Simply the best: Colts' QB Manning considers only the present

By: SCOTT BAIR - North County Times | Sunday, January 13, 2008 12:21 AM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO - Peyton Manning is one driven individual.

His focus is always forward, channeled toward the next play, the next opponent, the next big challenge. Looking back, it seems, is a waste of time.

The Indianapolis Colts' star quarterback has no interest in discussing last year's Super Bowl championship, even as it relates to today's AFC divisional matchup with the visiting Chargers. The teams' regular-season meeting more than two months ago, a 23-21 Chargers victory in which Manning threw six interceptions, is only a reminder that his Colts must learn from their mistakes to play better in the rematch.

The eight-time Pro Bowler has just as little interest in considering his future beyond this week.

It doesn't matter that, even if Manning retired today, he would be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has put up better numbers than anyone else over past decade, yet still has no interest in talking legacy.

"I really haven't had time to think about it," Manning said on Wednesday in a conference call.

Others have, just by examining the statistics.

Manning has more passing yards (41,626) and touchdowns (306) than any of his contemporaries over the past decade and is already ranked in the top 10 all time in each category despite being just 31 years old. He has thrown at least 25 touchdowns in every season and exceeded 4,000 passing yards in all but two.

"He's certainly impressed me in the time that I've been here, not only in terms of his talent but also his drive, work ethic and preparation," said Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy, in his sixth season with the Colts. "He's doing everything he can to help his team win and has put up some serious numbers in the process. If he doesn't get hurt, he's going to be in the top three or four all time when he finishes."

Numbers can only take you so far in the NFL pantheon. The highest circle belongs to statistical juggernauts with Super Bowl victories, something Manning finally earned last season with a victory over the Chicago Bears.

Those without enter the purgatory of Dan Marino and Fran Tarkenton, forever known as great quarterbacks who never won the big one. Manning had been placed there after a string playoff failures nullified stellar statistical seasons.

The worst came during the 2004 campaign, when Manning had the most efficient passing season in NFL history. He set the single-season quarterback rating mark at 121.1 and threw for a then-NFL-record 49 touchdown passes - New England's Tom Brady threw 50 this season - only to bow out to the Patriots in the AFC divisional round.

Manning then pushed the Colts to a 14-2 record in 2005, only to be ousted in the same round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

His success last season erased the final questionable aspects of his career.

"It's allowed people to look at his whole record," Dungy said. "John Elway went through the same thing. He played great football for (14) years, but the last two years of his career he won Super Bowls. People wanted to focus on his entire career at that point, which is great. I think that same thing will happen for Peyton. Now that he's won it, people will look at what he's done over a 10- to 15-year period and say, 'This guy was really something special.' "

That's already happening among his adversaries. Having faced Manning, Brady and Green Bay's Brett Favre this season, Chargers defenders have a unique perspective on how Manning stacks up against other elite active quarterbacks.

Defensive end Luis Castillo gave Manning the finest complement, saying he's "maybe one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game." While Manning may not have Favre's cannon arm or Brady's flare for the dramatic, he stands out in his own way.

"He's in the top one or two, definitely," Chargers safety Clinton Hart said. "He may not have the zip that Brett Favre has, but he's so smart that he doesn't have to throw it as hard. He makes some great decisions, but hopefully he'll make some mistakes that we can take advantage of."

The Chargers have had success against Manning, beating the Colts in the teams' last two meetings and suffering a narrow loss in 2004. They rattled Manning with pressure in all three games and will likely need to do so again today.

"I think a guy like that, you have to go and put pressure on him," Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman said. "Because if you sit back and let him do the things he does best, he'll pick you apart."

Contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com.