By ERIC MOLLO
STAFF WRITER
Sports fans hear his name almost every day no matter what time of year. Peyton. Peyton. Peyton. He’s the Sportsman of the Year and arguably the greatest player at his position in any sport. His resume speaks for itself, but Peyton’s most unheralded and underappreciated quality may just be his likability. Unlike Brady, Roethlisberger or even his brother Eli, Peyton is more genuinely liked and respected than any NFL quarterback, maybe ever. It’s an interesting question, though: What makes this guy so easy to root for? It’s not only his surgical and efficient play that makes Peyton so incredible to watch. It’s his balance of a humble approach and an almost scary confidence combined with his dynamic on-field performance that makes Peyton the easiest guy to root for in Super Bowl XLVIII, no matter which team you’re pulling for.
On the field, it’s like watching the performing arts: A harmonious orchestra or a crisp theatrical performance. Peyton Manning is a marvel at the quarterback position, and it’s his superb efficiency that makes heads turn and people say, “Look at that guy.” He’s eclipsed a 68 percent completion percentage three times in his career, leading the league in that category twice, and has led the league in quarterback rating five times, including two of the last three years. Peyton’s astronomical numbers are more impressive when one considers that he has produced such incredible stats on two different teams. It’s not just a scheme. It’s him. He makes every player around him better because his game plan is so well thought-out and precisely executed. It makes it hard to watch a game and not want him on the field.
When Peyton steps into the media room, he deservedly draws even more praise. He’s confident, but not Richard Sherman confident. It’s a scary confidence, not a loud one. It’s a blame no one, take full responsibility confidence. He carries the expectation that whenever he makes a mistake, he will make sure it doesn’t happen again. And with this attitude, he earns the respect of his teammates and fans. He takes his team and does what he wants with it. Wins and losses hinge almost entirely on his performance (see: 2011 Indianapolis Colts). Expectations are high for Peyton because no one has higher expectations than himself. A player with his kind of work ethic is easy to pull for.
His expectations are sky high and his play is nearly flawless, but what earns Peyton the title of “professional” athlete is how he credits his teammates for his success. His humility was on display at the beginning of Super Bowl media week when he discussed his former teammate and future Hall-of-Fame receiver Marvin Harrison. Peyton claimed the wideout had a “tremendous impact” on his career because “All you do is throw it to Marvin Harrison and he runs for touchdowns. That’s pretty much what he did throughout the time we played together.” It’s a humble approach for the game’s greatest playmaker, and one that’s earned him the largest fan base in sports.
