Peyton Manning feels like a new man. After missing all of 2011 for multiple neck injuries, the Denver Broncos quarterback now has a full season of playing under his belt and is hitting 2013 in full stride. Manning admits to never feeling truly comfortable last season, looking shaky and nervous during several games. Now, he is preparing for 2013 being fully healthy and confident once again.
Manning certainly did not have a bad 2012. He did not look like the typical Manning, but none the less, was still impressive. However, Manning said his performance was not up to par last season, mainly due to his comfort level with Denver.
"The biggest issue for me was performance: Can I perform the way that I've been performing over 14 years? You've only done it one way-you've thrown one way. The ball felt one way in your hand since you were 15 years old playing quarterback. All of a sudden, when things feel a little different, there are some questions and some unknowns: How will it hold up in different types of throws, touch passes? I've got to put one in there in some weather, whatever it may be. Not that I feel as comfortable as I did in my eighth year in Indianapolis, but it's a heck of a lot more comfortable than I was last year," Manning said,
If Manning feels better than last year, the rest of the teams are in trouble. Manning's bad was still good, so his good will most likely be great. In a year where he claimed to not be comfortable, Manning threw for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns. He had a 68.6 completion percentage. What will his stats be when he feels "comfortable"?
One thing Manning did miss out on in his first year in Denver, was another Most Valuable Player award. Manning has won a few of those in recent years, but last year Adrian Peterson took home the honors. After tearing his ACL, Peterson returned to come just nine yards short of the single season rushing record. Denver head coach John Fox, still believes that Manning deserved that award more.
"No disrespect to Adrian, because I love him and he's a great player, but I think an ACL is a little bit more understood in the National Football League than surgery on your neck that affects your nerves. I still marvel at what Manning was able to accomplish. It was with a different team, and at a position that mentally is just so hard. In history, I don't think anything's ever been done like that, and not even counting the fact that he didn't play the year before," Fox said.
Each player will get an equal chance to defend the title in 2013.
