Peyton Manning: 'I do throw ducks'

ByJEFF LEGWOLD
January 30, 2014, 12:28 PM

— -- JERSEY CITY, N.J. --  Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said  Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning throws "ducks." And Thursday, had Sherman been in the room, he would have seen a rather prominent Broncos player agree with him.

That would be Manning.

"They say he's a smart player, and I don't think that's a real reach what he's saying there," Manning said Thursday morning. "I do throw ducks. I've thrown a lot of yards and touchdown ducks, so I'm actually quite proud of it."

Earlier this season, Sherman praised Manning's intelligence but added that he throws "ducks" at times. Sherman was then asked about the comment in the Seahawks' media session Wednesday and did not retreat.

"Well, I still feel the same way I felt," Sherman said Wednesday. "He is a great quarterback, he does a great job. At the same time, when he catches the ball, he doesn't necessarily catch the laces all the time. He throws an accurate ball in regards to how he catches it, he just gets it on time and delivers it accurately."

On Thursday, Sherman was told how Manning responded to his comments.

"Oh, I agree. That's exactly what I said. That's what I said. It sounds like a repeat of what I said," he said.

Manning's throws have been conversation starters during his return from spinal-fusion surgery.

This season, Manning is poised to win his fifth MVP award as the Broncos set season records with 606 points and 75 touchdowns. Manning set records with 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns, and the Broncos were the first team in league history to have five players score at least 10 touchdowns in a season.

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has been named to the Pro Bowl in both of Manning's seasons with the Broncos and this year finished with 92 catches, 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns. Eric Decker has had both of his career 1,000-yard seasons with Manning at quarterback.

"It is funny to me, I think it's just people look at his numbers, what he's done, and there is nothing to talk about, nothing, no questions there," Thomas said. "He's the best player in the game right now. We don't pay attention to all of that, we do our jobs, get ourselves to the right spot, and he always gets the ball there."

ESPNNewYork.com's Kieran Darcy contributed to this report.