Hmmmm, where do I start?
Do I start with naming the countless records he holds? Or do I start with by highlighting his career with the Indianapolis Colts then proceed to his career with the Denver Broncos? Or do I start with the way he revolutionized the game of football?
Or do I just start with what today means to me?
I think that is a good place to start. Continue reading “My ‘Untitled’ Peyton Manning Piece”
A few months ago, right after Peyton was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, I started a blog post. The topic was going to be about how we may have just seen one of the greatest, Peyton Manning, take his last snap behind center. I couldn’t do it though. I couldn’t bring myself to write the blog because I knew if anyone could dig deep and get back on that field, it was Peyton Williams Manning.
Look who was right :-). All I heard all was week was Peyton can’t beat Brady. Peyton can’t throw. Peyton has no chance. Wonk wonk wonk. “That’s why you don’t listen to they. They don’t play.” Ain’t that right, D. Wade? At 39 years young, Peyton is headed back to the Super Bowl and his opponent is my beloved Carolina Panthers. Yes, I had a great Sunday! Continue reading “Super Bowl 50 is set…..My Panthers vs. My Peyton”
OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!
I can hardly contain my excitement. The day I have waited for since February has finally arrived.
Since I am a writer and I love sports, I know you all are expecting me to issue some predictions. I have said over and over that I hate doing predictions. They hinge on so many things: who stays healthy, who performs the way that they should, which coach best utilizes its players, yada, yada, yada. However, without predictions, it would not give journalists much to talk about, huh?
So you are expecting a Super Bowl prediction. Oh boy. Can I pick two teams? Sure I can. It is my blog. I fully expect Denver to be in the Super Bowl again. Aaaaaaaand I expect their opponent to be an NFC team. Haha. Ok, for real because I do not think Seattle will repeat, I am going to go with New Orleans. Denver will win and Peyton can ride off into the sunset like Ray Ray.
I would have loved to have picked my beloved 49ers. Sadly, I think I window of opportunity may have closed. I do not even want to get into it. Even with the departures, suspensions and distractions, I still think we have tremendous talent and players in place to win it all. The question is, can they gel together to get it done? Only time will tell. I hope my prediction is wrong!
I think my beloved Panthers will be solid again this year but I do not expect them to have the same success as last year. I honestly cannot even tell you why. Just a gut feeling. I hope my prediction is wrong!
So here we go, my predictions for the week…
Seattle over GB
NO over ATL
STL over Minnesota
Cleveland over Pittsburgh
Philly over Jax
Jets over Oakland
Cincy over Baltimore
Buffalo over Chicago
Wash over Houston
KC over Tenn
NE over Miami
Panthers over Bucs
9ers over Dallas
Denver over Indy
Detroit over NYG
SD over AZ
We shall see what happens.
Enjoy the first weekend of the NFL!!!
As if anyone saw that coming.
Total domination. From start to finish. Despite what my beloved Peyton Manning says, that was indeed embarassing.
We all knew Seattle’s defense had the potential to cause some problems and disrupt the Broncos flow but what I saw last night went beyond anything I could have comprehended. If you would have told me at the beginning of the game, even after the ball was snapped over Manning’s head, even after Seattle went up 5-0, that Seattle would win 43-8, I would have laughed. Hard. If you would have told me that after Percy Harvin returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, I would have left. I never thought I would see a Peyton Manning led team give up so easily. I give all credit to Seattle for their win. Their game plan exploited every weakness the Broncos have. From start to finish.
While the Pacific Northwest celebrates its first championship in a major sport, the rest of the sports world is left to sort out the details of “Manning’s Legacy.” I could go on all day spitting out numbers that solidify why he is still one of the greatest to ever line up behind center. However, there are only two stats people care about…11-12 in the playoffs, 1-2 in Super Bowls. Unfortunately, many will judge him on those numbers alone. They have every right to. The numbers are not astounding and you can argue that he cannot win the big game. However, I have always been a firm believer in football is a team sport. The quarterback just happens to be the face of the franchise. Therefore, he shoulders a lot of the blame. For years I have said if a QB’s greatness solely lies in how many rings he wins then Marino and Manning cannot enter into the conversation. They would be replaced by Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman. Are there really people out there who can honestly say they would choose Bradshaw to lead their team over Manning?
To me, a QB is only as strong as its weakest link. No matter how great your QB is, if you run up a team that can exploit your team weaknesses then you are doomed. All year, the Broncos defense has been their achilles heel. They finished 19th in the league. However, when you have an offense that is putting up numbers the way theirs did, your defense is often overlooked. All year, the offensive line for the Broncos had been challenged, very little. Statistically, Houston was the best defense they had faced all year and they are not even in the same room with Seattle’s defense. Recipe for disaster for the Broncos. They could not adjust. Their timing was off. The o-line collapsed on almost every play which left Manning hardly enough time to set his feet to throw the ball. It was just all around bad ball for a good football team.
