ProFootballTalk.com's Top 25 In 25

No. 15 Peyton Manning.

We're not big fans of Peyton Manning.  He's the recipient of way too much hype, and his portfolio of television commercials is slightly (eyeroll) excessive.  Plus, his piggishness at the bargaining table made it harder for the Colts to have money available to put a team around him, essentially forcing the departure of running back Edgerrin James a year ago.

And then there's the whole "naked butt and rectum" thing.

But it's hard to argue that Manning isn't the best quarterback currently in the game, or that before he's finished he won't own every career passing mark (with the exception of interceptions).

Sure, Manning has won only one Super Bowl.  And Tom Brady has three.  But there's more to it than that, in our view. 

Manning has a career passer rating of 94.4, six full points higher than Brady's 88.4.  Manning already has thrown for 37,586 yards in nine seasons, and 275 touchdowns.

Over 17 seasons (the same number played by Dan Marino and, through 2007, by Brett Favre), this projects to 70,995 yards and 519 touchdowns.

The current record for yardage is 61,361 (held by Marino), and the current record for touchdowns is 420 (held, for now, by Marino).

Also, Manning holds the single-season passing touchdown record, with 49 in 2004.

Eventually, Manning could be regarded as the greatest player ever.  If that ever happens, we might have to go back to watching baseball.  But our generalized disdain for the man with the freakishly large forehead can't prevent us from acknowledging his place among the best NFL players of the last 25 years.

Click here for  No. 14.