Peyton Manning had surgery this week to alleviate a pinched nerve in his neck that had been bothering him on and off for the last four seasons. This procedure is likely to take care of the problem, and Manning is expected not to miss any offseason workouts and will be fine come the regular season. The question arises that with his neck feeling better, will it make him a more effective passer next season?…
While Manning will never admit if the injury hampered him in anyway, you still have to wonder. Knowing you have the injury, playing throught it has to have some effect on your passing ability. Manning has been a clutch regular season passer but has struggled in the playoffs including a costly interception in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl that sealed the fate for the Colts against the Saints. He played the whole Super Bowl tenatively and really took no downfield risks. He needed to let it all hang out and did not.
Manning is a gamer ala Brett Favre and has started 210 consecutive games second only to Favre. He will play through any injuries and maybe a healthy neck will make his play even better next season. Manning has a lot to play for next season. He will be out to avenge the Super Bowl loss to the Saints and his contract expires after the 2010 season. Manning will have no problem getting a contract extension from the Colts, but will have a lot more to bargain with if he shows he is totally healthy. He can now concentrate being a pain in the neck for his opponents next season instead of his own pain in the neck. I think Manning will be even better next season and will be out in earnest to get his second Super Bowl ring.
Brett Favre has thanked the fans of the Minnesota Vikings and has said that he has no regrets on playing for them last season. He has also indicated that he could not have enjoyed the season anymore than he did. He has the support of many of his fellow players and fans. But as usual, Brett Favre is not letting the cat out of the bag when it comes to playing for the Vikings for one more season. Why is he going down this road again?…
Brett Favre is not talking yet on coming back next year.
I think that if Favre truly believes in what he says, he should make his decision sooner than later. He has made a habit of being in limbo on this decision before and that is not fair to the fans or his teamates. He had one of his best sesons statistically and was as close as you could get in bringing the Vikings to the Super Bowl. I would think that he would want to redeem himself after the mistakes he made in the NFC championship game against the Saints including another costly interception in overtime that sealed the Vikings fate. Maybe it was the last choke we will see by Favre and maybe he doubts himself when it counts most.
Favre did sign a two year contract so that is another reason to make a decision fast. Live up to your word and your contract and make a decision. Don’t make people wait and create the drama the you clearly crave. While I personally think Favre should hang it up, I want him to step in the pocket and make a decision timely. Quit with the indecisiveness.
I have to wonder what Peyton Manning is really thinking a couple of days removed from his Super Bowl loss to the New Orleans Saints. Is he still in disbelief? Or is he wondering if he and his teammates have what it takes to win another Super Bowl? I know he is a extremely confident quarterback but some doubt has to had creeped in his mind on what more he can do to win the big game.
How sure of himself is Peyton Manning?
Manning does have one Super Bowl win. The win was primarily sparked by the return of Bob Sanders. Sanders took a strugglingdefensive squad and breathed life into them like I have never seen before. Sanders was the biggest defensive impact player there ever has been to a playoff run. Without Sanders, Manning is still without a ring.
With all the regular season winning, Manning should have more rings. He has played sub par in his playoff chances and has had some of the worse games of his playoff career against his rival the New England Patriots. He seemed to lose poise and get out of rhythm on offense that resulted in poor passes and decisions. This type of play came to attrition Sunday night. The Colts jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead but failed to go for the kill. They played way too conservative and let the underdog Saints get confidence and back in the game. Manning seemed unsure of himself and did not want to throw the ball down field. This played into the Saints hands. He had a chance to tie the game late but threw a interception that resulted in a Saints touchdown and sealed the Colts fate. He seemed to have happy feet and was not sure of himself in the final drive. A great quarterback gets the job done at crunch time. One of the most proficient passers the game has ever seen was dumping the ball within a 10-12 yard range. It is the Super Bowl. Let it all hang out.
Manning is a very cerebral man so he will put this loss in perspective. But it is human to doubt yourself. Manning will have a very long season to think about it. Will he ever get back to the promise land and did he do everything in his power to get the Colts a Super bowl title. In his mind, how will he be rated in the annals of the greatest quarterbacks?
