For years now I have said that if I wasn’t a Dallas Cowboys’fan I would be either a Baltimore Ravens’ fan or an Indianapolis Colts’ fan. I would cheer for either of those teams because of two players: Ray Lewis and Peyton Manning. Now that Manning is with the Denver Broncos that doesn’t necessarily mean I will be cheering for the Broncos, but I do want to see Manning do well.

Peyton led the Colts to seven straight seasons of at least 12 wins, the Colts won numerous division titles but when it mattered most in the playoffs the Colts were one and done in seven of their 11 post season appearances. Manning has a playoff record of 9-10 and I know football is a team game but because of Peyton’s greatness I hold him to a different standard.

Peyton Manning, a four time NFL MVP and a Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl MVP, is the greatest regular season quarterback in my opinion. I know that might come off as unfair because the Colts’ teams Peyton was a part of weren’t really built for playoff success, but that’s just how I see it. The Indianapolis Colts were built for Peyton Manning to get the Colts a lead and the defense would hold off the opponents.

In the 2006 playoffs when the Colts’ defense finally played to a higher level the Colts made it to the Super Bowl to face the Chicago Bears. The Colts beat the Bears and Peyton won the MVP, but when the Colts made it back to the Super Bowl and faced the New Orleans Saints it was a different story. Give credit to the Saints for making big time plays, but we all expected Peyton to come up bigger than the Saints.

As the Colts trailed the Saints 24-17 late in the fourth quarter, no one could ask for a better quarterback then Peyton Manning to have leading your team down the field to tie the game. Unfortunately, Manning threw the pick six that would seal the game for the Saints.

Now that Peyton is with the Broncos I don’t expect any different from Manning than I expected while he was with the Colts. I would enjoy watching Peyton Manning win another Super Bowl or two, as long as it is not at the expense of the Cowboys of course. I know Peyton is coming off of neck injuries and surgeries, but I believe he still has plenty left in his tank to continue to show his greatness.