When Rivers can do what Manning does, basically being his own offensive coordinator, calling many of his own plays at the line, turning no-name wide receivers into playmakers on a consistent basis, and dictating what a defense does for pretty much an entire game, let me know.
Some valid points here, but the bolded one is off base. Who was Vincent Jackson before Rivers? A no name WR. Who are Malcolm Floyd and Naanee? No name WRs. That is his current WR corps. And they are making plays on a consistent basis.
Floyd and Naanee have combined for 49 catches this season. 49 catches in 13 games is averaging less than 4 catches a game between the two of 'em. And they have a combined 3 TD catches? That is making plays on a consistent basis?
Ok, so your definition of a 'playmaker' is 'better than Floyd'Well let's see, Floyd is on track for 638 yards this year.
How many times has Manning turned a 'no-name' receiver into a 'playmaker' (ie more than 638 yards)?
1998: Faulk, Harrison,
Small (681)
1999: Harrison
2000: Harrison,
Pathon (648)
2001: Harrison,
Pollard (739)
2002: Harrison, Wayne
2003: Harrison, Wayne
2004: Wayne, Harrison,
Stokely (1077)
2005: Harrison, Wayne
2006: Harrison, Wayne
2007: Wayne
2008: Wayne, Clark
So in ELEVEN years, he was only able to give FOUR 'no-name' receivers better seasons than Floyd (and 3 of them just barely)
Sorry, consistency not found.
Don't forget, your argument was
on a consistent basis. One fluke year does not a consistent basis make