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Brady vs Manning: The Untold Story of the Rivalry That Transformed the NFL
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.
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.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2015
84 people are currently reading
860 people want to read
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Gary Myers
40 books39 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 11, 2015
For a book promising us the "inside story" on the Brady vs Manning rivalry, I was expecting a bit more.
And maybe the revelation that (gasp!) Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are friends off the field should have been enough. But, quite frankly, I still kept feeling like there should have been a bit more substance to this book.
Part of this could be that as a Tennessee fan, I've followed Peyton since he become a Volunteer, so there isn't much included here that I wouldn't already know because of my deep, abiding fandom of Peyton and the Volunteers. But as I read this book, I couldn't help but feel that it would benefit from a bit of editing -- especially in some of the middle chapters as I began to feel like I was reading the same couple of anecdotes over and over again.
I also find it interesting to read this book in the wake of the current hoopla surrounding Brady and deflate-gate. I realize that the book's lead time meant this couldn't really be delved into that much, but reading some of what we find out about Brady here, I can't help but feel like it sheds some new light on him as a player and person.
Brady vs Manning tries to walk a fine line in looking at this rivalry. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite do what it set out to do.
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
And maybe the revelation that (gasp!) Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are friends off the field should have been enough. But, quite frankly, I still kept feeling like there should have been a bit more substance to this book.
Part of this could be that as a Tennessee fan, I've followed Peyton since he become a Volunteer, so there isn't much included here that I wouldn't already know because of my deep, abiding fandom of Peyton and the Volunteers. But as I read this book, I couldn't help but feel that it would benefit from a bit of editing -- especially in some of the middle chapters as I began to feel like I was reading the same couple of anecdotes over and over again.
I also find it interesting to read this book in the wake of the current hoopla surrounding Brady and deflate-gate. I realize that the book's lead time meant this couldn't really be delved into that much, but reading some of what we find out about Brady here, I can't help but feel like it sheds some new light on him as a player and person.
Brady vs Manning tries to walk a fine line in looking at this rivalry. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite do what it set out to do.
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2015
Beyond terrible. This book fails on so many levels it is really not even worth reviewing. For starters, there is literally nothing "untold" in the entire book. It is a collection of well known stories that any educated sports fan is more than familiar with. Moreover, it is completely incoherent. The book itself doesn't shed any light at all on the rivalry between Manning and Brady. None of their epic games are analyzed in any depth. Worst of all, the book itself has no structure. It wanders back and forth through time, often repeating the same anecdotes or game summaries discussed earlier or random non sequiturs. The chapters are nonsensical. For example, there is a chapter titled "the coach in the gray hoodie," (presumably Bill Belichick); the author obviously failed to secure an interview with Belichick- there's not one quote from him that doesn't come from an interview previously broadcast on national television. Most of the chapter veers back and forth to Tony Dungy and Bob Kraft. The book itself ends with a whimper with a random story about how the New York Jets beat the Patriots in a playoff game in 2010. The editor, if there was one, should be fired, and the author should refund everyone who paid for this book. If you want to read an interesting football book, read the Education of a Coach by David Halberstrom instead.
June 14, 2016
This review is for a pre-release copy of the book from NetGalley.
This book was pretty bad and unenjoyable. The writing veered from high school to level to pretty good (sometimes from paragraph to paragraph), things were repeated over and over and over again, an it was really not what the subtitle promised. Instead, it was a decent biography of Manning, with periodic slights, and a hagiography of Brady, with some revisionist history. Lots and lots of filler in the book, which is odd considering that it barely approached the rivalry or how it changed the NFL.
After reading that the author was a columnist, it explained a lot of the problems with the book- there wasn't enough material to fill the whole thing, and the author didn't seem to know how to stretch his information over this large of a stretch. The book seems like it started off as an excellent long form article, but when the author decided to change it into a book, he lost his way.
This book was pretty bad and unenjoyable. The writing veered from high school to level to pretty good (sometimes from paragraph to paragraph), things were repeated over and over and over again, an it was really not what the subtitle promised. Instead, it was a decent biography of Manning, with periodic slights, and a hagiography of Brady, with some revisionist history. Lots and lots of filler in the book, which is odd considering that it barely approached the rivalry or how it changed the NFL.
