re: Manning is the greatest free agent pick up in NFL history

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Then to Super bowl and divisional game

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Yep, the Broncos, being such a great franchise, really killed it in the draft and free agency. One of the best defenses ever to match the Saints 20+ rankings year after year.

That FA Ware probably had a bigger impact on winning this super bowl than Manning

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Having said that, Manning "produced" more but Brees was the more important FA signing.

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I disagree. If the Broncos miss out on manning, these 4 years never happen. If the saints miss out on Brees, our run never happens. Importance is equal

My only argument is I cant with a straight face say the Brees signing is greater when the results the Broncos had after Peytons signing is far superior.

I will say that Drew def means more to the franchise though. Without Drew we are still nobodies. Without Peyton the Broncos are still Elway and a two time super winning city

Yea, they're pretty similar meanings

A team coming off a playoff win isn't similar to a 3-13 team

Outside of Louisiana, the Saints were always thought of as bottom feeders and just a poor franchise. Brees gave them their only super bowl and they are now considered potential contenders for the playoffs every year. Everyone knows not to sleep on the Saints and their high powered offense. He changed the way people think of the saints as a whole. Denver had a winning culture way before Manning.

For those reasons I'd say Brees was a bigger free agent signing.

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BTW that flag was picked up because the ball was tipped. But nice attempt at revisionist history.

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After the PI occurred...

LSU had an interception called back earlier in the game for the exact same thing

Manning joined a good team and made them great. He also joined a historically very, very good franchise and led them to even more success. Still, he was a VERY small part of Denver's success this season and last night. In fact, he had the worst statistical season of any super bowl starting QB. He had 9 TDs on the year and 17 INTs. Only twice all season did he throw for more TDs than INTs in a game.

On the other hand, Brees joined a historically bad franchise and brought them to heights never seen before. He joined a team that the year prior was the 2nd worst in the NFL. That was on top of the fact that the city in which the team was located was barely functional. In one year he led a franchise that in the previous ~40 years had only 1 playoff win to the NFC Championship. 3 years later he won the Super Bowl

The Saints have 10 playoff appearances in their entire history. Brees is responsible for half of those

The Saints have 7 playoff wins, EVER. Brees is responsible for 6

The Saints have had only 10 winning seasons in their history. Brees has 5 of those.

Maybe some on here are too young to remember just how historically bad the Saints franchise was prior to Brees. He's accomplished in 10 years more than the franchise accomplished in the previous 40

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- Should have been league MVP, posted better stats than golden boy Manning

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This was highway robbery. Brees was absolutely the MVP of the league that season, which is why I find it funny that the OP cries about Manning not winning in 2012 (when Peterson rushed for a zillion yards).

The Broncos were already a proud franchise before him. What Brees did for the Saints on and off the field is incredible.

Manning had very very little to do with the championship this year. He was benched midway through the season and the broncos continued to win because of the d. Manning is well below average in the playoffs

Top 20 NFL free agent signings

White
Brees
Sanders
Warner
Manning