The Super Bowl has become one of the biggest events in the country. Drawing much more than the usual amount of millions of football fans, people also watch for the now famous commercials and halftime show. With so many people tuning in, the Super Bowl turns into a stage unlike any other for the players on the field, especially at the game's most prominent position, quarterback. This article looks at this stage, and how for both team's quarterbacks it changes how they are viewed.

Peyton Manning:

Manning, if he retires, he will go down as one of the most celebrated players of all time. He is a five-time MVP and would go down as the career leader both in wins and passing touchdowns. But that is not the point of this article. Super Bowl 50 should have been the perfect stage for someone as vaunted as Manning to retire and live happily ever after. Instead, Manning seems to have more controversy surrounding him than at any other point in his career. A possible HGH scandal and past indiscretions being dragged back into the light is marring what should’ve been Peyton’s last rodeo.

Way back in November, Manning was benched after a nine-game stint during which he threw 17 interceptions to a measly nine touchdowns. While on the bench he saw his replacement, Brock Osweiler, lead the team to a 4-2 record. As one of the all-time great quarterbacks, seeing your team actually improve without you must’ve been tough. But stoking the flames even more was a report released by Al Jazeera, a worldwide news organization that stated Peyton Manning’s wife had received HGH shipments in 2011, the year Peyton was rehabilitating from his neck injury. Naturally people speculate whether the HGH was actually for his wife, or an attempt by Peyton to speed his recovery time. With Peyton’s future uncertain after his benching and with a potential scandal brewing, it was fair to wonder whether or not it was the end for Manning.

Now speed up the season to late December and Peyton was given a chance to redeem himself in a Week 17 match-up against the San Diego Chargers. The Denver Broncos needed to win this final game of the season in order to clinch the AFC number-one seed, which would've give them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Even though the Chargers were one of the worst teams in football, the eventual Super Bowl Champs were trailing at halftime. Instead of letting Osweiler, who had already committed four turnovers, reenter the game, Denver coach Gary Kubiak decided to go with the 17-year veteran to try to turn the game around. It ended up working. With a Bronco victory, Peyton cruised behind the league’s number-one defense to the Super Bowl.

Cam Newton:

Cam was this season’s MVP, and has become the gold standard for a new generation of quarterbacks. He is the best running quarterback in the league, and has combined that with a highly developed passing game to lead the league's most dangerous offense. But a mess of a performance in Super Bowl 50 has tarnished what should have been one of the best seasons completed by a quarterback of all time. To put the frosting on the cake, Newton left himself vulnerable to his harshest critics with an unceremonious post-game interview. On a stage where Newton could’ve vaulted himself into the discussion of the NFL’s most premiere quarterback, he came up short.

Newton proved to be a touchdown machine during the 2015 regular season, as he led the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record. His stat line finished at 3,837 passing yards with 35 passing TDs and 636 rushing yards with 10 rushing TDs. Many writers had 2015 labeled the season of Newton, as he was the undisputed MVP for the most of it. Not only did he play the best, but he also played with the most swagger. He became known for his Superman touchdown celebrations, his dabbing, and the point he does on every first down. He even gives every one of his touchdown balls to a child sitting in the crowd. In a league that expects success to meet with modesty, especially at the game's most crucial position, Newton did not shirk his larger-than-life personality.

While many people embraced Cam’s confidence, there were those out there who could be labeled “haters.” And it wasn’t all undeserved, as Newton had a propensity for going over the top at times. No other moment serves as a better example than Week 13 against the New Orleans Saints. Emotions ran high in what was a very back and forth game between division rivals. But early on, the Panthers went ahead 16-0 after a two-yard touchdown run by Newton. When Cam tried to do his dance, a Saints player got in his face. Instead of stopping, Newton taunted him even more and a multiplayer fight ensued in the end zone. And it wasn’t just other players who Newton rubbed the wrong way, as Newton became very known for ripping down signs from opposing fans at his home stadium. While Newton is an excellent football player and a gamer, he lets himself become too involved in the game at times.

Both quarterbacks were two of the most talked about players of the 2015 season for a variety of reasons, from the way they play down to their off-the-field behavior. When the Super Bowl came for both of these players, they, as quarterbacks, were easily the most-recognizable players on the field. And it remained that way after, even though both had very poor games. The much-hyped battle of the wily vet versus the up and comer came down to a defensive slugfest that neutralized both of the QB's offensive abilities. So when it came down to the end of the game, the major headlines was not how the game was played, but how these two players reacted to the outcome.

Newton's Super Bowl very much mirrored his season, playing up the confidence and swagger in the weeks leading up to the big game. But when the lights came on, his struggles in the game quickly soured his personality, as he was noticeably uncomfortable and at times upset through the entire game. As his incident with the Saints showed his ability to get lost in the game, the Super Bowl proved to be the same, but on a much bigger stage. He was notably crestfallen in his post-game conference, walking out early in the face of questions about his game and whether or not he fell apart during it. As much as people love Cam Newton's bravado when he is winning, that lack of modesty extends to the way he loses. At a time when Newton could have put to rest his image as a sore loser, he instead chose to add to it.

On the flip side of the coin, Peyton Manning emerged victorious for the second time in his career at the Super Bowl. It coincided with his 200th career win to put a stamp on his career and to solidify his legacy. With the good feeling of everyone around the country, Manning went into his post-game interview and decided to use the stage to do something very odd. When asked what he would do later that night after the win, he responded that he planned to spend it with his family and kick back with a couple of Budweisers. As I was sitting in my living room, I was honestly struck by the product placement, but I ended up thinking that possibly he meant to just say beer, but instead Budweiser came out. At least that's what I thought until he went up onto the trophy podium and once again said the same thing. While there is nothing wrong with using product placement for your own gain, it felt very off that someone as beloved as Peyton Manning would sell out on what is not only, and quite literally, the biggest stage in football, but also use the post-game on possibly the last game of his career to advertise a company that he has some shares in. Even though there was nothing harmful about what he did, it has stayed in my mind the past couple of weeks, bothering me and actually making me somewhat question Peyton's character.

The Super Bowl not only decides who is the best team in any given season, but it is also a platform for players to be seen by the entire country. That platform cannot only make someone's career, it also inspires people to view you in a different light. This is what happened with both Peyton Manning and Cam Newton. After looking like he survived the HGH scare and got the opportunity to finish his career on the field, Peyton Manning once again became the NFL's golden boy. But with his awkward choice of advertising and his recent involvement with a past allegation in a current Title IX lawsuit against the University of Tennessee, Peyton seems to have more questions to answer than whether or not he will suit up for another season. On the other end, Cam came away from the big game as someone who could walk the walk, but couldn't talk the talk. He showed that he clearly has the talent, but has a lot more growing up to do before he is ready to be on display for such a big audience again.