Peyton Manning

Have we seen the last of the once great Peyton Manning?  After an atrocious outing against the Kansas City Chiefs, in which he was 5-20 passing for 35 yards and 4 interceptions, Manning admitted he had been trying to play through a partially torn plantar fascia.  He has sat out the past three games recovering from the injury and his replacement Brock Osweiler has been solid, but not special. Osweiler is playing better than Manning had all season, posting a quarterback rating of 85.8 in four games compared to Manning's 67.6 through nine.  There were reports that after Osweiler's hot start he had been handed the starting job for the rest of the season, but Head Coach Gary Kubiak recently denied this rumor.  So, perhaps we have not seen the last of Manning.  

Manning is obviously not what he used to be.  Constant jokes about his "noodle arm" for his lack of throwing velocity have circulated the internet in that past two years. He can barely avoid pressure anymore, he almost needs a perfect pocket of protection to be successful.  Don't even think of the Broncos drawing him up a pass play like the Patriots did for Tom Brady against the Eagles last week. 

Seeing Manning's regression is equally as sad as it is acceptable.  He only just recently took the crowns of the NFL's all-time passing yards leader and passing touchdowns leader away from Brett Favre.  He's been nothing but a gunslinger throughout his career breaking numerous records.  He's been a 14 time Pro-Bowler, seven time All-Pro, five time NFL MVP, a Super Bowl Champion, and a member of the NFL 2000's All-Decade Team.  If it is his time to go I think the football world can accept that.  He's left it all on the field his entire career and he is most definitely the smartest player I have ever seen play the game.  So here's to you Mr. Manning, if this is the last year we get to see you play or if not, thank you for providing entertainment and excitement week in and week out for 18 seasons.  

Chris Johnson

Ok, so Mr. Chris Johnson is only 30 which some may not consider old.  In today's NFL however, a running back of this age is seen as undesirable.  The trend for running backs of this age is that their performance starts to go downhill.  Johnson is defying the trend.  He has more rushing yards this season in eight games with the Cardinals than he did all of last year with the Jets. He is currently second in the league in rushing yards and it doesn't look like there's any slowing down this reborn Chris Johnson.  He has shown great flashes of field vision and ability to make tacklers miss in open space.  He is showing signs of the once great CJ2K, a moniker he earned himself in 2009 after becoming the first running back since Jamal Lewis in 2003 to rush for 2,000 yards.

"I honestly thought my career was over" said Johnson in a recent interview.  During the off-season Johnson was shot in the shoulder by a drive by shooter and didn't have feeling in his arm for a good time afterwards.  He went through grueling physical therapy and had to shed off an extra 25 pounds that he had gained.  Johnson then signed with Arizona mid-way through August after missing the start of training camp. Injuries to the Cardinals running back core led to his first start in week three in which he was superb. He finished that game with 110 rushing yards two touchdowns and 40 receiving yards. Since that game he has received the bulk of the team's carries and already has four 100 yard rushing games this season.  His 4.8 yards per carry are well above average and he is defying the norms of the aging running back.  Johnson is on pace for over 1,400 yards in total offense and has been very fun to watch.  Here's hoping he can stay healthy and continue this outstanding year.

Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson continues to be one of league's best playmaking defensive backs even at age 39. A week before his match up against the Broncos Woodson revealed that he had been itching to finally get an interception off of Peyton Manning.  He got his wish and then some.  Woodson intercepted Manning twice showing the athletic ability of someone half his age.  In doing so he became the oldest defensive player to record two interceptions in one game.  He and Manning also became the oldest Quarterback-interceptor duo in league history.  

"I have at least 10 years left in me" said Woodson when asked by Jim Rome if he could play until he was 50.  "I'm a young 39, not an old 39" he added before alluding to his athletic interceptions against Manning.  Woodson is currently tied for the league lead in interceptions with four and also already has five pass deflections.  It is certainly no question that he can continue to play, but we will have to play the waiting game to find out if he can actually make it to 50.

Charles Woodson has always been a freak athlete and his accolades certainly prove that. He won the Heisman award at Michigan along with a National title and back to back All-American honors.  He's been on seven NFL All-Pro teams.  He's won defensive rookie of the year as well as defensive player of the year.  He's been to eight Pro Bowls and two Super Bowls, winning in 2010 with the Green Bay Packers.  He is the only player in NFL History with 60 interceptions and 20 sacks and he's still setting records.  If Woodson can indeed play until he's 50 and at a high level he might be eyeing Paul Krause's record of 81 interceptions.  His four interceptions this season put his career total up to 64, which is already tied for sixth with Ed Reed on the all time leader board.  Woodson seems like a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we just might have to wait until 2031 to see it.  

Steve Smith Sr.

Steve Smith Sr. has been defying his own age in recent years.  Last week in a loss to the Bengals, Smith recorded 183 receiving yards on 13 catches and 2 touchdowns. What was most impressive about his performance by far was his 50 yard touchdown on a fourth and five play.  He caught the ball before the first down marker and slipped past one defender to gain the first down.  He then slipped past two more and toed the sideline before making his way into the endzone.  This kind of agility is not something you would expect out of a 35 year old receiver in the NFL, but perhaps father time is catching up to the once great Carolina Panther.  In last night's victory over the Steelers Smith suffered a lower body injury and recorded only 4 receptions for 24 yards against a lackluster secondary.  However, Smith has dealt with his fair share of injuries in his time, only playing in all 16 games in just five of his 15 years in the NFL. This one seemed minor but kept him out for the remainder of the game.

Smith stated at the beginning of the year that this would be his final NFL season.  Yet, going into week four he was third in the league in receiving yards.  It seems like there still plenty of gas left in his tank, but he may still stick to his word.  It would be nice seeing him go out on top.  After all he's gone through two periods in his career where fans could have questioned whether he was losing a step.  In 2010 he only managed 554 yards in 14 games. The following year after drafting Cam Newton the Panthers saw Smith return to form, gaining nearly 1,400 yards and averaging a career best 17.6 yards per catch.  After failing to hit the thousand yard mark again in 2013 Smith and the Panthers parted ways.  He was obviously upset by this saying that there would be "blood and guts everywhere" when he matched up against his former team.  He also added "you're gonna find out week 4" after an 80 yard touchdown scored in week one of the 2014 season.  At 34 he topped the thousand yard mark for the eighth time in his career.

If Smith decides to retire at the end of the year he is certainly worthy of consideration for the Hall of Fame. As of week 4, 2015 he has amassed 13,635 yards and 75 touchdowns and may even catch his thousandth pass by the end of the year.  Many will remember Smith for his angry playing style, his constant smack talk with defensive backs, fights, his strive to play through injuries, and his persona. Smith is perhaps the last of the premodonna receivers of the 2000's left in the league and still never fails to entertain.  The league will certainly be in a new chapter once this ageless wonder decides to hang it up. Whether that be this year or not Steve Smith Sr. has left his mark.