Super Bowl Sunday is finally here and it is now time to analyze the game to determine who will come out on top. Both teams have a plethora of offensive weapons at the disposal of their outstanding quarterbacks. But it will come down to which defense steps up to get stops and turnovers that will determine who walks away with the victory in Super Bowl XLIV.
Peyton Manning will not be denied his second Super Bowl title.
The Colts rushing game has been less than spectacular on the ground this season. Perhaps Joseph Addai is saving his biggest game for the biggest stage. He has been inept a lot of the time this year but does have the talent to have a break through game at anytime.
The Colts have the passing weapons to compensate for the lack of a rushing game. Peyton Manning has four targets to chose from. Reggie Wayne is the stud who makes Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie much better receivers by forcing double teaming situations.
One on one coverage is just what the Colts want to see from the Saints defense.
Throw in a very versatile and talented tight end in Dallas Clark, and you have a passing game that will keep you guessing on who the ball is going to. Manning will use them all throughout the game and the Saints defense will be on their heels all night long.
The Colts defense has been steady all year long. They have depth and speed. They are small in size but are ball hawking and can disrupt an offense. They do have a major question on the injury front to their star pass rusher Dwight Freeney. He has been hobbled with an ankle injury and his effectiveness will be questionable at best on Sunday. The Saints do have a high powered offense, so the Colts defense will have to use that depth and speed to make up for it. They will need stops to get the ball back to Peyton Manning and the offense.
The Saints also have a diversified offense that has a number of weapons. They have been enjoying the resurgence of Reggie Bush in the postseason. Bush has been making big plays both on offense and special teams. That is the dual threat that the Saints were hoping for when they drafted him as the #2 overall pick. He is complemented in the backfield by Pierre Thomas who has fit in well when asked to catch or carry the ball.
Their receiving core is lead by Marques Colston who is their homerun threat. Colston takes pressure off Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson, opening up lanes for them to freely run their routes. He plays a role much like Wayne does for the Colts. If you pay too much attention to him, his fellow teammates will make you pay for it. Drew Brees does have the talent to light up the scoreboard which is why the Colts defense needs stops.
The Saints defense is opportunistic and looks for the turnover at all times. They will need to try to confuse Manning and come up with stops and turnovers to get the victory today. They did it to perfection against the Vikings in the NFC Championship game, coming up with five takeaways. Without those turnovers, they would not be playing today.
The defense will be scheming under their defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The game plan will be to come at all angles hoping to confuse Manning and force him into mistakes. This will be the key to a Saints victory. They must bend but not break as they have all year long. We will see if they can stop Manning and company.
Bend or Break.
After analyzing all this, my prediction is the Colts. The Saints defense will not be up to the task of stopping Manning. Manning will be too determined and figure out the schemes that will be coming at him. He is a master of calling the audible and the Saints defense just doesn’t have the talent to deal with this. He will use his receivers well and keep Brees and the Saints offense off the field. He will act like a type of defense therefore taking pressure off his own defense.
Manning just won’t be denied his second Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP trophy.
Gregg Williams will have to have his defense come up big on Super Bowl Sunday.
I think the Saints chances of winning the Super Bowl primarily rest on the shoulders of their defense. While Drew Brees and company will be a factor, the defense must come up with both stops and turnovers to get the victory over the favored Colts and Peyton Manning…
The Saints defense has been opportunistic all year long with the turnover. They have had a knack for coming up with the big play when needed and it resulted on them winning a whole bunch of games. I would consider the a bend but don’t break type of defense.You do not have to look too far to see what I mean. They took full advantage of the miscues by Bret Favre and the Vikings in the NFC Championship game. They converted five turnovers into a trip to the Super Bowl.They are going to need this kind of fortune to take out the Indianapolis Colts tomorrow night. The defense must come up big.
The Saints will use a gambling type of defense to try to confuse Manning and make him make bad hurried decisions. They will try to come at him at all angles and keep him guessing on where people are going to come from on the field. Manning will need to figure out and make adjustments on the run. If the Saints do not guess right, Manning will make them pay. This defense must pull this off or else there will be no celebration in the “Big Easy.” It will be a gamble, The Saints will hope to win the gamble.
