There are certain things that hit you regarding the passage of time, and sometimes, it’s the subtractions of things as opposed to the additions that make the difference. If you want to know how much the NFL has changed in the 2020 offseason, check out this tidbit from NFL scouting legend Gil Brandt:
For the first time in 22 years there's not a Manning on an opening day roster. Broncos cut undrafted rookie WR Zimari Manning earlier in camp.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) September 9, 2020
ZImari Manning, a receiver from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, was unable to make the cut, and with that, the legacy of Mannings in the NFL is over — at least for now.
Of course, Archie Manning, Peyton and Eli’s father, played for the Saints, Oilers, and Vikings from 1971 through 1984. 15 years later, Peyton Manning became the first overall pick in the 1998 draft, and went on to a moderate measure of success with the Colts and Broncos. Eli was the first overall pick in 2004, and had his own decent career, which ended with his retirement in January. Even before Peyton hit the league, there was former Dolphins and Packers receiver Brian Manning (no relation), who caught seven passes for 85 yards in his two NFL seasons of 1997 and 1998. So, you have to go back to 1996 if you want a Manning-free zone.
Now, the Mannings are out of the NFL… but perhaps not for long. Arch Manning, the son of Cooper, Peyton’s and Eli’s older brother, is the top quarterback prospect for the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.com. As a freshman at Isidore Newman High School last fall, the younger Manning totaled 2,438 passing yards and 34 touchdowns with just six interceptions.
Archie Manning believes that his grandson may in time be the best Manning quarterback of them all.
“He’s probably a little ahead of them as a freshman,” Manning told IndyStar.com last October. “They played JV as freshmen and both started as sophomores. But just kind of the way it’s evolved; he’s playing as a freshman right now, playing good, he’s on a good team, they’re having a lot of success and having a lot of fun and that’s the way it should be. That’s the one thing I always told my kids and I’ll tell Arch the day before a game. ‘Go have fun.'”
There it is. If you’re tired of Manning royalty in the NFL, you may have just a few years of relief.
