I saw Manning's interview at the gym. Threw his D under the bus. Said that unlike the NBA, it's too bad that players (he and his cap hoging wideouts) can't play both ways. As if he could play D, the cap hoging prima.
OMG he's just sickening. Was he "Not trying to be a bad teammate but" this time too? :enranged:
POSTED 7:56 p.m. EST, December 25, 2006
MANNING SHOULD LOOK IN THE MIRROR, AGAIN
With the Colts defense suddenly unable to stop a wagon with rusty wheels from rolling uphill against a stiff breeze, quarterback Peyton Manning is pulling his old "I'm trying to be a good teammate here" routine by throwing a not-so-subtle barb at the side of the ball charged with keeping the opponents from gaining yards and scoring points.
After the Colts fell to the Steelers in the playoffs in January, Manning blamed "protection problems" for the relentless pass rush that disrupted his timing and limited his time.
After the Colts' loss on Sunday, in which a ball-control, clock-chewing approach by the Texans kept the Indy offense to six possessions and 45 total plays, Manning bemoaned the fact that not enough of the team approached the game with a postseason mindset.
"Maybe you have to be in this league and be in these playoff scenarios a couple of times to really understand," Manning said. "But I thought the veterans, we talked about playing with a sense of urgency, like we needed this game to get into the playoffs. That's how we prepared for it offensively.'' And although Bob Kravtiz of the Colts' P.R. department a/k/a the Indianapolis Star insists that Manning wasn't throwing the defense under the bus, the application of common sense and objectivity suggests otherwise.
As one league insider responded, "Here we go again. Perhaps it's [Manning] being a pig and not allowing enough cap space for any defensive players , or perhaps it's the great Bill Polian not building it correctly, [spending] all the cash on offense. Great job of planning, Bill."
The "pig" line is a reference to the fact that Manning hijacked the team a couple of years back on a cap-busting contract, which as a practical matter makes it harder to surround him with talent. Compounding matters are big-money deals given both to receiver Marvin Harrison and receiver Reggie Wayne.
Though the Colts have tried to spend a little money on the other side of the ball, "squander" might be the more appropriate term, given the cash that was handed to defensive tackle Corey Simon, who has been a huge disappointment.
The reality for the Colts? With the No. 3 seed, at best, becoming a serious reality, it likely will be another January without an AFC title -- especially since to get to Miami for the Super Bowl the Colts will have to win on the road at Baltimore or San Diego.
Or both.
We wonder who Manning will blame when 2006 becomes the latest NFL season to end in disappointment for him. If he's smart, he'll start with the large-headed mammal whose reflection he sees when brushing his teeth.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm