The LOC Report

Friday 11 May 2018

Burdettinators Hall of Fame nomination

Nominee: Peyton Manning, 5th round draft pick, #43 overall, 2013

In 2011, Peyton Manning was a second round pick, 19 overall, and he donned a Dream Team shirt. That season he didn’t score a single point for Coach Nathwani due to a neck surgery that knocked him out for the entire season. Many questioned if Manning would ever play again, let alone if he would be able to play well. 

After 2011, the colts said goodbye to the sherif, as did The Dream Team. Manning left for greener pastures, and joined John Elway, a former super bowl winning QB, in Denver. He was also drafted by Coach Sherwood in the 3rd round, 26th overall. Although a visibly changed Manning, with a weaker arm and a higher reliance on his mind and his accuracy, he delivered on his draft status and promise, returning 362 points which was good for the 5th highest score among QBs in 2012, tossing 35 touchdowns and 4400 yards along the way. However, few would have thought the best was yet to come....

In 2013 Manning remained with Denver, but in the LOC he was on the move again. It was the 5th round, the draft was in full swing. Mike Wallace had just been selected by The Dream Team, and Coach Burdett was on the clock. Moments later the Commissioner announced that Manning would be playing for the Burdettinators in the 2013 season, a pick that was ridiculed greatly by Tuckfards head coach Phil Merritt, who had selected Drew Brees in the 1st round with the 9th overall pick. Aaron Rodgers also went in the 1st at 10, and Cam Newton in the 4th at 39. Manning would go on to outscore all of these players, including the likes of Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, and Russell Wilson who were selected just after him in the 5th round.

In 2013, Manning had the most historic season by a QB ever, both in the NFL and in the LOC. He threw for 5477 yards and 55 TDs, both a single season NFL record. This generated a whopping 520 fantasy points, the highest ever by a player in a single season in the LOC. 

The season started with a bang for Burdettinators, lead by none other than Peyton Manning. Playing the opening game against the current Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, Manning preceded to torch them for 462 yards and 7 TDs, tying an NFL record for touchdowns in a single game. He also torched ADRZ, leading Burdettinators to a 164 to 83 victory. And in case you didn’t already guess, this was the highest weekly score by a team and player in the LOC in 2013.

He didn’t really slow down after that. Manning lead Burdettinators to a joint season high 11-3 record, a regular season championship, a division title, a playoff berth, and the leagues highest scoring team. Coach Burdett also received the coach of the year award. 

The season wasn’t over however, Burdettinators had made it to the playoffs. In the first round they played the 4th seed ADRZ, the team Manning had torched all the way back in Week 1. Burdettinators won the game in convincing fashion 138 to 109 with a team effort - Manning put in a good shift with 22 points, good enough to get them to Corona Bowl V. 

Corona Bowl V was destined to be a classic. Burdettinators faced long time rival Coach Merritt, who they had famously never beaten. The game started with fireworks, as Jamaal Charles got cooking early. But that early jump start for The Tuckfards wouldn’t last long, with Peyton Manning earning 40 points on 400 yards and 4 TDs, leading Burdettinators to a 161 to 97 victory, their first win over The Tuckfards, and a Corona Bowl title. 

Manning was the back bone of this team, and arguably no player has been more important to a team than Manning was to Burdettinators in 2013.


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