After reading that the author was a columnist, it explained a lot of the problems with the book- there wasn't enough material to fill the whole thing, and the author didn't seem to know how to stretch his information over this large of a stretch. The book seems like it started off as an excellent long form article, but when the author decided to change it into a book, he lost his way.
April 12, 2016
How fitting to have read this book while the golden boy announced his retirement.
I'm not sure how the title of this book fits the information in it. I think it's a marketing gimmick more than anything. Of course I picked up the book because I wanted to learn about the behind-the-scenes- "APPARENT" rivalry by arguably two of the best QBs of our time. But what did I get? the background stories of the QB's from their college days, to draft, to memorable games. It was interesting to learn, but there was precious few information about this so-called 'rivalry'. its the typical competitive stuff. Like come on, most football players are competitive so to read information that TM and PM are competitive and want to keep or break records is nothing new. Too often fans are falling for the crafty acts of sports journalists that consistently manufacture sensational storylines. Okay can I start on the choppy writing presentation? at many points during this book I asked myself, why Is Gary Myers writing books? his presentation is choppy and he often drifts from one idea to the next and then back again. Overall, a so-so book if you are into football and you want a little bit of context.
I'm not sure how the title of this book fits the information in it. I think it's a marketing gimmick more than anything. Of course I picked up the book because I wanted to learn about the behind-the-scenes- "APPARENT" rivalry by arguably two of the best QBs of our time. But what did I get? the background stories of the QB's from their college days, to draft, to memorable games. It was interesting to learn, but there was precious few information about this so-called 'rivalry'. its the typical competitive stuff. Like come on, most football players are competitive so to read information that TM and PM are competitive and want to keep or break records is nothing new. Too often fans are falling for the crafty acts of sports journalists that consistently manufacture sensational storylines. Okay can I start on the choppy writing presentation? at many points during this book I asked myself, why Is Gary Myers writing books? his presentation is choppy and he often drifts from one idea to the next and then back again. Overall, a so-so book if you are into football and you want a little bit of context.
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December 27, 2022Some neat information and anecdotes in a book that organizes its ideas very poorly, written with little flair, and full of a whole lot of fluff even given the subject matter (a whole chapter about how both Manning and Brady like to play practical jokes on their teammates, dude?). Not the football book that transcends the genre, I'll say charitably.
December 13, 2015
The idea for this book is great. Brady and Manning have changed football the last 15 years and made are two of the more entertaining sports stars out there. But this book is so repetitive and terribly writing. Simple sentence after simple sentence takes the sparkle out of these stars and creates a monotony of sludge with no new insight. I wish a good writer had tackled this topic.
March 17, 2016
Great book. I'm a huge Manning fan, but learning about Brady's struggles to get on the field at UM gave me an insight on what motivates him. I also liked the story of when the staff caught Brady late at night on a Friday working on his game. As the author stated, Bledsoe didn't even know there was a competition going on until it was too late.
August 24, 2025
With 13 pages left, there was a jump scare about Tony Romo going to Mexico during the playoff bye-week then subsequently losing to the Giants when the 13-3 cowboys were the only team that could possibly knock off the undefeated Patriots. Why the author felt the need to bring up one of the worst days of 4th grade me’s life, I’ll never know.
Aside from that, if you like football, especially the NFL, you’ll enjoy this book.
Aside from that, if you like football, especially the NFL, you’ll enjoy this book.
June 26, 2025
I'd say one would have to like football to want to read this book, and one would probably need to like one of the two title QBs to like it. I think Peyton is probably the best player to ever play, but...Brady has more rings.
