We find the “Peyton vs. Eli” debates comical. Peyton Manning has more league MVPs than Eli has Pro Bowl nods.
Peyton is in the mix as one of the ten best quarterbacks of all-time. Eli wasn’t named by fellow players as one of the Top 100 players in the NFL. (Which was silly.)
Now that Eli has more titles, some knuckleheads will say he’s better. Just like Ahmad Bradshaw is a better running back than Walter Payton because he has two titles to Payton’s one.
Peyton, for his part, says he’s not jealous of his younger bro.
“Eli and I don’t play that game,” Peyton Manning told Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star. “The relationship of Eli, Cooper and I is not about trying to rub it in or anything like that. It’s about love, nothing but love.
“I couldn’t be happier for Eli, prouder of Eli. I want nothing but the best for him. I think he will continue to win more Super Bowls. There is no envy whatsoever in our relationship. He deserves this.”
Peyton managed to watch the game at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday without attracting much attention and then partied with Eli, family, and friends at the team hotel after the game. It was a “special” time according to Peyton.
The next morning, Colts owner Jim Irsay called Manning.
“He called to congratulate Eli and I told him I would pass that along,” Peyton said. “He said, ‘I look forward to sitting down with you soon,’ and I told him the same thing. It’ll happen.”
Manning joked about all the reports surfacing about where he might land next.
“I’ve always wanted to meet ‘sources,’ ” Manning said. “ ‘Source’ and ‘they’ seem to know an awful lot, but they aren’t always accurate. I haven’t had many discussions with Tom [Condon, his agent]. I told Tom all I want to do is continue to rehab.”