PEYTON MANNING BIO

  • Full Name: Peyton Williams Manning

  • Size: 6-5, 225 Pounds

  • Born In New Orleans, Louisianna On March 24, 1976

  • On March 17, 2001 Married His College Girlfriend Ashley Thompson In Memphis, Tennessee.

  • Resides In Indianapolis, IN

  • Attended Isidore Newman High School In New Orleans

  • Named Gatorade Circle Of Champions National Player-Of-The-Year

  • Named Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club National Offensive Player-Of-The-Year As Senior

  • Majored In Speech Communications At The University Of Tennessee

  • 1997 NCAA Top VIII For Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete In Athletics, Academics And Community Service

  • Father, Archie Manning, Was A Former Mississippi And New Orleans Saints Quarterback

  • Mother, Olivia Manning, Was A Former Homecoming Queen At Mississippi

  • Would Lie Awake At Night As An 8th Grader Listening To Tapes Of His Father Archie’s College Games At Mississippi

  • Grew Up In An 1853 Home In The Garden District Of New Orleans, With Novelist Anne Rice & Rocker Trent Reznor Of ‘Nine Inch Nails As Neighbors

  • National Spokesperson For National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA)

  • Has Been Honorary Chairman Of Indiana CASA's Annual Fund Drive And Contributed A Flag Football Game Pitting "Peyton's Pals", A Team Of CASA Foster Children Against Another Team Of Youth From Indianapolis Area Community Centers

  • Formed The PeyBack Foundation In 1999 To Promote The Future Success Of Disadvantaged Youth By Helping Programs That Provide The Necessary Leadership And Growth Opportunities For Youth At Risk

  • Named One Of 10 Outstanding Young Americans By The United States Junior Chamber Of Commerce On January 9, 1999, In Washington, D.C.

  • Honorary Grand Marshall For The Special Olympics In Louisiana For Their Opening Ceremonies In May Of 1998

  • He Has Donated Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars Through His Foundation To Causes Such As The Gleaners Food Bank Of Indiana, The New Orleans Toys For Tots Campaign, US-101's Christmas For Kids In Chattanooga, TN, And The Boys And Girl's Club Of Greater Knoxville

  • A Portion Of Every Box Of Cereal Named After Him, "Peyton O's", Was Donated To The PeyBack Foundation To Further His Efforts To Help Kids At Risk…Organized The First-Ever PeyBack Classic, Allowing Five Indianapolis Public Schools To Play In The RCA Dome

  • Was Keynote Speaker For The Northern Indiana Community Foundation, A Fundraising Campaign To Provide Full College Scholarships For Indiana Residents

  • Is Only Active Player Ever To Serve On NCAA Foundation Board Of Directors

  • Was Celebrity Spokesperson For Scholastics For Kids National Literacy Campaign

  • Helped Promote The I.S.T.E.P. Exam For The Indiana Department Of Education

  • Spokesperson For Indiana College Savings Plan Campaign

  • Honorary Chairman For 1999 Crossroads Of America Council Boy Scouts Of America Membership Drive

  • Along With St. Vincent Hospitals And Health Services In Indianapolis Helped Create Peyton's Playbook, A Kid's Guide To Healthy Living And The Importance Of Making The Right Decisions

  • Did A Gatorade Commercial Shoot With Former NBA Star Michael Jordan, U.S. Women's Soccer Player Mia Hamm And Nascar Driver Mark Martin

  • First NFL Player To Launch Bi-Lingual Web Site

  • His Favorite Quote Is From Pro Football Hall Of Fame Coach Chuck Noll: "Pressure Is Something You Feel Only When You Don't Know What The Hell You're Doing".

  • Awarded The 2001 American Dream Award By The Hudson Institute For His Work Within The Community And The PeyBack Foundation.



    Notes: One of Archie Manning's sons. Honor student who graduated in three years. High-school All-America quarterback whom virtually every school wanted. Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year in 1994, when he went 7-1 as a starter and completed 89-of-144 passes for 1,141 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions and was sacked only five times. All-SEC and Davey O'Brien award finalist in '95, when he hit on 244-of-380 attempts for 2,954 yards with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. Had an up-and-down '96 season due in part to his green and erratic line. Completed 243-of-390 passes for 3,287 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and rushed for three scores. Then was 27-of-39 for 408 yards and four touchdowns vs. Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl. Heisman Trophy runner-up as a senior after completing 287-of-477 tries for 3,819 yards with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Injured knee in the SEC championship game vs. Auburn. Had to be hospitalized after the leg wound got infected and spread all the way down to his ankle and was cared for by doctors and nurses with a minimum of CNA training Came back to play in the Orange Bowl, but it was obvious he was rusty and still in considerable discomfort. Did not work out at the combine because his knee was still far from 100 percent.

    Positives: Great intangibles and work ethic. Fierce competitor. Knows how to prepare for games. Has a coach's understanding of the game and is a very quick study who knows how to read a defense and to avoid losses. Has gotten a lot bigger and stronger because he is driven to be the best he can be. Excellent height and vision. Top-notch technique and very good balance. Quick, compact throwing motion. Arm is strong enough for him to throw all the routes in the playbook. Throws a nice, catchable ball. Has been durable and dependable. Does not seem to let his mistakes weigh too heavily on his mind when he is playing. Should be ready to play in a hurry.

    Negatives: Is not the runner, scrambler or improviser his father was as a rookie. A little tight in the hips and stiff. Not naturally smooth and fluid. Lacks a great arm. Can't throw off-balance with zip as Favre or Elway can. Needs to set his feet to zip the ball. Does not throw a really tight spiral much of the time, and the ball will wobble at times. Was taught to pump his feet and to keep them moving at almost all times in college and also to slightly underthrow the deep ball so his receiver could come back and make a play on it. Thus, he may need to break some old habits.

    Summary: Is not a rare talent or great athlete as his father was or as John Elway and Brett Favre are. Yet, he's a very fine football player with a great mind for the game and, from the neck up, rivals Bernie Kosar as the smartest quarterback I ever saw in college.



    Sue Thomas


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