Peyton Manning gets the nod over Tom Brady in latest rankings from CBS Sports

Tom Brady might be the greatest quarterback of all time, but he wasn't the best quarterback in the 2000s — at least according to CBS Sports. Earlier this week, CBS Sports ranked the best quarterback of each decade. Brady received the honors for the 2010s and the 2020s (even though we're just two years into […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Tom Brady might be the greatest quarterback of all time, but he wasn't the best quarterback in the 2000s — at least according to CBS Sports.

Earlier this week, CBS Sports ranked the best quarterback of each decade.

Brady received the honors for the 2010s and the 2020s (even though we're just two years into the decade), but it was former Tennessee Vols quarterback Peyton Manning who was named the best quarterback of the 2000s.

From CBS Sports:

Brady's argument is convincing, but Manning gets the nod largely due to how he raised the bar for how quarterbacks can dominate a game, not just with his brawn but with his brains. Along with being blessed with elite physical skills, the 6-foot-5 Manning beat teams with his intelligence, making successful audibles at the line of scrimmage a routine occurrence. While the Pats were responsible for two painful playoff losses, Manning led one of the biggest wins anyone had over the Patriots during the Brady/Belichick era. Trailing 21-3 in the 2006 AFC Championship, Manning led five second-half scoring drives en route to a 38-34 win over the Patriots. Two weeks later, Manning won MVP honors as the Colts won their long-awaited Super Bowl.

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Aug 31, 2019; Knoxville, TN, USA; NFL former quarterback Peyton Manning and Tennessee Volunteers equipment manager Roger Frazier speak prior to the game against the Georgia State Panthers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

It's hard to argue against Brady's three Super Bowls in a decade, but there was just something special about Peyton in the 2000s. Brady has obviously been incredible throughout his career, but he's played on some great teams with the greatest coach of all time (Bill Belichick), too. Manning pretty much had to will the Colts to victory at times in the 2000s — with absolutely no help from his defense.

And as CBS Sports noted, Manning truly changed the way the quarterback position was played. He was essentially the Colts' offensive coordinator, calling plays at the line and changing plays based on what he saw from the defense.

Brady is the GOAT, but Manning was the more impressive individual player if you take the Super Bowl trophies out of the equation.

Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services

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