Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Hand Peyton Manning a hankie--but don't change the OT rule again for him



If there is anything worse than Peyton Manning whining about something—whether a receiver made his “cut” a step before he was “supposed” to as an explanation for why he threw that pick-6 that handed New Orleans a Super Bowl victory, or screaming at an offensive lineman who complained that Manning was wearing them down by passing on three consecutive plays from the one-yard line just to pad his stats, or denigrating teammates for not “keeping up” with his own inability to make up his mind about what play to call—is some blowhard commentator who actually agrees with him.

In this case it is radio show host Doug Gottlieb, who commiserated with Manning’s sob story about losing this past Sunday’s contest against Seattle based on a coin flip. It just not “fair.” Hey, Peyton—you were one who called “tails,” trying to outsmart the coin and the laws of gravity. How many times do kids with a sense of “privilege” say that every time something doesn’t go their way it is not “fair”—to them? Are not such people annoying as hell? 

I think that it should be first pointed out that the Denver Broncos had no business even having a chance to win that game. The Seattle defense dominated Manning and his offense for all but the final minute of regulation just as much as it did in last season’s Super Bowl. The only reason why Denver was allowed to make a “game” of it was because of Russell Wilson’s mistakes and the generally atrophy of Seattle’s offense for most of the game. I am sick and tired of hearing about how “great” Wilson is; in regard to his general ability, he reminds me more of Phil Simms—who also won a Super Bowl, was generally a steady, but by no means “great,” quarterback. He has been out of the league for many a year now, and he still hasn’t been seriously considered for Hall of Fame induction in spite of his name recognition as a broadcaster. I’m still convinced that “politics” has much to do with the view of Wilson and some other quarterbacks in this league, a few who have after a year of two of media fascination have started to fall into suspected irrelevancy. 

But that is off-subject. The overtime rule was changed not because of a glum Brett Favre sitting on the bench while the New Orleans Saints were handed two questionable third-down pass interference calls in the 2009 NFC Championship game against Minnesota, which allowed them to kick the game-winning field goal on the first possession of overtime, but because some people didn’t think it was “fair” that the year before, Peyton Manning had to sit and watch 5-6 Darren Sproles scamper 22 yards for the game-winner in OT in the first round of the playoffs. 

Why did we have to endure the whines of Manning and Indianapolis Colts apologists? Because the Colts were the “hot” team,  winning nine straight games to finish the season 12-4; but they were forced to play an 8-8 Chargers team that had just squeaked into the playoffs winning four straight in a weak division.  They didn’t “deserve” to even play, let alone win, despite the fact that the Colts didn’t play to “standard” and didn’t deserve to win themselves—just as they didn’t deserve to win against the Seahawks.

So now we have to change the rules again just to mollify the perpetually moaning Manning? Look, he might be a great regular season quarterback, at least insofar as the stat sheet is concerned; but in the playoff he is 11-12, and 1-2 in the Super Bowl (Favre has a13-11 playoff record). His passer rating in the playoffs is 8 points lower than his regular season rating (even Mark Sanchez has a higher playoff passer rating). And now he is making pouty noises (along with his apologists) that the league (again) has to change the overtime rule? Out of “fairness” to him personally?

I say Manning needs to find his own space where we don’t have to observe a grown man cry—and maybe he can persuade Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady to join him.

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