Peyton Manning named SI's Sportsman of the Year
A run at a handful of NFL records has earned Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning a special honor courtesy Sports Illustrated:
Presenting 2013’s #SISportsman of the Year: @Broncos Quarterback Peyton Manning http://t.co/Nq66RFKKFi pic.twitter.com/ityqMCUo4i
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 16, 2013
Manning, two years removed from career-threatening neck surgery, is on the verge of rewriting the league record books. With two weeks remaining in the regular-season schedule, Manning is three touchdowns away from tying Tom Brady's single-season record of 50 and is just 665 yards shy of equaling Drew Brees' NFL mark of 5,476.
While Manning is one of the most popular players in the NFL, the decision to name him SI's Sportsman of the Year wasn't universally well-received:
Peyton Manning wins SI Sportsman of the Year???.For a great regular season with a lot of talent around him?
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania980) December 16, 2013
Peyton Manning wins Sportsman of the Year for a great regular season? Over David Ortiz? What I miss?
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) December 16, 2013
Postseason winning percentage: Tim Tebow (.500), Peyton Manning (.450).
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) December 16, 2013
Peyton Manning is an SI Sportsman of the Year, joining luminaries like Joe Paterno, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and Pete Rose
— Bobby Big Wheel (@BobbyBigWheel) December 16, 2013
Meanwhile, SI's Andy Gray celebrated the announcement with what we'll call an "entertaining" photo of Peyton from years gone by:
Your 2013 SI Sportsman of the Year: Peyton Manning. pic.twitter.com/nRPZc46tQV
— Andy Gray (@si_vault) December 16, 2013