The offense on the other hand will need to use ball control to move the chains and keep Manning and company off the field. Drew Brees will have to stay away form his own mistakes and keep his offense on the field. The Colts are banged up on defense and their premiere pass rusher Dwight Freeney is probable so the Saints can take advantage of this with proper management on offense. This will help them to victory but will need more from the defense to pull off the upset. Brees will have his shot to outshine the Hall Of Famer Manning.
A lot of people think the Saints are a “team of Destiny.” While they well could be, their destiny relies in the play or lack of play of their defense.
It is time to talk about what will it take for the Indianapolis Colts to win the Super Bowl. A closer look reveals that it will start and end with their superstar quarterback Peyton Manning…
Manning's Mangement will be the key for the Colts to win the Super Bowl.
It will all come down to proper management by the field general, and he knows what it takes to win the Super Bowl. The Saints will take gambles on defense and when those gambles fail, the cerebral Manning will make them pay dearly. Turnovers are the bread and butter for the Saints defense, and Manning will advert them with his reads and audibles when he comes to the line of scrimmage.
The Colts will try to establish the run with runningbacks Joseph Addai and Donald Brown. If they can run the ball, their passing game will be that more effective. The Colts have not been that effective rushing, so it will remain to be seen how long they will stick to this game plan if not effective.The Colts and Manning are good enough to overcome this because of the diversity they have on the receiving core. Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon and Dallas Clark can all beat you down field. These number of options will keep the Saints defense guessing on defense on which player will be the focus on any giving play. This is where Manning will eat you up alive.That is too many options for the Saint’s defense to cover all over the field.
As far as the Colts on defense themselves, they are banged up . Their primary pass rusher on defense Dwight Freeney has a hurt ankle. This could hinder the ,defense but they have enough speed and depth to overcome it. This is why it tis more vital for Manning to keep the chains moving on offense and keep Drew Brees and the Saints offense off the field. Proper management will be vital.
As long as Manning takes advantage of these opportunities, the Colts will be in great shape for the victory. In my opinion, he will have a ample amount of chances to exploit the Saint’s defense. The Saints came up big against the Vikings and Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game which is why they won the game.Relying on turnovers is a tough and hard way to win a football game. Peyton Manning is a different animal and will not make the same mistakes as the 40 year Favre did. Manning will use the football filed like he is playing chess, and it will be check mate for he Saints defense. I am not going to say that it will easy, but Manning will be up to the task. It could be a very long day for the Saint’s defense because of Manning Management.
Peyton Manning handled the numerous questions on media day much like he handled defenses all this year, masterfully with confidence. He talked as if he belonged there, and the infectious way in which he handled himself will be invaluable to his fellow teamates. Manning realizes the small window of opportunity he has to win another Super Bowl and will be focused on the ultimate prize in the NFL. He is a general on and off the field.
Manning is proud to be a Indianapolis Colt and knows he represents all the greats that came before him.
Manning will be looking for Super Bowl Ring #2
He can join the likes of legend Johnny Unitas if he can pull off Super Bowl #2. He embodies the difference between a cocky and confident quarterback. Manning has his playing do his talking and not his mouth. I love to see him make the adjustments at the line of scrimmage and make that great completion after the audible. He is as a cerebral quarterback as you get and that makes him truly masterful.
The Saints defense will have their hands full all night long.Manning’s ability to read the defense in front of him will keep them on their heels. A defense on their heels does not have the stability to stop Peyton and company. The Saints will have to take gambles for turnovers and those gambles could turn into big plays for the Colt’s offense. They will be at the mercy of the “Masterful Manning”.
Manning knows a win Sunday will supplant his name in Colts and NFL history. He realizes what is on the line and will nothing short of masterful. I do not envy the Saint’s defense, and Manning will be ready to sling the pigskin all night long. I t could be a very long night for them in South Florida.
The Indianapolis Colts are a little banged up right now about one week away form the Super Bowl. Starting Defensive End and major impact on defense, Dwight Freeney, missed his third straight practice on Friday with a sprained right ankle he suffered in last weeks AFC Championship victory over the New York Jets.
How effective will Dwight Freeneybe in the Super Bowl?
Along with Freeney, starting cornerback Jerraud Powers also missed a third straight practice Friday with a injured left foot. Both players are listed as questionable for next week, and the Colts remain hopeful that both players can step up and play on the biggest stage in sports today.
