Peyton Manning is a true warrior in overcoming a serious injury to comeback and have two of his best NFL seasons ever and a chance at another Super Bowl title - ( Jeffrey Beall photo)

SPORTS NOTES - PEYTON MANNING EXEMPLIFIES WHAT COMEBACKS ARE ALL ABOUT

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

The true mark of a champion is when they have setbacks and have the determination and guts to fight and tough it out to recover. Overcoming the mental and physical aspects are major steps to overcome. Peyton Manning has exemplified that in his work ethic and performance to overcome adversity and have two of his best seasons ever since being discarded by the Indianapolis Colts. Winning this week's Super Bowl will have an added family bragging rights bonus

Saturday, February 1, 2014

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

When you think about comebacks and fighting against all odds Peyton Manning comes to mind. After 14 seasons being the leader of the Indianapolis Colts including a Super Bowl title in 2007 he was abandoned and discarded due to having been very seriously injured and two serious operations. It was a case of thanks but no thanks as the Colts chose to go in a new direction by drafting the highly touted Andrew Luck. The injury was the underlying cause for Manning to pick up the pieces, mend his body and proved to his detractors that he was not all washed up and damaged goods.

Manning's crowning moment with the Colts was WINNING SUPER BOWL XLI February 4, 2007 when he completed 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards with a touchdown and one interception, Manning led the Colts to a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI and was voted Super Bowl MVP.

His road to departure came about when in May 2011, he underwent neck surgery to alleviate neck pain and arm weakness he dealt with during the previous few seasons before signing a five-year, $90 million contract extension with the Colts in July 2011. Manning had hoped to play in the 2011 season, but in September 2011 he underwent a second and much more serious surgery: a level one cervical fusion procedure. Manning had never missed an NFL game in his career, but was forced to miss the entire 2011 season. He was released by the Colts on March 7, 2012, and after an almost two-week period where he visited with and worked out for several NFL teams, he signed with the Denver Broncos on March 20, 2012.

For a 35 year old veteran it was suck it up time as he as in a position in adjusting to his body in overcoming his injury as well as blending in with a new team and system. Commanding the respect and confidence of his teammates would soon come about with his performance and leadership.

Manning made his regular season debut as a Denver Bronco in the prime time game on the first Sunday of the 2012 NFL Season, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the game, Manning completed 19 of 26 passes for 253 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He posted a 129.2 QB rating in the 31-19 win, and made history in the third quarter when he connected with Demaryius Thomas on a 71-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown was Manning's first in the NFL with a team other than the Colts, and marked the 400th of his career, making him the third quarterback, after Dan Marino and Brett Favre, to accomplish the feat and the fastest of the three to reach that mark.

Despite the preseason concerns about his recovery, by late October ESPN stated that Manning "has silenced the critics" about his arm strength. Manning was later named to the 2013 Pro Bowl, his twelfth. On February 2, 2013, Manning was awarded the AP National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award and was named a first-team All-Pro selection, in addition to finishing second in MVP voting. The Broncos made the playoffs, but lost 38-35 in double overtime to Baltimore, who went on to win Super Bowl XLVII that season.

Manning wasn't finished as this season has proved to be one of his best ever at the age of 37 and to be 38 in March. On the opening game of the 2013 NFL season, Manning became one of only six players in NFL history to throw seven touchdowns in a game. He did so against the defending Super Bowl XLVII champions, the Baltimore Ravens. He also added to this feat by not throwing an interception, tying Y. A. Tittle as one of the only two players to have a 7:0 touchdown to interception ratio in a single game (although Nick Foles would later match that feat in week 9 of the same season).

Against the Oakland Raiders in week three, Manning broke the record for most touchdown passes in the first three games of a season after throwing 12, passing Tom Brady's record in 2011. In Week 5, Manning threw his first interception of the season, in a win against the Dallas Cowboys. He was intercepted by Morris Claiborne. In Week 16 against the Houston Texans, Manning broke Brady's record for most touchdown passes in a season with 51 on a 25 yard touchdown pass to Julius Thomas, he finished the regular season with 55 touchdown passes, in addition to throwing for a league record 5,477 yards. The Broncos went on to win their Divisional Round playoff game against the San Diego Chargers by a score of 24-17. They beat the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game by a score of 26-16, and will play in Super Bowl XLVIII.

The twist is that this Super Bowl has a family twist to it as Manning's younger brother Eli is a two time Super Bowl winner. Now older brother is in a position of trying to tie his younger sibling. During head to head regular season games Peyton is top dog.

As of 2013, Peyton and Eli Manning's teams have played against each other three times in their professional careers. These encounters have been colloquially dubbed "The Manning Bowl", and as of 2013, Peyton's teams (twice with the Indianapolis Colts; once with the Denver Broncos) hold a 3-0 record over Eli's team (three games with the New York Giants). The first Manning Bowl was held on September 10, 2006, and Peyton's Colts defeated Eli's Giants by a score of 26-21. The second Manning Bowl was held on September 19, 2010; Peyton and the Colts bested Eli's team again by a score of 38-14. The third Manning Bowl took place on September 15, 2013, and Peyton and the Broncos beat Eli's Giants, 41-23. Now the table is set for what can be one of the greatest Super Bowls ever and the game within the game.... Manning vs. Manning. Stay tuned...

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