I learned a bunch of things about the two, but I at last had a reckoning of the game I consider to be worse than the two horrible Brady/Patriots losses to a lesser team in the Superbowl: the 2006/7 AFC Championship game. I was in Korea at the time and the game was on early Monday morning there. I had two design meetings that I could not avoid and so missed the game, taping it so I could watch later. Between those meetings, I learned the Pats were up 21-6 at the half, and went into the second meeting feeling good. When I was done, I called my wife and heard that they lost. A couple of days later, I talked to my best friend, Rick Cheeseman, who was now back in the states and told him I couldn't bear to watch the tape. He told me, "Dude, you have to watch it. First half was all Pats, third quarter was all Colts, and the fourth quarter was an Ali-Frazier slugfest to see who could be the last standing!" I was more of a fanatic fan back then and I didn't like who was the last standing...so I tossed the tape in the trash. Myers told me in this book how close it really was in that slugfest fourth quarter.
Myers had great access in writing this book and does a good, clinical job of writing the narrative. Myers talks about the friendship between the two and how they relate with others off the field, painting them both as two incredibly focused and driven competitors. There might be some eye openers here for some (a few for me), but even though they are both good guys who have human sides, when it comes their chosen profession, there will always be haters for the two best quarterbacks to play the game.
I learned a bunch of things about the two, but I at last had a reckoning of the game I consider to be worse than the two horrible Brady/Patriots losses to a lesser team in the Superbowl: the 2006/7 AFC Championship game. I was in Korea at the time and the game was on early Monday morning there. I had two design meetings that I could not avoid and so missed the game, taping it so I could watch later. Between those meetings, I learned the Pats were up 21-6 at the half, and went into the second meeting feeling good. When I was done, I called my wife and heard that they lost. A couple of days later, I talked to my best friend, Rick Cheeseman, who was now back in the states and told him I couldn't bear to watch the tape. He told me, "Dude, you have to watch it. First half was all Pats, third quarter was all Colts, and the fourth quarter was an Ali-Frazier slugfest to see who could be the last standing!" I was more of a fanatic fan back then and I didn't like who was the last standing...so I tossed the tape in the trash. Myers told me in this book how close it really was in that slugfest fourth quarter.
Myers had great access in writing this book and does a good, clinical job of writing the narrative. Myers talks about the friendship between the two and how they relate with others off the field, painting them both as two incredibly focused and driven competitors. There might be some eye openers here for some (a few for me), but even though they are both good guys who have human sides, when it comes their chosen profession, there will always be haters for the two best quarterbacks to play the game.
December 28, 2015
Overall, this book was a satisfying Christmas read. While I am a die-hard Patriots' fan, the book managed to both uphold my view of Tom Brady, but also made me see Peyton Manning in a more positive light. The author juxtaposes Brady's ability to overcome challenges with the fact that Manning has achieved great success in the face of expectations that would be almost impossible to meet. The author clearly had access to a lot of sources and sought to present both quarterbacks in a positive light. If anything, I would have liked more detailed analysis of some of the key games that both have played in. The second-to-the-last chapter that focused on the pranks that both of them pull didn't really add very much to the book for me. I will look forward to a more detailed history of the rivalry once both have retired, but this was a good read for fans to enjoy.
February 16, 2016
Overall it was an enjoyable read. It is filled with interesting history and entertaining stories that give a look behind the curtain. I did think it would have been better to write this book when Manning or Brady retired since so much with this rivalry happened in the 2015-2016 season (like Brady being hit by the Broncos defense more than any QB that season and Manning winning his second Super Bowl) as it significantly altered the narrative. I particularly enjoyed this book since I am a life-long Broncos fan, but was still interested in reading about Tom's background despite my disdain for the Patriots. Any fan of the NFL would find it worthwhile. The book does a good job of covering a lot of ground in the career makeup of both QBs and I found the side stories on coaches and teammates enjoyable.
November 3, 2015
Loved the idea of this, but I learned almost nothing new or insightful that wasn't public information already.
