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Matthew Schmidt is a sportswriter who covers NFL, MLB, NBA and college football and basketball. He has been writing professionally since 2011 and has also worked for On SI, Bleacher Report, FanRag Sports, ClutchPoints, NFLAnalysis.net and NBAAnalysis.net. He was born and raised in New Jersey and has a rather eclectic group of favorite teams: the Boston Celtics, New York Giants and Miami Marlins.
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Indianapolis Colts legend Peyton Manning is widely viewed as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. While he was — and still is — largely criticized for his many playoff failures, few disagree that he is one of the best pure passers in NFL history.
But former NBA guard Jeff Teague might be one of the very few who makes an argument otherwise.
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During a recent episode of the Club 520 Podcast, Teague argued that Aaron Rodgers was a better quarterback than both Manning and Tom Brady, noting that Rodgers has a superior skill set to both of them.
While that assertion from Teague is entirely understandable, he took it a step too far with Manning.
“Peyton Manning threw a terrible ball,” Teague said. “His ball went like this.” Teague then imitated Manning’s spiral, and he also did it right in front of Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin.
Franklin never played with Manning, but he definitely took exception to Teague’s remark, as did surely just about everyone watching the clip.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 20: Peyton Manning, former Indianapolis Colts quarterback, reacts during a ceremony honoring the 10 year anniversary of the Super Bowl winning team during the halftime of the game between the Indianapolis…
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 20: Peyton Manning, former Indianapolis Colts quarterback, reacts during a ceremony honoring the 10 year anniversary of the Super Bowl winning team during the halftime of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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Manning spent 14 seasons in Indianapolis between 1998 and 2011, winning four MVP awards and leading the Colts to a Super Bowl victory during that span. He missed his entire final campaign with Indy due to a neck injury, but he then made his way to the Denver Broncos in 2013 and threw an NFL record 55 touchdown passes.
The former No. 1 overall pick would proceed to win another Super Bowl with the Broncos during the 2015-16 season, although at that point, Manning was more carried by his defense (he was actually benched in favor of Brock Osweiler midway through the year).
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There are definitely reasons to debate Manning’s standing on the all-time quarterback list. His game absolutely diminished in the playoffs for most of his career, which is certainly something that should be held against him when comparing him to other NFL greats.
But in terms of his skills as a passer? No one should deny that Manning was one of the very best to ever lace them up.
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