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Manning throws away shot at history
Source: Agencies |
February 9, 2010, Tuesday
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PEYTON Manning spent the whole season building toward a Super Bowl crown, a win that certainly would put him among the greatest quarterbacks in National Football League history.
And then he threw it all away.
Blocked out of the play, Manning could only watch as Tracy Porter returned an interception for a clinching, 74-yard touchdown in the final minutes on Sunday that gave the New Orleans Saints a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Miami.
"It's certainly disappointing. Very disappointed," he said.
It was a startling end to a Super Bowl that seemed destined to wind up in Manning's strong right hand. It was the lone turnover of a back-and-forth thriller - who in the world would have thought the big mistake could be made by Manning?
Yet there he was, sitting on the grass after brawny Saints defensive end Will Smith knocked him down as he tried to make a tackle. Manning took a glance over his shoulder to watch Porter's romp to the end zone, unbuckled his chin strap, stood up and simply walked toward the bench.
"We probably never got into a great rhythm. We were certainly worse in lapses in our final possession," Manning said.
All week, this was the story line in Miami: Could Manning, a New Orleans boy through and through, deny the Saints in a game they desperately wanted to win for their city? Turned out he helped his hometown team win its first Super Bowl - only not in the way he imagined.
Dad Archie Manning, the longtime star Saints quarterback, got caught smack in the middle.
"I was pulling for the Colts. I'm not quite over that, but I'm happy for New Orleans," he said.
"I don't know if I'm going to celebrate or not. Maybe later, when the city does, but I'm not in a celebrating mood. Glad to see everybody else in New Orleans celebrate."
Until Porter cut in front of receiver Reggie Wayne on the left, Manning seemed to be in charge.
The four-time MVP did his dance at the line of scrimmage, putting his teammates in position, and zipped pass completions all over the Dolphin Stadium field.
Manning had been MVP of the Colts' victory in the Super Bowl on the very same field three years ago, and was a good bet to win it once more. Instead, the night finished the same way his final college game at Tennessee ended - a bruising loss to Nebraska, also on this field.
And then he threw it all away.
Blocked out of the play, Manning could only watch as Tracy Porter returned an interception for a clinching, 74-yard touchdown in the final minutes on Sunday that gave the New Orleans Saints a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Miami.
"It's certainly disappointing. Very disappointed," he said.
It was a startling end to a Super Bowl that seemed destined to wind up in Manning's strong right hand. It was the lone turnover of a back-and-forth thriller - who in the world would have thought the big mistake could be made by Manning?
Yet there he was, sitting on the grass after brawny Saints defensive end Will Smith knocked him down as he tried to make a tackle. Manning took a glance over his shoulder to watch Porter's romp to the end zone, unbuckled his chin strap, stood up and simply walked toward the bench.
"We probably never got into a great rhythm. We were certainly worse in lapses in our final possession," Manning said.
All week, this was the story line in Miami: Could Manning, a New Orleans boy through and through, deny the Saints in a game they desperately wanted to win for their city? Turned out he helped his hometown team win its first Super Bowl - only not in the way he imagined.
Dad Archie Manning, the longtime star Saints quarterback, got caught smack in the middle.
"I was pulling for the Colts. I'm not quite over that, but I'm happy for New Orleans," he said.
"I don't know if I'm going to celebrate or not. Maybe later, when the city does, but I'm not in a celebrating mood. Glad to see everybody else in New Orleans celebrate."
Until Porter cut in front of receiver Reggie Wayne on the left, Manning seemed to be in charge.
The four-time MVP did his dance at the line of scrimmage, putting his teammates in position, and zipped pass completions all over the Dolphin Stadium field.
Manning had been MVP of the Colts' victory in the Super Bowl on the very same field three years ago, and was a good bet to win it once more. Instead, the night finished the same way his final college game at Tennessee ended - a bruising loss to Nebraska, also on this field.
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