As we move through the 2007 NFL season the talk of comparing Eli Manning to his much more successful brother Peyton Manning has started again. While I personally (and others too) am getting tired of these comparisons, we the public have only been put through this for four years…. imagine how tired of it the Manning boys are.

The most annoying thing to me about this comparison is that it assumes that there is only one way to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. When it comes to Super Bowl rings, compare Joe Montana to Terry Bradshaw; while the both have multiple rings they are in no way the same quarterback.

Peyton wins game with his strong arm and quick decision making. I don’t know if Eli will ever be successful in the NFL, but if he does it will be in a completely different way. Eli shows more control and poise than his older brother. If he is to become a success, it will be as a short passing / controlled offense type quarterback… not the wide open offense type quarterback that Peyton is.

Brett Favre and Phil Simms were both successes and both completely different quarterbacks.

Steve Young and Dan Marino were both successes and both completely different quarterbacks.

Whether Eli Manning is a success or not will not be determined by comparing him to Peyton… history will judge if Eli Manning is a success based on his success on the field and in the postseason. So far… the jury is out.