When both of their careers are over, I sincerely hope somebody writes a book on this phenomenon. Brady (and to a lesser extent, fellow Patriot SB MVP Deion Branch) was the only MVP loudly booed during the ceremony last night. Accessory to murder Ray Lewis was applauded while the guy who says encouraging things to opponents after a loss was treated like the devil incarnate. It's fascinating.

Where does it come from? It predates Deflategate and even Spygate, I know because I'm a Pats fan and I witnessed the vitriol on the message boards as early as 2004. There are several factors. First, the QB is the face of the franchise, and people get tired of the same team being in contention every year. But also, I think it's spawned by America believing Tom Brady somehow stole Peyton Manning's career.

It was Brady who kept knocking Peyton out of the playoffs during those great Colts runs. It was Brady winning championships, seemingly out of nowhere, while the Passing Machine son of a football legend was wallowing in the shadows. How could this be? Manning had been anointed football royalty in college; he was the #1 pick in the draft. How could a guy who was never made the full time starter at Michigan and was drafted as an afterthought at #199 possibly be this good? It just doesn't make sense.

And so it became easy to decide he was a villain, a 'system QB,' a cheater; because it's the only way these jealous souls could wrap their mind around the facts: That Brady truly is in the conversation for GOAT, along with Manning.

Back to how they affect each other's legacy: I believe either of them would have been appreciated by fans almost universally if not for the existence of the other; I also think both of them would potentially have several more rings if not for the existence of the other. But their story would not be as compelling if that were the case. They define each other as much as their stats do. Without Manning, the underdog has no giant to slay time and again in those early years. Without Brady, the chosen one has no foil to overcome, no evil empire to topple.

As a Pats fan, I can tell you those Colts playoff games from 2003 and 2004 are some of my favorite memories-- and I bet the 2006 AFCCG is among the favorites of Colts fans everywhere.

Professional sports, in my opinion, are only worth following if you appreciate the story behind the athletes involved. What drives them to be great, what philosophy do they apply to the sport as a metaphor for life? In these two men, with completely different backgrounds and expectations entering the league, we have perhaps the greatest individual rivalry in the history of this team sport; and almost certainly the most divisive rivalry among the fans.

I'd be curious to get their take on their own legacy, how they compare themselves to each other, and their thoughts on public perception regarding these issues. They both must use the other as a measuring stick for their success more than they'd ever admit, but it's still a conversation worth having.

At the end of the day Tom Brady and Peyton Manning do not exist quite as we know them without the Brady/Manning narrative.

Yeah, I can understand that. Brady and then Deion Branch were both booed pretty blatantly. And I know that it probably wasn't largely people in the crowd actually from San Fran, but the location of the SB kind of surprised me that they'd have that kind of backlash.

As for a book, I'm fairly certain there will be a (hopefully good) 30 for 30 about the Brady/Manning rivalry, but you have to wait until they're both retired to tell the full story.

like you say, it wasn't San Franciscans that were booing. There were probably almost no fans in the stands that weren't Broncos or Panthers fans.

I'm pretty sure I did hear some boos for Ray Lewis as well. Part of that though is it was a long time ago and since that time Ray stayed out of trouble and became a dominate player in the league. People have short memories.

In a Super Bowl that features a Manning its natural a lot of people would boo his chief rival (Eli on the other hand got a nice cheer).

And yes spygate and deflategate is a factor. A lot of people who are not Patriots fans view their success through that lens and are of the opinion that at least some of their success was not earned.

As far as the Brady/Manning narrative goes its a function of how football really is a team game. The system does matter more, so does defence. Its no accident that the home team has won every playoff matchup between the two. Its not the better QB that wins, its the better team that wins.

If you put Manning in the Patriot system for his entire career he would be just as if not more successful then Brady has been.

When both of their careers are over, I sincerely hope somebody writes a book on this phenomenon.

While both of their careers are not yet over, someone already has! http://www.amazon.com/dp/0804139377