Peyton Manning Voted NFL's MVP

Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Wins AP Honor For Third Time

(AP)  Peyton Manning can tell Brett Favre to move over and make room for him atop the roster of NFL Most Valuable Players.

For the third time, Manning won the award by The Associated Press, tying Favre as the only players in that elite category.

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback was a landslide winner Friday in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Manning also was the league MVP in 2003, when he shared it with Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair, and in 2004.

Favre, then with Green Bay, took MVP honors in 1995 and '96 before sharing it with Detroit running back Barry Sanders in 1997.

"I know it's an individual award, but ... truly, in my opinion, a team award," said Manning, who received 32 votes, far ahead of Miami quarterback Chad Pennington (4) and Atlanta running back Michael Turner (4).

"It's been the most rewarding regular season that I've been a part of in my 11 years, and I have to believe a lot of the other players and even coaches might feel the same way."

This has been a most unusual season for the Colts, who normally have the AFC South just about clinched by Thanksgiving. Manning had two operations on his left knee in the preseason, cutting into practice time, blunting his usual precision as a passer and, eventually, leading to a 3-4 start.

From there, with Manning getting sharper by the week, the Colts won nine straight games to secure a wild-card berth and a meeting Saturday night with San Diego.

In that streak, Manning is 209-of-290 for 2,248 yards and 17 touchdowns, with only three interceptions. He extended his NFL record with his ninth 4,000-yard season and finished with 27 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions and a 95.0 passer rating.

"It's just been different," Manning said. "It's been an entirely different season. I think the one thing that's been inaccurate is that the seasons we were starting out 13-0, 8-0, 7-0, that it was easy. So all of a sudden this year we are 3-4 and now things are hard. Believe me, it's never easy to win a game. I've never taken for granted winning a football game."

The folks in Indianapolis might take for granted having Manning behind center, just as Packers and now Jets fans have assumed Favre would be there every week. Favre has started 269 straight regular-season games, the record for quarterbacks. Manning's string is 176 - every game since he was the No. 1 pick in the 1998 draft.

"In other years, everything started fast," Colts running back Dominic Rhodes said. "He's still breaking records. But this year, there were a bunch of negative things said in the beginning, and he brought his best when we needed his best.

"This is probably the best ball I've seen him play."

Tony Dungy would agree. The Colts' coach said several times he favored Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison for MVP - Harrison tied with Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson with three votes. But after Manning's flawless work in the second half of the season, Dungy, while admittedly biased, changed his mind.

"I said after we left Pittsburgh (on Nov. 9) that I would vote for James Harrison," Dungy noted this week. "If I was voting today, I'd vote for Peyton Manning."

A vast majority of the voters did.

Also receiving votes were San Diego QB Philip Rivers (2), Tennessee rookie RB Chris Johnson (1) and Arizona QB Kurt Warner (1).

[hatesthecolt]

Manning proves once again he is NOT the QB Tom Brady is, never will be.

[unlresources]

Does anyone else hear that choking sound?

[hotpaulie]

Adrian Peterson means much more to the Vikings than Manning to the Colts...its amazing he didn''t get much recognition

[unlresources]

What a joke--Warner had a higher completion per centage,higher passing yardage per game, more touchdowns, and a higher rating than Manning. Warner should have won! Posted by stlouisman3 at 07:16 PM : Jan 02, 2009

Based on this info, Drew Brees, should''ve been in the running for MVP with 34 TDs, throwing for 5069 yards, (17 shy of Marino''s record), a quarterback rating of 96.2 which was better than Peyton''s but .7 behind Warner. Drew''s completion percentage was only 65% but with all of his achievements he wasn''t mentioned since the Saints didn''t make it into the playoffs. Next year will be the year that Drew beats Marino''s record for most yards thrown in a season.

[specialty8]

Why is it they never give these things to the offensive linemen or the center. These guys are just a bunch of grunts that do all the work with no regonition.

[noirviolette]

"DebinOK1" Quit your whinning.If you and "HETUP" don''t care,I wonder why you took the time to click on headline and make a comment.I find that very odd.If I''m not interested in a story I just skip it.I have to admit though DebinOK1 your comment did give me a good laugh.Again,congratulations Peyton.Well deserved.

[debinok1]

Oh big freaking whoop te doo, he is a pro ball player who makes more in a season than most middle class people will make in a lifetime. Just one more way for the main stream media to distract people from the chaos that continues to surround us.

[cheteunice]

What a joke--Warner had a higher completion per centage,higher passing yardage per game, more touchdowns, and a higher rating than Manning. Warner should have won!

[hetup-2009]

WHO CARES

[chetthor]

I concur with Peyton as MVP


I Can''t believe that Chad Pennington isn''t starting the pro bowl

[lvdragonlady-2009]

Sorry it should have been offensive line.

[rushlimpdrug]

There still is an NFL?

[lvdragonlady-2009]

Whatever!
They never give it to the guys that really work for it, so what is the point.
If it wasn''t for his defensive line he would be on his back all the time.

[noirviolette]

I agree with you One_Texan.

[noirviolette]

Congratulations Peyton.Love you,love the Colts.
Your a true MVP both on and off the field.

[markavelli2]

This will make a Charger win all the more sweeter.