Things happen. This team gave up long before the clock read 0:00. Things happen. To me, this does not diminish Manning’s legacy. Yes, he made some mistakes but he is not the reason they lost. You can say I am making excuses all you want and that still will not change my stance. I still think Manning is the best in the league and one of the greatest ever. Quote me on that.
CONGRATULATIONS to the WOLFPACK’S OWN Russell Wilson, J.R. Sweezy & Steven Hauschka!!!! You make us proud!!!!
You all know how much I loooooooooooove Peyton Williams Manning. You all know how much I loooooooooooove Russell Carrington Wilson. So the question becomes, which QB am I pulling for in the Super Bowl???
Now the answer you all have been waiting for……
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Yep. I am pulling for #18. I actually made the decision BEFORE the NFC Championship Game. As a loyal Faithful, it is impossible for me to cheer for the Seattle Seahawks, as a whole, to achieve such a major accomplishment. My Gold Blood just will not allow it. That is what happens when a rivalry gets very real. Everything shifts. I fully expect #18 to carve up one of the best defenses in the league. He may not hang 30 on them but I am looking for him to pass for at least 300. It is what he does. And then when he wins all the talking heads can finally stop talking about how he cannot get it done in the postseason. Who am I kidding?? The talking heads will still find something to yap about. Now if the Seahawks happen to pull off the upset, then I will definitely be happy for Russell as well as J.R. Sweezy and Steven Hauschka(WOLFPACK!!!) Shoutout to Nate Irving(WOLFPACK!) who plays for the Broncos. Only one school, Tennessee, has more players playing in the Super Bowl than we do.
Looking forward to a great game!! PEYTON BOUT TO PUT IN WORK!! HEEEEEEEEY!! PEYTON BOUT TO PUT IN WORK!! HEEEEEEY!!
Without a doubt, the most anticipated football matchup this week is the Denver Broncos vs. the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning vs. his old team. Peyton Manning vs. his “replacement” Andrew Luck.
As if this matchup was not already hyped up enough, Colts owner Jim Irsay decided to add fuel & kerosene to an already smoking fire this week by making one of the most ridiculous statements I have heard in a while…..”(Tom) Brady never had consistent numbers, but he has three of these (championship rings,” Irsay told USA Today. “Pittsburgh had two, the Giants had two, Baltimore had two and we had one. That leaves you frustrated. You make the playoffs 11 times, and you’re out in the first round seven out of 11 times. You love to have the Star Wars numbers from Peyton and Marvin (Harrison) and Reggie (Wayne). Mostly, you love this (referring to his Super Bowl ring).
Hol lup, did he REALLY just say that? Now most of you already know how I am when it comes to #18. Rarely do I have to defend him because no one ever has anything really bad to say about him. The only knock on him has been that in the postseason he has “choked” many times. That, in my opinion, is just that, an opinion. Yes, there were times where something #18 did cost them a chance to score. There were times when he did not put up the numbers that we were used to seeing. There were times where he just simply had bad games. Hey, it happens. He is human. Remind me again how many rings Dan Marino won?
We all know this one fact: no one has done more for the Indianapolis Colts franchise than Peyton Manning. And he deserves more respect than what he is getting right now from his former boss. To me, Irsay sounds bitter. Sounds like he is not confident in his decision to release #18. I honestly do not blame him for not being confident. Unless you have been up under a rock, you know that #18 is having his best season ever. That says a lot because we are talking about a four time MVP here. The fact that a lot of times when the Colts are brought into the conversation it is because of what #18 is doing in Denver has got to be eating Irsay up.
Of course Irsay will claim he is not bitter. If that is the case then there was no need to make this ridiculous statement two years after the fact. If you felt that way then you should have said something back then. Or how about just keeping your mouth shut. Everything that is thought does not need to be said. And when Tony Dungy starts inserting himself into the mix, to essentially defend #18, then you have a real issue on your hands because Dungy NEVER shares details of private conversations. Just when I thought things could not get even more interesting…
To say I am ready for Sunday’s showdown, Pony vs. Pony, would be an understatement. I hope #18 torches the Colts. I am talking record number torch. It would be the best thank you gift he could provide Irsay with.
After last night’s/this morning’s game, I bet no wonder is wondering why I chose the Denver Broncos to represent the AFC in the Superbowl. Two words: PEYTON MANNING. Unless you have been living under a rock then you know Manning is my absolute favorite player. I have been a fan of his since his days at the University of Tennessee. Other than watching my 9ers or Panthers play, there is no one I would rather watch on opening night than #18. The man is a legend and he did what legends do, they deliver.
Any questions people still had about Manning’s arm were put to rest tonight. The stats read 462 passing yards and seven, yes SEVEN, touchdowns . Talk about making a statement. The precision in which Manning carves up defenses is a thing of beauty. I could go on and on but I will not. I will save some for the rest of the season.
P.S. This is the first year I did not get to draft Manning as my fantasy league QB. Someone had the nerve to draft him before me, IN MY LEAGUE. Do not get me started.
P.S.2. Make sure you check out my game’s of the week….49ers vs. Packers and Panthers vs Seahawks,
Until next time…TOODELLS!!!
Kassie Nette's Korner 