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March 31, 2020Brady vs Manning- Gary Myers
Imagine being the best quarterback to come out of your draft class. You get all the attention from the day you were drafted until some guy named Tom Brady from the 6th round had a bigger impact on his team after the patriots starter had some injuries. Brady had big shoes to fill and he did just that they were saying how much better he is than Manning. Brady's first couple of seasons were rocky which it does take a long time to get comfortable with a team and being a starter. It's the same as someone who goes to a new school after moving and has to make friends but it is hard because you become shy and everyone stares at you and judges. When you read Brady vs Manning by Gary Myers it is full of extravagant adventures from hometown to college then the big leagues and trying to become the best. These two certainly did that. They will forever have an impact on players in the future to try and be the best.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was that this book is about two of the best football players to ever play. When you hear the names of these two you only remember how many super bowls they won, not their stats throughout their careers and even through college. Comparing each other in college and seeing what that had to do in college by competing to get the starting spot and then winning games to have the people have confidence in you to become great. Being the best quarterback in college pays off because you want to hear your name being called with Manning being the first overall pick in the draft, and Brady being the 199th pick. Brady wasn’t as good as Manning coming out of college but over the years Brady proved he is better by winning six super bowls to Manning two superbowl wins. Peyton has broken more records than Brady but 6 superbowl wins is hard to do with one team. Over their course of playing Tom and Peyton grew a big relationship and are even best friends. THey have so much respect for eachother.
The second thing I enjoyed about the book was about how detailed the book was written. Having dedication writing about where they came from, how they went through college fighting to be the best and making an impact on the game and fans around the country. Also, you have to go back 20 plus years to when they were in college to see who they were. Brady wanted to go home because he knew he wouldn’t start and gave up, but the coach told him you need to fight for a spot and nothing is gonna get handed to you.
Brady vs Manning was a very interesting book. I didn’t know what to expect at the start but at the end it was up to my expectations. The beginning was a little jumpy because it would talk about the two in the NFL then it went to Brady and Drew Leaf. It brought my attention to read it because Brady and Manning are the top 5 best quarterbacks ever to play. I wasn’t born when they were in college starting off their careers and I would have certainly got a better perspective if I was able to see them in person or on television.
Imagine being the best quarterback to come out of your draft class. You get all the attention from the day you were drafted until some guy named Tom Brady from the 6th round had a bigger impact on his team after the patriots starter had some injuries. Brady had big shoes to fill and he did just that they were saying how much better he is than Manning. Brady's first couple of seasons were rocky which it does take a long time to get comfortable with a team and being a starter. It's the same as someone who goes to a new school after moving and has to make friends but it is hard because you become shy and everyone stares at you and judges. When you read Brady vs Manning by Gary Myers it is full of extravagant adventures from hometown to college then the big leagues and trying to become the best. These two certainly did that. They will forever have an impact on players in the future to try and be the best.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was that this book is about two of the best football players to ever play. When you hear the names of these two you only remember how many super bowls they won, not their stats throughout their careers and even through college. Comparing each other in college and seeing what that had to do in college by competing to get the starting spot and then winning games to have the people have confidence in you to become great. Being the best quarterback in college pays off because you want to hear your name being called with Manning being the first overall pick in the draft, and Brady being the 199th pick. Brady wasn’t as good as Manning coming out of college but over the years Brady proved he is better by winning six super bowls to Manning two superbowl wins. Peyton has broken more records than Brady but 6 superbowl wins is hard to do with one team. Over their course of playing Tom and Peyton grew a big relationship and are even best friends. THey have so much respect for eachother.
The second thing I enjoyed about the book was about how detailed the book was written. Having dedication writing about where they came from, how they went through college fighting to be the best and making an impact on the game and fans around the country. Also, you have to go back 20 plus years to when they were in college to see who they were. Brady wanted to go home because he knew he wouldn’t start and gave up, but the coach told him you need to fight for a spot and nothing is gonna get handed to you.
Brady vs Manning was a very interesting book. I didn’t know what to expect at the start but at the end it was up to my expectations. The beginning was a little jumpy because it would talk about the two in the NFL then it went to Brady and Drew Leaf. It brought my attention to read it because Brady and Manning are the top 5 best quarterbacks ever to play. I wasn’t born when they were in college starting off their careers and I would have certainly got a better perspective if I was able to see them in person or on television.
March 8, 2023
Brady vs. Manning by Gary Myers
Brady vs Manning is a book about Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The book includes how they both got drafted, their friendship on and off the field, and how they were successful in both of their careers. The book first starts off introducing both of the players starting with Peyton Manning. They describe his childhood and how he got interested in playing football. They do the same thing for Tom. The next thing the book talks about is their first full season as quarterbacks.