The impact of both of these players either not playing at all or playing with the injuries remains to be seen against the high powered Saints offense lead by Drew Brees.
Freeney is a pass rusher that relies on his speed to overcome any blocking and get to the quarterback. He can disrupt any offensive game plan, and his impact cannot be measured when he is on the field. He makes all the other defensive linemen around him much better, and the Colts would miss him terribly.
When he is double teamed, the additional attention frees up his fellow teamates which makes them more effective during the game. He is the Colts’ major impact player on defense.
With Freeney expected not to be at 100%, the Power injury could be more significant. Freeney also has a impact on his teammates that play behind him. Powers did miss the AFC Championship game, but Freeney was there to put the pressure on Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez therefore taking pressure off of the Colts defensive backs. Powers will need to be in the lineup Sunday with a hobbled and limited Freeney to defend against a pass happy quarterback like Drew Brees.
It remains to be seen on how effective Freeney can be next Sunday. One thing is for sure, his impact or lack of impact will be felt by the Indianapolis Colts.
One of the many reasons I have a passion for sports is the power and impact it can have on a city. Winning a title in sports can lift up and bring a city to come together in celebration. There is no measure on the power of winning in sports. If the Saints can win one more game, this power would be put on display like never before in the city of New Orleans.
Can Drew Brees lead the city of New Orleans to a Super Bowl title?
The Saints have been perennial losers in the NFL for as long as I can remember. This is their glory time as they have been in existence for 43 years and have had very little to celebrate. You will always have a soft spot in your heart for a city and fans of a team who have suffered losing like the Saints have.
Beside all the losing the Saints have endured, everyone remembers the devastation form hurricane Katrina. This devastation will never be forgotten and is still felt to this day in New Orleans.
I went to Mardi Gras just before Karina hit and remember all the jubilation that surrounded this city. A Super Bowl will not let people forget Katrina, but it would lift this city more than words can say. The Saints would be considered winners, and a win would ease the pain of losing years and devastation.
In a ironic twist of fate, it will be Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts on the other side of the field trying to stand in the way of this title. Peyton is the son of Archie Manning. Archie was a great quarterback who played on some of the worst Saints teams that I saw growing up as a kid watching the NFL. While I know Archie will be rooting for his son, I know he has a soft spot in his heart for New Orleans. Archie got beat up physically and mentally during these years.
The people of New Orleans deserve this title and need it. I would love to see it happen . Mardi Gras would start early if the Saints win and Bourbon street could not contain the number of people that would join in the celebration. The Saints should be proud of their accomplishment this year even if they lose, but I do not think we could measure what a Super Bowl title would mean to this city. That is the power of sports.
Adding to the misery of the Minnesota Vikings fans after their devastating loss in the NFC Championship is whether their starting quarterback Brett Favre will be back next season. The question arises on whether he should return or retire.
Favre Ponders Retirement Again
Favre is coming off of one of his best statistical seasons of his career. He passed for 4202 yards with 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also completed a impressive 68.4 of s passes. He led the Vikings to a 12-4 record , good enough to win the NFC North division.
Minnesota then defeated Dallas 34-3 in the division round of the playoffs in which Favre threw a career best four touchdown passes. He had the Vikings on the brink of the Super Bowl in New Orleans, when he made another poor decision that sealed their fate.
Most of the Minnesota players want him back next year. That is definitely in his favor for a return.
The poor decision in question is his third down pass that was intercepted when he had the Vikings in field gaol range at the end of regulation in the NFC Championship game. Instead of running, passing to a receiver in front of him, he threw cross field and got picked off.
This is what you get from a gunslinger like Favre.
He tries to force things when they are not there. While sometimes they pay off, this time it blew up in his face when it counted the most. Favre did the same thing a couple of years ago in Green Bay against the New York Giants. He again tried to force a pass, when there were other open receivers ,and it ended up with another interception. The Packers lost, and the Giants became Super Bowl Champions.
This seems to becoming a habit for #4.
I think that the rigors of the NFL season leaves Favre with nothing left at the end of the season both physically and mentally. This takes a toll on Favre and must effect his play deep in the playoffs. I would suggest that he hand the reigns to a younger quarterback. Favre does not have what it takes to to lead his team to the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl title. He should hang up the #4.
