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Former Vol Peyton Manning: Is the Denver Broncos Quarterback the NFL’s Kobe Bryant?

By Caleb Calhoun

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Former Tennessee Vols star Peyton Manning continues to suffer through injuries. Is he becoming the NFL’s version of LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant?

It is really the saddest thing to see. For many of us in Knoxville, Peyton Manning is one of the most immortal players in sports history.

The four neck surgeries alone in 2011 were enough to shock us. To the rest of the NFL, he had not missed a start since his first game in 1998. But to Vols fans, that streak was longer.

Manning had not missed a start since he was inserted into the lineup against the Washington State Cougars in 1994.

So with the exception of that weird 2011 season, this upcoming game between the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears will be the first time that Manning has missed a start due to injury in a season in which he played in more than 21 years.

The durable quarterback who was always so smart, always toyed with the NFL, always knew to take care of his body and protect it from brutal hits, is now being betrayed by the body he took such good care of for so long.

It is a sad sight to see. And this is where he draws the comparisons to NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

The Los Angeles Lakers star has been having an abysmal time ever since he tore his achilles a couple years back, shooting below 40 percent from the field his second straight year and watching his body turn on him at, well, every turn. Every time Kobe takes the court, there is a new injury that haunts him.

It’s a sad, sickening sight to see for a guy who spent more than 15 years as one of the dominant forces and most feared assassins of the NBA.

The same thing is now happening to Manning. No matter how much he keeps himself in shape, age is catching up to him.

For the year, Manning has nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing under 60 percent of his passes. But it hasn’t just started this year. Take it back to the St. Louis Rams game last year.

The veteran quarterback had 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions to that point en route to his possible second straight MVP Trophy and sixth overall. But from that point on, he had 10 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. Then he had the abysmal playoff game.

Then came the first nine games of this year.

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After the Rams beat him up, it has been injury after injury. There was the torn right quadricep that we found out about throughout the end of last year. We realized Sunday he had a partially torn fascia in his foot.

But on top of that, he has been battling injuries in his ribcage and his right shoulder as well.

These injuries all of a sudden represent a pattern. Manning struggled at the beginning of this year because he is a rhythm quarterback and had to spend he offseason recovering from injury instead of getting his usual reps.

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That’s why he seemed to get it together coming off the bye week and torching the Green Bay Packers defense.

But then, just as he hit his stride, he picked up this string of injuries and will now have to get out of rhythm again in order to get in shape. It’s one thing after another for arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, just like it is with Kobe.

Every time they get back in shape, another injury arises.

Next: Vols Facing Most Pressure of the Year at Missouri

Manning will hopefully get fully healthy down the stretch, as this is the first year he has ever had an elite defense that will probably be fully healthy in the playoffs.

But whether or not he does, it’s sad to see what has become of this legend.

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