Closing
Statistics
Collegiate
Professional – Regular Season
Professional – Playoffs
ELI MANNING
Early Life
Playing in High School
At a crossroads
Redshirted
Music City Bowl 2000
The Eli Manning Era
College Achievements
Chargers or Giants?
A Giant – The next great Manning?
Growing Pains
Super Bowl 2008
2009 Season: Commitments & Changes
A dreadful 2010 season
NFL Lockout
A pro’s pro
Elite Quarterbacks
Super Bowl 2012
Off the Field
Conclusion
Stats
P EYTON M ANNING
Basics
Peyton Manning is a quarterback for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Indianapolis Colts for 14 seasons from 1998–2011. He is the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and an elder brother of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Peyton Williams Manning was born on March 24, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the second child of Archie and Olivia Manning, who had three sons. Cooper Manning, the oldest, arrived in 1974. Eli, the youngest, was born five years after Peyton. All three boys appeared to be born athletes from the moment they could crawl. They all displayed a natural affinity for athletics, even showing movement and mobility at a very young age. At 12-plus pounds at birth however, Peyton appeared that he might be headed for a career as an offensive lineman.
The size of the Manning kids wasn’t surprising, given their genes. Their father, Archie, was one of the most celebrated athletes in the history of the South. He was a legend at the University of Mississippi, where he played quarterback from 1968 to 1970 for the Rebels, where he was twice voted an All-American. He then became the top pick of the New Orleans Saints. From there, he embarked on a star-crossed 14-year NFL career that also saw him suiting up for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings. Archie's career is known as one that was bittersweet because he was considered a borderline-elite player, but his New Orleans teams were consistently among the worst in the NFL. A hard-hitting shortstop in his youth, Archie could have chosen professional baseball as a career path, having been drafted by the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago White Sox after graduating from Drew High School. The multi-sport skills displayed by Archie would definitely run in the family.
Olivia was a perfect match for Archie, who was treated like royalty wherever he went in the South. She had been named Homecoming Queen at Ole Miss in 1970. The two were clearly born for each other.
Peyton loved football, just like his dad. By his third birthday, he was tossing the pigskin with Cooper. The two had plenty of room to practice in the yard of the family’s huge home, which was built in 1853, in the historic Garden District of New Orleans. Eli eventually joined his brothers in their games once he came along five years later.
Childhood seemed to be perfect for Peyton. In his youth, he idolized his father and dreamed of being a star college quarterback. The Mannings were a close-knit family. Trips across the state to visit Grandma Manning in Drew, or to see Olivia’s parents in Philadelphia, were always happily anticipated and enjoyed by all.
Peyton’s only bad memories of his childhood came when professional athletics intruded on the family's home life. The Saints were the laughingstock of the NFL, and despite some great individual seasons, Archie often bore the brunt of the fans’ ire. While Archie struggled with his losing team on the field, it was his family that had to endure much of the negatives of the situation.
In 1982, after Archie was traded to the Oilers, he and Olivia and decided that the family would stay in New Orleans. During that time, Peyton and his brothers missed their dad terribly. Archie bounced between the Oilers and Vikings the next four years. In 1984, his last season in the NFL, Olivia and the boys followed him to Minneapolis. Peyton hoped to get his first taste of organized football there, but he was too young for the fifth-grade squad.
The Manning family had had enough of their father's life as an NFL quarterback and returned to New Orleans the following year. Peyton looked forward to playing football for Isidore Newman School, which was one of Louisiana’s top private schools. There was one big problem though: Newman had canceled its sixth-grade program. In 1988, Peyton finally got his chance to put on the pads for the first time. When asked to list his favorite positions, interestingly enough, he wrote down "quarterback" and "defensive back."
Years of watching from the sidelines had given Peyton lots of time to brush up on his football knowledge. A trivia buff, Peyton was absolutely crazy about the college game. For him, nothing compared to the SEC. He listened to audio tapes of his dad’s college games and quizzed his little brother on the conference’s past. When Eli couldn’t answer a question, he usually received a pounding.
Life in the Manning household almost always revolved around sports, but Archie and Olivia never pushed their kids to be stars. In fact, Archie attempted to coach Peyton just once, which was in youth-league basketball. The results there were disastrous. Peyton chewed out his dad for stocking the team with his friends, instead of the best players available.
Cooper was the source of part of Peyton's competitive fire. The two waged regular battles, fighting over who was better, smarter or tougher. However, despite their sibling rivalry, deep down they admired each other immensely.
Peyton won the starting quarterback job at Newman as a sophomore 1991, and it was his brother Cooper who paved the way by switching to receiver his senior year, even though he was set to call the signals for the Greenies, the defending Class 2A state champs. The move paid big dividends for Peyton. In the season opener, he completed nine passes to Cooper in the first half alone. Newman went on to a 12-2 record and advanced to the semifinals of the playoffs. On the year, Peyton threw for 23 touchdowns, a baker’s dozen to his brother. To this day, he says he has never had more fun on the football field.
Peyton on the Field
Peyton’s physical skills are impressive but not overwhelming. His 6-5, 230-pound frame is a definite asset. Before his neck injury, Peyton was the most durable quarterback ever to set foot on the gridiron. It helped that he has never had to absorb a great deal of punishment. That was due in part to a steady offensive line but also to his ability to read defenses and get rid of the ball quickly.
Peyton’s arm strength is above average, while his accuracy is off the charts. He throws his share of wobblers, but most of his passes find their targets between the numbers and in stride. The touch he puts on the ball makes him a receiver’s best friend.
Peyton won’t beat too many people in a sprint, but his pocket presence is excellent. This allows him to avoid sacks and buy extra time to allow a receiver work his way open. Despite his lack of speed, Peyton’s footwork is textbook, as are his play fakes few quarterbacks in the game’s history have been able to fool defenses like he can.
Peyton is a throwback in many ways, including the fact that he calls his own games. With the Colts, he received a different offensive package every week. Every play had several options, both run and pass. When a call came in from the sideline, Peyton decided on the final incarnation based on his personnel and the defensive alignment presented to him at the line of scrimmage.
Peyton is regarded as a strong leader. He inspires teammates through deed and word. His work ethic is unparalleled, and he makes his teammates better. As John Elway put it, he "raises all boats." Peyton is as intense as they come. He’s also not afraid to get into a teammate’s face and demand his best effort. Some guys can’t get away with such tactics. Peyton can.
Manning's pre-snap routine is one of the most recognizable and parodied in sports. The Indianapolis Colts’ almost exclusive use of the hurry-up offense led to Manning using a wide array of gestures and verbal commands to call the play at the line of scrimmage rather than in the huddle.
Working Hard
Manning attended Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He led his team to a 34–5 record during three seasons as starter. He was named Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player-of-the-Year and Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club National Offensive Player-of-the-Year in 1993.
Peyton was a high achiever in the classroom at all levels of school. His parents stressed education above all else. He happily complied. He was a hard-working student, and he rarely brought home a report card with anything other than A’s.
Peyton worked just as hard when it came to football and sports. He watched films religiously, usually of pro games, and also hit the weight room. As a teenager, he was developing as a player in ways foreign to most kids his age. Eli still remembers his hands hurting after playing catch with Peyton. His older brother always rifled the ball with amazing velocity.
Manning enjoyed another marvelous campaign in 1992, throwing for 30 touchdowns. The season was bittersweet though. Earlier in the year, Cooper, who had accepted a scholarship to Ole Miss, had been diagnosed with a rare disease called spinal stenosis. His doctors said he would never play football again. Peyton was devastated, and wrote a letter