Before we turn the page to 2013 for the Denver Broncos and the new National Football League season, we can take one final, last blog dealing with Monday Morning Manning.
From day one with the Broncos, Peyton Manning's accomplishments have been extreme both in terms of their high level as well as the extraordinary volume.
And the last weekend of the season was no exception to this.
Even though the Broncos were not in the NFL championship game, Manning was in New Orleans for the league Saturday night honors show, and his statistics in terms of honors are just like his stats on the playing field—absolutely dominating, and they speak volumes about his status in the game.
Manning was named the 2012 AP Comeback Player of the Year with 31.5 votes, ahead of Adrian Peterson of Minnesota (17.5).
He is the first Bronco to be named AP Comeback Player of the Year, and this is the fifth straight year quarterback has won the award.
But also:
Manning became the first quarterback to be named Comeback Player of the Year as well as first team All-Pro.
Among all players, Manning and WR Steve Smith (2005) are the only players to be named to the Comeback award as well as first team All-Pro.
Manning finishes second to Peterson for the 2012 AP MVP award, with Manning receiving 19.5 votes to Peterson's 30.5. No other player got a vote.
His 19.5 votes are the most ever for an AP Comeback Player of the Year winner—the next closest was Miami QB Chad Pennington, who got four votes in 2008.
Manning's 19.5 MVP votes are a greater total for four actual MVP winners (2005, '03, '02, 1997) in the current voting format, which began in 1997.
This year marks the eighth time Manning has finished in the top three of AP MVP voting. The NFL's only four time winner of the MVP award (2003, '04, '08 and '09), he was also the runner up in 2012, 2005, and 1999, finishing third in 2006.
This is the ninth time in Manning's 14 seasons played in which he has received at least one MVP vote. Just think: that means that in nine of his seasons there was at least one voter out of the 50 who considered Peyton Manning the NFL MVP.
And this one is amazing to think about—for his career, Manning has garnered a total of 180 Associated Press MVP votes—the highest total by any player in at least the last 25 years and most likely in the entire history of the award, which was first given in 1957.
Just an astonishing set of statistics showing his perceived value to MVP voters, but these stats are just like those he produces regularly on the field.
Incredible, and one of a kind.
That's it for Monday Morning Manning for 2012.
It is time to move forward to our new season.
