Peyton Manning Collects Fourth NFL MVP Award

NFL News - January 10th, 2010 - Written by John

Another year and another NFL Most Valuable Player award for Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning was honored with the award for a record fourth time, after the Colts finished the regular season with a record of 14-2. He was sensational this season, collecting 39 1/2 of the 50 total votes cast by the Associated Press. Manning beat Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers and Brett Favre to the award.

Manning won the MVP back in 2003, 2004 and again in 2008. His fourth MVP broke the tie with Favre, who has three, and now puts Manning in a category all by himself.

Manning insisted that this was not an individual award, but a team collaboration, and a reflection of the cohesion of the unit.

"I'm very humbled and grateful to be honored with this award and I really feel like it is a reflection of our team," Manning told the AP after being told of the honor.

The Colts earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and await the lowest remaining seed next week in the divisional round of the playoffs.

This season, Manning accounted for over 4,500 yard passing and threw for 33 touchdowns. Seven of the Colts 14 wins this season came after trailing in the fourth quarter.

"I have to believe that starting 14-0 and having seven comeback wins has a lot to do with this award coming our way, and I'm very grateful to all the players and the coaches and our fans, who were a big part of it. There were a number of other extremely deserving candidates," said the MVP quarterback.

Manning joins elite company among the players with the most MVP awards in their respective sports. Wayne Gretzky (NHL), Barry Bonds (MLB) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (NBA) all have collected the most MVP honors for the game they played.

He has started every game for the organization since his rookie year.

"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 rookie Colt head coach Jim Caldwell. "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."

During the 2009 NFL Season, Manning had to adapt to the loss of his top receiver, Marvin Harrison. The tandem set an NFL record for most touchdowns between quarterback and receiver. He did not miss a beat however, as receiver Reggie Wayne and tight-end Dallas Clark stepped up in production and quickly became Manning's favorite targets. He also turned to rookie wide-outs Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon, who both became reliable receivers. The way he develops receivers and makes everyone around him better is a rare quality and makes Manning a special type of player.

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