Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

NEW YORK -- Maybe the award should be renamed Most Valuable Peyton.

Peyton Manning became the first player to win The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player honors four times. The Indianapolis Colts' sensational quarterback romped to the award Saturday in balloting by 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. He got 39½ votes to 7½ for Drew Brees as only quarterbacks received any backing.

Manning adds the 2009 honors to the awards he won in 2003, 2004 and 2008, breaking a tie with Brett Favre at three MVPs.

"It's been a different season," said Manning, who guided the Colts to a 14-0 record before they rested starters in the second half of two games and finished 14-2. "Like I've said all along, it's been a challenge, it's been a grind at times, but guys have stepped up and played well."

No one more so than Manning, who threw for 4,500 and 33 touchdowns and, perhaps most impressively, led the Colts to a record seven fourth-quarter comeback wins.

The 33-year-old Manning also has started every game in his career, 192 in the regular season and 15 in the playoffs. He is durable, dynamic, dependable and decisive.

In other words, most valuable.

"He's been such a highly accomplished performer year in and year out. Just when you think you've seen his best, he improves upon it," said Jim Caldwell, who replaced Tony Dungy as coach and benefited from the same kind of performances Manning gave Dungy. "This year is one of those in terms of when you look at his numbers and how he's been able to play consistently well over a long period of time. It's been remarkable.

"I think a lot of it has to do with his drive. He just has an innate sort of will to excel. He never gets bored with it. That, I think, is highly unusual."

So unique that Manning has joined the truly elite of team sports: Wayne Gretzky (9), Barry Bonds (7) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), the leaders for most valuable player awards in each of their sports.

Not surprisingly, Manning, the 2007 Super Bowl MVP when he won his only league championship, briefly reflects before looking ahead.

"To win 14 games this year, if you had told me we were going to 14 games at the beginning of the season, I might not have believed you," he said. "So, it has been rewarding from a team standpoint because of what we have done. Hopefully, we can keep it going."

The Colts play in the divisional round next week and have home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Super Bowl is Feb. 7 in Miami, the same place they won it three years ago.

Manning lost his longtime favorite receiver, Marvin Harrison, this season. Harrison's replacement, Anthony Gonzalez, went down with a right knee injury in the opener.

Manning simply turned to his latest fave, Reggie Wayne, who had 100 catches for 1,264 yards and 10 touchdowns. And to Dallas Clark, who joined Tony Gonzalez as the only tight ends with 100 receptions in a season when he grabbed exactly that many for 1,106 yards and 10 scores.

Plus, Austin Collie tied for the rookie lead in receptions with 60 and scored seven times. Pierre Garcon, nurtured in dozens of passing sessions with Manning, developed into a prime deep threat and averaged 16.3 yards on 47 catches, with four TDs.

"What he's been able to do this year with Pierre [Garcon] and Austin [Collie]," linebacker and defensive captain Gary Brackett said, "and obviously Dallas had a year that will go down in the record books, and I think it really says something when you can work young guys like that."

The other votes went to San Diego's Philip Rivers with two, and Minnesota's Brett Favre with one.


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning corrals NFL-record fourth MVP - ESPN

re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

terrible

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Manning is the best QB to ever play the game. He certainly earned it.
It's sad because Brees deserved it too.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Someone please take this press clipping, and go tape it up in Drew's locker immediately.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

I think he'd be insulted by the insinuation that somneone thought he needed that for extra motivation.

It might work on lesser QB's in this league, but I don't think he can be extra-motivated at all by any press clippings.

Now it might motivate some players around him though.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

This doesn't surprise me, no matter how disappointed I am. There are one of five people that could have easily won the award, in my opinion. Peyton, Rivers, Brees, Favre, or Chris Johnson. The cards just weren't dealt in Brees favor this year. However, the only hardware I'm truly concerned about Brees bringing home is the Lombardi.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

guess it doesn't really matter that brees had the best stats in the league, i respect manning for what hes done over the years but the voters/media were never going to acknowledge brees for his accomplishments.

LETS SHOW EM IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Sucks but can't really argue with it

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Agreed. We all would have liked to see Drew win it, but you just can't take anything away from Peytons body of work

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

The only award Drew wants is the Lombardi trophy.....this will ensure he gets it....congrats to Manning....he wa the winner weeks ago..

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

If we had continued to win games it would have been Brees. The team let him down, but on the other hand Manning really did beat out his competition in the long run.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

I agree with sizzle88, Drew Brees will show all of them who the true MVP player is by earning Superbowl MVP!!!!

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

An MVP dynasty. Whatever. No resentment here. I care more about the SB.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Losing the Dallas game is what cost Drew. If we would have beat Dallas Drew wins MVP.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Drew doenst care for personal achievments...if he did he would have broke D.Marinos record last yr..its the superbowl ..a team trophy he wants

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

I cant disagree with Peyton winning it.....Now Drew can focus on winning the Super Bowl MVP.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

I agree. If drew didnt get it I knew manning should

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

+1

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

I love Peyton Manning. But are they any other Players in the NFL ???

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Its a popularity contest.....

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Did anyone else notice that D.Sharper was robbed out of the Defensive Player of the Year voting. He wasnt even in the top 5. This is rediculous

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

He will dominate now....lol

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

yes it sucks, but what really hurts it was a landslide. not even close

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Peyton you keep that, Drew will take the Lombardi !!!!!

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Manning is a good guy, and an awesome QB, but I think it was Drew's year. As usual, we get the leftovers. Ugh.

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

I agree to heck with the MVp - How about MVP of tyhe Superbowl & the Lombardi trophy!!

Re: Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide
 

Drew was rooked!! It is toobad he had the two losses at the end of the season (I do not count Carolina against Drew) OR I think it owuld have been a different outcome.

BUT lets see Drew hoist the Lombardi Trophy & the Superbolw MVP & it will make up for everything!!