The middle of the book talks about each of their Super Bowl wins. Then at the end of the book, it talks about what they are doing now.
One of the things that I enjoyed about the book was how it showed what both of them did to get to where they are. They describe with excellent detail and pictures in the middle of the book. The other thing that I enjoyed about the book was there was always something exciting going on. There was never downtime where the book got boring.
The third thing that I enjoyed about the book was how they showed what they do now. It gives you an idea of what athletes do when they are playing their game. Like how they prepare and what they do after they are done playing. You never hear what they do before or after they are done playing. I think that it is really interesting.
This book only took me three weeks to read and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend anybody this book if they are interested in sports. I would give this book a 4 out of 5-star rating because it shows what NFL players do during their downtime and what they think on the field.
Brady vs Manning is a book about Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The book includes how they both got drafted, their friendship on and off the field, and how they were successful in both of their careers. The book first starts off introducing both of the players starting with Peyton Manning. They describe his childhood and how he got interested in playing football. They do the same thing for Tom. The next thing the book talks about is their first full season as quarterbacks.
The middle of the book talks about each of their Super Bowl wins. Then at the end of the book, it talks about what they are doing now.
One of the things that I enjoyed about the book was how it showed what both of them did to get to where they are. They describe with excellent detail and pictures in the middle of the book. The other thing that I enjoyed about the book was there was always something exciting going on. There was never downtime where the book got boring.
The third thing that I enjoyed about the book was how they showed what they do now. It gives you an idea of what athletes do when they are playing their game. Like how they prepare and what they do after they are done playing. You never hear what they do before or after they are done playing. I think that it is really interesting.
This book only took me three weeks to read and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend anybody this book if they are interested in sports. I would give this book a 4 out of 5-star rating because it shows what NFL players do during their downtime and what they think on the field.
May 11, 2017
(Audiobook) An interesting attempt at describing the premiere rivalry in recent NFL history. The work was comparative bio of two of the top NFL QBs. There were discussions about their various matchups on the field, how the Patriots and the Colts (later the Broncos) had their legendary matchups, as well as insights into Brady and Manning's interactions and activities off the field. The off the field insights were very intriguing, from when the Brady and Manning families got together in the off-season to how both Manning and Brady handled hosting Saturday Night Live. Yet, the overall book left a great deal to be desired. Even for a non-sports fan, Myers keeps repeating his explanation of events. The first time one hears of "Deflatgate" or how Manning could have been a New York Jet, it is interesting, especially if you aren't a regular NFL fan. Yet, when the event is referenced again in the context of a different point, he explains it again...as if you, the reader, couldn't remember the first time it was covered. Given that this book is no where near the length of War and Peace, it is annoying and condescending. While a great rivalry, Myers' conclusion that this is on par with Bird and Magic or Ali/Frazier might be a little bit of hyperbole. At least the book was short, so it was not unreasonable as an audiobook. However, the organization and repetition within the book lower the rating. It is worth a read once if you are a curious fan, but certainly not something that will be repeat reading.
June 2, 2020
Myers's depiction of the rivalry between Brady and Manning evokes the feeling of a long, detailed sports documentary that one would view on television. Although the book does not initially follow a chronological path, it does eventually assume a chronological progression from Chapter 2 onward. Myers's use of interviews is exceptional, as the interviews provide novel insights into aspects of the two quarterbacks' careers that neither Brady or Manning reveal themselves. Comparisons to both insignificant and legendary football players at the time accompany details of scenarios that would have greatly changed the career paths of Brady and Manning, allowing Myers to demonstrate the significance of such a constant rivalry in a sports world of rotating depth charts and team parity. In spite of Myers's effective storytelling efforts, his commitment to minute details of the Brady - Manning rivalry does occasionally interrupt the book's pacing, and short, redundant sentences fail to add to the complexity of the Brady - Manning relationship or emphasize Myers's tale. However, overall, Brady vs. Manning is an enjoyable read that will help any football fan gain a greater appreciation for both the Brady - Manning rivalry and the art of sports storytelling in literature.
