Or is it, I wish I were a Colts fan?
Anyway, if loyalty to a hometown team weren’t the overriding factor, Peyton Manning would be the favorite player of more fans than just about anyone else in the league. (Others in contention: Tom Brady, LaDainian Tomlinson and Chad Johnson. Yes, Chad Johnson.)
Manning knows what he’s doing out there. He’s THE guy. Reading defenses, calling his own plays at the line, getting in his O-linemen’s faces when they screw up because he just wants to win the f’ing game. That’s it.
A quick look at the progression of his numbers this season proves just how much this guy wants to win. Early in the season, he wasn’t delivering the 300-yard, 4-TD performances as regularly as he did last year. Manning even went two-straight games — against Jacksonville week two and Cleveland week three — without recording a single touchdown throw.
But the Colts won.
And now, heading into tonight’s match-up with Pittsburgh, Manning had tossed three TDs in each of his last three games, 18 in his last seven.
And the Colts keep winning.
Screw the stats. Manning doesn’t care if he’s handing the ball off to Edgerrin James 30 times a game or chucking it 40; just put more points on the board than the guys on the other side of the field. That’s all that matters.
Remember when Shaun Alexander, one yard shy of his first league rushing title, threw a tantrum last year because Mike Holmgren chose to throw at the goaline late in the game? If Manning sat one TD away from Marino last year on the final play of the regular season, Colts on the goaline needing to score to win, he’d call Edge’s number without hesitation if the defense gave him the run.
He knows he can throw 50 touchdowns every year if he wanted to, but he also knows he wouldn’t win as many games doing it. That’s gotta be the kind of guy you root for.
Whether you’re a Colts fan or, as in my unfortunate case, a Browns fan.
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Anyway, if loyalty to a hometown team weren’t the overriding factor, Peyton Manning would be the favorite player of more fans than just about anyone else in the league. (Others in contention: Tom Brady, LaDainian Tomlinson and Chad Johnson. Yes, Chad Johnson.)
Good piece – but how about giving props to the guy that is the most popular player around the league? (Brett Favre)
The Colts are fun to watch and look great. To beat them, a team will need to figure out a way to put pressure on Manning and stop Edge on the ground. Manning is not very mobile so harrassing him is an opponent’s best bet.
I actually almost listed Favre but decided against it because I’m not sure he’s as popular as he once was. Everyone loved Favre when he was taking chances and winning Super Bowls. Now he’s taking chances and the Packers are losing…and losing…and losing. It’s certainly not all his fault, but the shine has rubbed off Favre a bit in recent years.
Favre’s too old. He also throws way too many interceptions. Time to retire.
Glad to see the Colts pound the Steelers.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love Favre — I became a temporary Packers fan when A-hole Art stole my team because of Brett Favre. I just don’t think as many people are rooting for him as there once were because, every Monday morning, ESPN shows Favre tossing three picks and the Packers losing another game.
I still think, when it comes down to it, that Favre is more popular than Tom Brady, LT2 and Chad Johnson. People, especially non-Packer fans around the country, want to be associated with a winner and the Packers’ 2-9 record affects that.
Favre’s too old. He also throws way too many interceptions. Time to retire.
You’re obviously not watching many of the Packer games. If you were, you’d know that Favre is not the problem in GB. Keep in mind that the team lost two great guards in the offseason and lost their #1 and #3 WRs along with their top two RBs for the season to injury. Five of their nine losses were by a total of 12 points. I certainly hope he sticks around for another year, because when he’s got some weapons around him, he’s still a Top 5 QB in thls league. He’s just one year removed from a season where he threw for over 4000 yards and 30 TDs against 17 INTs.