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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