June 22, 2023
While there were some interesting things in this book, I have to say that I found it quite repetitive and down right boring in some spots because of it.
I get it that they're both competitive, do an incredible job of preparing for games, can be funny, and are leaders of their teams and nice people. But there are only so many ways or times you can say that without boring your reader.
I did find it interesting that Brady had to fight to get on the field in college. That probably helped make him a better play and also contributed to his going in the 6th round of the draft.
I wonder what an update of this book would look like? Peyton doubled his rings to two, but Brady retired with seven. I think who is the best depends on if it is regular season or playoffs. Also, you have to look at who had the better team supporting them and better defence to keep leads.
If you are a diehard NFL fan or want to learn more about Brady and Peyton Manning, you'll probably like the book. If not, I would read something else.
I get it that they're both competitive, do an incredible job of preparing for games, can be funny, and are leaders of their teams and nice people. But there are only so many ways or times you can say that without boring your reader.
I did find it interesting that Brady had to fight to get on the field in college. That probably helped make him a better play and also contributed to his going in the 6th round of the draft.
I wonder what an update of this book would look like? Peyton doubled his rings to two, but Brady retired with seven. I think who is the best depends on if it is regular season or playoffs. Also, you have to look at who had the better team supporting them and better defence to keep leads.
If you are a diehard NFL fan or want to learn more about Brady and Peyton Manning, you'll probably like the book. If not, I would read something else.
April 12, 2018
I enjoyed this book a lot. I am a fan of the book and Gary Myers. He always seemed to have an excellent presentation when it came to discussing issues around the league. He keeps it relatively simple but informative. Myers made an exciting comparison both on and off the field. Whereas I thought the two were fierce competitors, which they are, I never knew that they held high respect for each other and were close friends off the field. As a result, I see no need to try to rate the two but accept that they both are en route to the hall of fame. I didn't know that Brady and Manning were very close before they started their sports rivalry. Its really an interesting book from a sports perspective, and I am sportsperson so I enjoyed this book a look. I learned a lot about their both players background, social life, professional life etc. If you're a sporty guy/girl, I would highly recommended reading this book.
July 10, 2020
This is a wonderful book! It takes us through the lives of Brady and Manning, their similar strengths and different struggles they both faced in their careers. Myers intertwined these two careers beautifully while taking us on a little trip into their private lives. The sub-stories told in this book are fantastic; Meyers understands what football fans really want to read, or do not want to read. He even summarized Brady's famous draft day in less than a couple of pages, which is more than enough at this point to be honest. Let's not drag that story on anymore. Now, I have only read one book on Brady and none on Manning so all those small, personal stories were great to read. I am not in the position to tell if these are "new" stories or stories that have already been told. Ether way, this was a delightful read and sets the standard high for the future football books I read.
December 22, 2016
I have to echo some of the other reviews I've read - this was an ok read, not particularly deep, somewhat repetitive, but it made the commute go by.
As an increasingly less-involved football fan, I went into this thinking that any "rivalry" that existed was more an artifact of sports journalists desperate to sell articles or fill airtime, and there's nothing in this book that changed my opinion. Brady and Manning never played in the same division and met occasionally in the playoffs.
I skimmed a lot of the book - the repetitive content and the coverage of the families. I honestly don't care what their families are doing or what their wives do or what their families think of the games or the "rivalry".
As an increasingly less-involved football fan, I went into this thinking that any "rivalry" that existed was more an artifact of sports journalists desperate to sell articles or fill airtime, and there's nothing in this book that changed my opinion. Brady and Manning never played in the same division and met occasionally in the playoffs.
I skimmed a lot of the book - the repetitive content and the coverage of the families. I honestly don't care what their families are doing or what their wives do or what their families think of the games or the "rivalry".
November 5, 2018
Brady vs. Manning is a rivalry in the NFL that has taken place for quite some time before Manning retired. This rivalry was never completely known in detail until this book came out. In the book, Myers is very detailed on each player and how they excelled in the NFL to become all time greats. Becoming a key player in the NFL can turn players into rivals naturally on the field. Despite this on-field rivalry they were surprisingly good friends outside of the sport, which many don't know.
