It's been almost 20 months since Peyton Manning's last snap in an NFL game. And, after extensive rehabilitation after neck surgery, the Broncos' new field general is not looking for his next one to come from infamously vicious Steelers linebacker James Harrison.
Peyton Manning Isn’t Looking For A James Harrison Blindside Hit
Manning told ESPN’s Tom Jackson that while he’s not looking forward to seeing Harrison and the Steelers defense in the Broncos’ season opener on Sept. 9, he’s comfortable that he’ll be able to absorb the blow.
“I’m not begging James Harrison to blindside me by any means but I feel I’m going to be able to handle that.”
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“So James, I love you and don’t take this as a challenge now,” Manning said, presumably only half-joking. “Go easy on me if you can.”
Manning's quick release (and, in Indianapolis, the Colts' sturdy offensive line) has helped make him one of the league's least-frequently sacked quarterbacks. He was brought down on just 2.3 percent of dropbacks in 2010, best in the NFL, and that was his third time topping the league in that stat.
Of course, the Denver line might be a bit more porous than the ones Manning played behind in Indy: Broncos quarterbacks were sacked 42 times in 2011.
For more on Manning and the Broncos, visit Mile High Report and SB Nation Denver.
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