Peyton Manning is under a bit of scrutiny these days. That's because he, and Denver Bronco offensive coordinator Adam Gase were in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at the same time to talk with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Under the current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the Players Union, it's against the rules for coaches and players to get together before the start of the off-season workout programs, which haven't happened yet.
There's so many things wrong with this. First of all, it's an incredibly dumb rule. Peyton may be a QB and Gase his offensive coordinator, but they're also human beings and American citizens. Short of a restraining order, which has to be signed by a judge, and which usually follows some sort of intimidating or violent behavior, since when can't two citizens be in the same location at the same time? And it's not like Manning and Gase were in Denver's practice facility hashing out game plans. They were in Tuscaloosa to chat with Saban. Saban himself says the three of them were never in the same room at the same time -- but who cares? Splitting hairs like this regarding who's allowed to talk to who at any particular time is downright stupid.
Equally important, one is left to wonder just what sort of useful knowledge could be gleaned by Manning and Saban meeting in the first place.
Manning went to the Univ of Tenn, had his heyday in the NFL with the Indy Colts, and is spending his twilight years with the Denver Broncos. Along the way, he's been a multiple MVP winner and has one Super Bowl victory on his resume.
Saban has been a mercenary. From Toledo to Mich State, to LSU, and now Alabama, he is held in high regard when it comes to college football coaches. After all, he's won national championships with both LSU and Bama, though his earlier career stats, particularly with Mich State, were decidedly mediocre. How he kept getting one higher paying gig after another is a very good question.
And then there was his ill-fated stint in the NFL as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The "Peter Principle" appeared to be at work. Some guys, like Jim Harbaugh, can be great college coaches and make a successful jump to the NFL as well. But other guys, like Saban, Rick Pitino, etc., just don't have the "right stuff" when it comes to dealing with professionals. They try, but they crash and burn. Major universities are their glass ceiling. Saban was woefully over his head while with the Dolphins, and though he said the Alabama job didn't interest him at the time -- no way was he going to do that -- well -- we know what happened.
But there's the rub. While Saban bombed as an NFL head coach, why would Manning (now 38) and considered one of the best NFL QBs of all time, seek out his advice? What can Nick tell Peyton he doesn't already know?
It was reported that Saban gave Manning a few tips about defense. In return, Peyton imparted a few words of wisdom to Nick regarding hurry-up offenses that have given Alabama problems in the past.
How dumb is this? Manning's been studying film, reading, analyzing, and adjusting to pro defenses since forever. See his constant audibles at the line of scrimmage, flapping his arms like a chicken, and his peculiar love for Omaha. However it works, it can fairly be said Manning has been quite successful over the years in the NFL, his lone Super Bowl victory notwithstanding. A lot of very good QBs, including some Hall of Famers never even got to hoist one Lombardi trophy (see Fran Tarkenton, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino).
And who is Manning to tell Saban how to improve one of the best college defenses in the country against a hurry-up offense?
Peyton ran a hurry-up offense and the Broncos were absolutely crushed 43-8 by the Seattle Seahawks in the recent February Super Bowl. If Nick wants some advice on defense, it only makes sense he'd be far better off talking to the Seattle defensive coordinator, not some aging quarterback that's apparently never seen a dumb endorsement/cha-ching opportunity he doesn't like.
From the dumb original rule, to who's talking to who about what and when -- everything about this is just wrong.
Then again, all these guys are making mega-bucks and most of us are not. Throw in the absurdity of our equally rich politicians these days and -- is this a great country or what?
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