So basically to sum up this story, it engaged me from the beginning and I had a hard time putting it down. I plan on adding the book to my personal collection so I can pick it up again at a later date. Very well written.
So basically to sum up this story, it engaged me from the beginning and I had a hard time putting it down. I plan on adding the book to my personal collection so I can pick it up again at a later date. Very well written.
August 12, 2019
There really was not anything new in this book about either one of these two men or the rivalry that I or any other football fan did not know. Let me change that. Being a little more than the average fan and knowing about both of these men’s careers from the college ranks to the pros. I thought maybe there would be earth-shattering news or something special, but no. I actually was disappointed in the whole affair and though I am sure the author spent a lot of time putting this book together this is not for someone who truly follows the game, for you already know the information in these pages I am sorry to say. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 3 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
November 5, 2017
This book was ok, but not great. Going into this book I was under the impression that it would get into the nitty gritty details about which quarterback is better, based on stats and other comparisons. However it turned out to be more of a biography about each QB and talked mostly about things that I already knew. Also, the book was written before Peyton and Brady won their last Super Bowls so I wish it was updated for that, but I can't hold that against the writer. It had some good content, some funny quotes and stories, but nothing really eye-opening or surprising.
March 13, 2021
I have been a Patriots fan for 40+ years so i will always take Brady over the field. I have had a good respect for Manning and have come to like him more since Brady does not have to face him anymore.
I find Peyton to be totally hilarious off the field. He is incredibly funny.
This book tells a lot of behind the scenes stuff. The Brady information i pretty much knew but i learned so much about Peyton Manning.
If you are a football fan in general and can get past your dislike for Brady because of how much he has won i think you will enjoy this book.
I find Peyton to be totally hilarious off the field. He is incredibly funny.
This book tells a lot of behind the scenes stuff. The Brady information i pretty much knew but i learned so much about Peyton Manning.
If you are a football fan in general and can get past your dislike for Brady because of how much he has won i think you will enjoy this book.
September 23, 2017
While the book does a great job highlighting one of the greastest QB matchups in NFL history, and certainly the greatest one of my generation, I can't help but feel like it was incomplete. I feel that this book would have benefitted from waiting until both players' careers had ended. However, the anecdotes included help the reader to see each player more fully, rather than the media-driven narratives we may be accustomed to.
September 3, 2022
Good read for football fans. I’ve been watching the Pats since the team was established and haven’t missed many games since 1974. A history of heartbreak. In 1993 things started to turn around. In 1996 I became a season ticket holder. In 2001 the Patriots became one of the best teams ever to play the game. The Brady Manning rivalry was a joy to watch. This is a fun book if you like American football. Two stars.
September 24, 2023
Myers shines again
Albeit my late arrival to this game notwithstanding, Gary Myers once again comes up with a well researched and informative book about two of the best to ever play their position. Perhaps it's the material (which I have followed for decades), but Gary M's style of writing makes you want to read it straight through. Another winner.
Albeit my late arrival to this game notwithstanding, Gary Myers once again comes up with a well researched and informative book about two of the best to ever play their position. Perhaps it's the material (which I have followed for decades), but Gary M's style of writing makes you want to read it straight through. Another winner.
August 11, 2025
Manning and Brady
The author leads the reader through a dense analysis of the strengths and weakness if each Ball of Fame Quarterback. The organization of the text leads the reader to confusion at some points and the blizzard if facts leaves the reader searching for the plot. Definitely a football junkie book. Good read for your collection of football trivia.
The author leads the reader through a dense analysis of the strengths and weakness if each Ball of Fame Quarterback. The organization of the text leads the reader to confusion at some points and the blizzard if facts leaves the reader searching for the plot. Definitely a football junkie book. Good read for your collection of football trivia.
November 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I love both football players and liked the additional insight into their lives. The writing wasn't the best, there was a lot of repetition, and the chapters weren't well organized. I thought the author favored Brady a bit, but it was his book after all.
December 5, 2018
Not sure what was untold as most it was already events and things that I knew about but it was an interesting recap of these two great quarterbacks and of course Brady was the best and free from the local public library
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