JERSEY CITY — While praising Peyton Manning for his accuracy and smarts, cornerback Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks said Manning throws passes that wobble like “ducks.”
The quarterback of the Denver Broncos didn’t contest that fowl comparison Thursday.
“I believe it to be true, as well,” Manning said from the podium on the cruise ship the NFL is using for Broncos’ Super Bowl news conferences.
That drew laughs.
About a month ago in his Monday Morning Quarterback column on SI.com, Sherman said Manning was among the more intelligent quarterbacks in the league. He also wrote: “His arm, however, is another story. His passes will be accurate and on time, but he throws ducks.”
Sherman has stood by that analysis this week. As did Manning.
“You can see he’s a smart player,” Manning said.
“I do throw ducks. I throw a lot of yards and touchdowns-ducks. So I’m actually quite proud of it.”
Manning is in the argument about who is the greatest quarterback of all time. He was asked about whether, when he’s just chatting with his buddies, who he’d list as the top three of all time. The questioner asked him not to include himself or his brother Eli, quarterback of the New York Giants.
“Me and my buddies don’t discuss that; we have other things to talk about,” Manning said.
“I don’t have a list. ... I feel like I could probably describe the perfect quarterback with a little piece of everybody. Take John Elway’s arm, Dan Marino’s release, I think Troy Aikman’s drop back, Brett Favre’s scrambling ability, Joe Montana’s two-minute poise.”
He drew another laugh when he said, “Naturally, my speed in there.”
Manning said his perfect composite quarterback wouldn’t just be limited to those he mentioned.
“I could take a piece of everyone, of some of my favorite quarterbacks. I could take 30 traits from different guys and put them in there for that perfect quarterback. So that’s kind of how I look at it. I don’t have the lists. I know a lot of people have lists.
“Anytime, as John Elway once said, you like to kind of be on the conversation of someone talking about some of their very favorite quarterbacks. That’s a nice compliment in itself.”
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