Brady vs Manning: The Untold Story of the Rivalry That Transformed the NFL

Description

New York Times Bestseller From Acclaimed sports journalist Gary Myers comes the definitive inside account of the greatest rivalry in NFL history Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are perhaps the two greatest quarterbacks of all time. They are living legends who have come to embody the quarterback position and shape an entire generation of the NFL. They have also been fierce rivals every step of the way, and their many epic duels have not only ranked among the best and most exciting games ever played, they have fundamentally shaped the lives of and careers of both men. But for all their shared brilliance, they are a study in contrasts. Tom is the underdog turned ultimate winner, an unheralded draft pick who went on to win a miraculous Super Bowl and become the leader of one of the NFL's greatest dynasties. He is as firmly associated with big game brilliance as anyone who has ever played. Meanwhile Peyton was born into NFL royalty and a mountain of outsized expectations, yet somehow lived up to and exceeded all the hype, claiming virtually every passing record along his path to football immortality. The contrast in greatness-between the overachieving underdog and the crown prince of football, between postseason brilliance and statistical dominance-has served as an endless source of fascination for fans and media, and over the years as the two players have faced off again and again in classic games, the argument has only intensified. But until now, there has never been a definitive treatment of the debate that tells the real story. What do Tom and Peyton actually think of each other? What do their coaches think of them? What about teammates and opposing players? What are they like behind closed doors and in the locker room, and how does that influence their careers? How did their vastly different upbringings shape them, and how has each handled the injuries, setbacks and defeats they've dealt with over their careers? In this extraordinary book, veteran NFL correspondent Gary Myers tackles this subject from every angle and with unprecedented access and insight, drawing on a huge number of never-before-heard interviews with Brady and Manning, their coaches, their families, and those who have played with them and against them. The result is a remarkable collection of the most entertaining and revealing stories ever told about Peyton and Tom, from how they developed their vastly different leadership styles, to the unlikely friendship they've built over the years, to their respective exploits as locker room pranksters. Wildly entertaining and deeply thought-provoking, Brady vs Manning is essential reading for anyone who truly wants to understand these extraordinary players.

GARY MYERS has covered the NFL for more than three decades. He is currently a football columnist for the New York Daily News. Myers is the author of The Catch and Coaching Confidential.

"I feel like I've spent a third of my professional life covering Manning and Brady. I thought I knew everything there was to know about each. Gary Myers took me to school not only on one of the great sporting rivalries of our lives but on what makes two important sportsmen tick. This is Gary's best work."--Peter King, editor in chief, Sports Illustrated's The MMQB "Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. It's this generation's football version of Mantle vs Mays, or Wilt vs Russell. Everyone has an opinion, but some count more than others. Gary Myers has decades of experience covering and reporting on the NFL. He has long been one of the sports most respected and credible writers. His long standing access to both Hall of Fame quarterbacks, plus countless sources who competed with and against them, brings exceptional insight to Myers' take on one of football's most compelling and ongoing debates." - Bob Costas, NBC Sports "Get behind the scenes with two of the NFL's all-time greatest players in one ultra-compelling story. Gary Myers tackles Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in a way that very few defenders ever have. Brady and Manning always have been must watch; here they are must read."--Adam Schefter, ESPN NFL Insider "Peyton and Tom are to today's NFL, what Magic Johnson and Larry Bird represented in their NBA careers. Both duos are known as champions, leaders and fierce competitors. Given how their time in the spotlight corresponds with the league's incredible popularity surge, the story of their connection is one that needs to be told. Gary's decades of covering the NFL and his unique relationships with the biggest names in the game, make him the perfect person to tell the intertwined story of these NFL legends." - Mike Tirico, ESPN Monday Night Football "Gary Myers has captured the essence of this epic rivalry: Manning and Brady have illuminated this era as Chamberlain-Russell, Ali-Frazier, DiMaggio-Williams dominated theirs".--Ernie Accorsi, former NFL general manager "With all that has been written about Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, is there anything we don't already know? Oh yes there is and it's fascinating. Gary Myers gives us a captivating look into the world of the two greatest NFL QBs. Knowing how competitive these two are it amazes me how close they've become. Enjoy! - Boomer Esiason, NFL Today on CBS analyst and 14-year NFL quarterback