If Peyton Manning is a wuss, he is in good company
"I'm not taking anything away from the Patriots defense," said Bedard. "They made Manning play the way they wanted to. But I'm putting it on Manning as 'one of the greats in the game,' you've got to be able to overcome that. We would've expected the same thing of Tom Brady in this game, and Manning just didn't rise to the occasion.
I thought that Manning wussed out."
Dictionary:
Jealousy - resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another's success or advantage itself. Mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry.
When Tom Brady throws an interception, it is because it was tipped by Danny Amendola. When Peyton Manning throws a pass into the corner of the end zone to TE Jacob Tamme, it is a poor QB decision. The Patriots under Tom Brady are 7-2. The Broncos are 7-0, and Peyton Manning is 0-2.
There are plenty of legends who didn't always get it done, but we overlook that fact because we only scrutinize Peyton Manning. According to Greg, he is a "weak or ineffectual person."
1. 1926 World Series ends in victory for St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 on a caught stealing by New York Yankees slugger, Babe Ruth. He is still "The Sultan of Swat."
2. 1965 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 - Boston Celtics center, Bill Russell hits guidewire on basketball support on inbounds play giving Philadelphia 76er's chance to win the series in final five seconds. Bill gets bailed out when "Havlicek steals the ball."
3. 1986 NBA Eastern Conference 1st round Game 2 - Michael Jordan scores 63 points in 135-131 loss(2OT) to Boston Celtics. Jordan had scored 59 points, but missed jumper at end of first overtime with game tied.
4. 1980 World Series Game 5 - Kansas City Royals 3B George Brett takes 2-2 fastball from Phillies Pitcher, Tug McGraw for called third strike with two men on base in ninth inning. Philadelphia wins Game 5 and 6 for world championship. Brett batted .390 for the season. That would be the NFL's equivalent of 70 TD passes.
5. 1979 NHL Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 - Montreal Canadiens netminder, Ken Dryden allows goal to Boston Bruins RW Rick Middleton with 3:01 remaining in third period giving Boston a 4-3 lead. Dryden is bailed out by too many men on the ice penalty to the Bruins. Montreal scores, and wins in overtime. Dryden retires after the season as the greatest goalie of all-time.
All of the above had shots at redemption. I am quite sure we haven't heard the last of Peyton Manning. Since 2003, with Peyton Manning at QB, his teams have a regular season record of 130-41. The playoff record in that same period is 11-9. As Bill Parcells would say, "get in the tournament and anything can happen."
I realize Greg Bedard watched the Patriots-Broncos on tape for his weekly assignment. That is eight hours of watching Peyton Manning. 34 completions in 57 attempts, 438 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions is not good enough.
I'd take that over caught stealing.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
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