Tim Hasselbeck: Peyton Manning Still Holds Career Edge Over Tom Brady

Four Super Bowl rings aren’t enough for Tim Hasselbeck to join Team Brady.

Hasselbeck reiterated Monday on WEEI’s “Dennis and Callahan” that he believes Peyton Manning still is better than Tom Brady despite the New England Patriots quarterback winning his fourth Super Bowl title Sunday. The former NFL QB and current ESPN analyst pointed to Manning’s role in the league’s evolution.

“As somebody who played at the quarterback position in the NFL, at a time that both of those guys were playing, nobody’s changed the game more than Peyton Manning or changed the way that that position is played more than Peyton Manning,” Hasselbeck said. “And from my experience as a quarterback in the NFL, that’s a fact.

“Also what I said was when you look at wins and losses, especially in the postseason, there are so many other factors that dictate who wins and loses the game. It’s such a team environment, so … I just don’t think it does the careers justice for any of these quarterbacks to try to narrow it down to just what happens in these postseason games.”

Manning has been a stud in the regular season throughout his career, but the postseason has been a different story. Although Manning won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts following the 2006 season, there have been several instances in which the future Hall of Famer folded under pressure. Brady, on the other hand, tends to thrive when the lights shine brightest despite losing two of his six Super Bowls.

Hasselbeck apparently isn’t concerned about Manning’s playoff woes, though. Manning and Brady have been in much different situations, which Hasselbeck believes should be considered when ranking the game’s all-time greats.

“Peyton Manning has won a Super Bowl, he’s achieved things that most quarterbacks aren’t able to ever achieve,” Hasselbeck said. “He’s going to own basically every passing record that exists. So you ask me whose career I would rather have, based on that and how I explained to you he changed the game of football from an offensive perspective, that was my answer.”

Brady not only defeated the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday to earn his fourth Super Bowl win. He also collected his third Super Bowl MVP award, tying him with Joe Montana for the most in NFL history.