Surely, we have a ton and a half of talent on our offense. Bill Polian has stacked us so high that we can't see the top. It's been the most feared single unit in all of football for several years now. We pretty much have the ability to do whatever we want.

Except when Peyton Manning isn't in control.

Through the preseason, when the first unit has been on the field, we've looked regular. Normal. Average like Dominic Rhodes. With Jim Sorgi or Quinn Gray or Jared Lorenzen, our receivers came back from space and our running game all but disappeared (our first unit, that is. Mike Hart looked good against a few of the second and third squad defenses). We have nothing to worry about, as #18 will be back for the season opener... but we've learned that we're not that special without him. Just like our pass rush last year without Dwight Freeney.

Football is the ultimate team sport, and no single individual is better than the squad he plays on... Except Peyton Manning. For years we heard that Peyton would be nothing without his receivers. Last year he lost his best and we had one outstanding receiver, a rookie receiver, a physically unimpressive tight end, a rookie left tackle, an often hurt offensive line, a group of scrub receivers, my main man Ja, and Kenton Keith (the guy who's hands were models for the new Lucas Oil Stadium)... and Manning put up numbers very similar to his career average. He topped 4,000 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. He had only 14 INTs (6 in one game. a complete oddity. don't count on that happening again. ever). He took an average offense, all things considered, and made them as good as Colts Offenses from years passed. The myth of the receivers making Peyton great has now been aborted. He makes himself great.

After watching him last year do what he did, then seeing the performance of our offense this preseason, I say we're lucky to have Peyton. Everyone agrees with me because I'm right, as usual. He's easily the best quarterback playing in the NFL right now, and already among the best all-time even though his career is far from over (he's still in his prime). He's everything you could want in a quarterback. A natural leader, ridiculously accurate, a throwing arm as strong as a 540ci Hemi, reads defenses as easily as a Dr Seuss book, and a release that rivals Dan Marino. He's also tough as they come. I've seen him get hit and bent into unnatural shapes and come back for more. He's played with his jaw wired shut (which, for a quarterback, is a feat). He hasn't missed a regular season or playoff game in his career (coming up on his 11th season). Quarterbacks are known to be pansies. Pantywastes. Some even carry purses. But not Mr. Manning. After he demoralizes defenses, he goes to his home in Indianapolis and wrestles bulls in naught but his birthday suit. Bulls he then kills with his bare hands so he can eat dinner that night.

But I digress. Peyton Manning is the best football player on the planet and we are crap without him. So thank the Football Gods that they saw fit to send one of their own to play quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.