First of all, sorry for not blogging as often as usual. Let’s say sinus infections are the pits. However, I am back, so here we go.

Yesterday was a very,VERY busy news day in the sports world. Here in the state of Kentucky where I live, in the city of Louisville, the Kentucky Derby organizers had the Derby Post Position Draw where the connections of all the horses find out which post position their horse will break from in Saturday’s Run for the Roses. In New York City, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell handed down four huge suspensions related to the Saints’ “Bountygate.”

Four players were suspended: Saints LB Jonathan Vilma was gone for the entire season, Packers DE Anthony Hardgrove is gone for eight games, Browns LB Scott Fujita is gone for three games, and Will Smith, DE for the Saints, is gone for four games. However, those stories are separate blogs for now, even though one can tie the suspensions to the subject of my blog: The huge news that was the most shocking and saddest of all that happened today was the suspected suicide of 20 year LB veteran Junior Seau, most famous for his years with the San Diego Chargers.

It was rather startling to hear that a man, described by his former teammates as “full of life” would take his life. Junior Seau was born on January 19, 1969 in San Diego. He was born Tiania Baul Seau, Jr. His family were American Samoan and they moved there for a time, but eventually moved back to San Diego, and Junior would speak English only from age seven. He would letter at football, track and field, and basketball at Oceanside High School. At the University of Southern California, he had to sit out his freshman year of eligibility because his score of 690 was ten points lower than the school’s requirements. In his sophomore and junior seasons, Seau, wearing the famed number 55 (other USC alumni who would wear the number 55 as LBs were such names as Jack Del Rio, Willie McGuinest, and Keith Rivers) , he would letter, and in 1989, his final year of eligibility, he would post 19 sacks, and would be voted to a first team All American.

As a professional, after being drafted in 1990 by the San Diego Chargers in the First Rounds, fifth overall, Seau would go on to have what many feel would be a Hall of Fame Career. He and sure fire Hall of Famer, Ray Lewis (LB for the Baltimore Ravens) are tied with the most Pro Bowls with twelve. Seau is a ten time All Pro. Seau is a two time AFC Champion, one in 1994 with the San Diego Chargers, and the other in 2007 with the New England Patriots. Seau played 12 years with the Chargers, 4 with the New England Patriots, and 3 with the Miami Dolphins. On the field, he was known for his ferocious play. He was a better man off the field. Teammates talked about his charity work, and how he always would give back to the community.

One thing I picked up right away from reading tweets, and listening to , and watching the coverage was that, and this is just my opinion, but it appeared to me that Junior Seau did not seem to be prepared for life after football, or if he was, he couldn’t. I don’t pretend to know what was going on. I have had the pleasure of seeing Seau play when he was with the Patriots in 2007, during that dramatic season. He was an awesome player on the field. No doubt. God, had things been different that February day in 2008. IF only Tom Brady not been suffering from a high ankle sprain that day. IF only then Patriots CB Asante Samuel held on to that sure fire interception in the last 2:30 in the fourth quarter. If only that referee had blown Eli Manning “in the grasp” sooner.

If only Rodney Harrison had help by Asante Samuel (a couple of yards away), perhaps David Tyree would not have made that catch. God, if ONLY ANY of these scenarios had come true, I could erase that image of Junior Seau’s look of horror out of my mind. I want to emphasize that I am NOT blaming the SB loss for his death now, but, I am just just saying…..Seau was 2:35 minutes away from FINALLY being a champion, only to see it vanish before his very eyes had to have been a horrible feeling. As a FAN, I did not feel so badly for several of the team as many of them had rings, but I felt HORRIBLE for Seau. Of anyone on that team, that man deserved it.

I am sure in the coming weeks and months as Seau reportedly shot himself in the chest to preserve the brain, we will find out the details behind the reported suicide. However, I think fans should just pray, and /or send good thoughts to the Seau family. Judging and such is not going to help. Seau evidently , from the looks of things, was in some sort of deep depression. Why he took his life, I have no idea. I just am so heartsick every time I see the video of his mom crying out. I can’t imagine the pain that family is going through. As a fan, I am just very sad. Maybe if Seau’s brain is used for research, some good can come out of this, but I am grieving for a man who left us too soon.

I don’t usually get personal, but as someone who suffers from severe depression, and is fortunate to be able to have access to help: If you feel down, and hopeless, and depressed. Please get help. Talk to someone, anyone. Talk to your friend, neighbor, and let THEM help you get the help you need. Don’t suffer in silence.

Terri Bey currently blogs for CamelClutchBlog.com about Wrestling, NFL, and other sports/pop culture related subjects. Her work has appeared in BleacherReport and for F4WOnline.com. Terri can be found here at Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/TerriBey and at Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/missedgehead

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Peyton Manning is about to become one of the most coveted free agents in NFL history. The Indianapolis Colt looks like he will be available to 32 teams this season. So like most of my fellow bloggers, I decided to take a stab at the most possible destinations for Manning.

One thing that I think is lost on everyone in this Peyton Manning fantasy G.M. talk is Peyton Manning. Peyton and the Colts will part ways officially today. Manning will then become a free agent. In other words, he has just as much say as in who he will sign with as the teams that seek his services. That is huge!

The reason I point this out is because let’s face it, a lot of teams could use Peyton Manning. However, with so many options, he can be as picky as he wants to be. So why would Manning want to go to an organization with instability, a lack of draft picks, and little talent on offense? He wouldn’t, which is why I think these rumors about Peyton to the New York Jets are ridiculous. Between playing in New York, playing for a team with a bad locker room, and playing for a head coach who as big of a talker as Rex Ryan (see Manning’s past coaches) is, there is no way Peyton would sign with the Jets.

So what I wanted to do is take a look at ten teams, five from each conference, that not only have a need for Peyton, but would be equally desirable for Manning. It is my prediction that if Manning becomes a free agent, one of these teams will snatch him up. So let’s get out of this Peyton to the Jets fantasy and start looking at some real situations that could blow some minds come free agency time.

The AFC Peyton Bowl Contenders

Baltimore Ravens - How ironic would it be to see the former Colt play for the team in Baltimore? It would actually be quite fitting in a historic sense. But the reality is that the Ravens are the leading contender in my opinion to land Peyton. Joe Flacco isn’t bad, but he is nowhere close to Manning’s level. This is a team that has been incredibly close in recent years to reaching the Super Bowl, yet a play or two away from actually returning to the big dance. Peyton would be that difference maker. Plus, the contract situation for the Ravens couldn’t be better with Flacco coming up on the last year of his contract. The Ravens could keep Flacco and allow Peyton time to recover or trade him for picks. The organization is stable, the weapons are there on offense and for a team as close as the Ravens have been, the gamble makes perfect sense.

Denver Broncos - Throw this team in as a major contender while you are at it. Tim Tebow is fun, but he is no Peyton Manning. This is a team run by one of the greatest QBs of all-time, John Elway. How badly do you think Elway would want to see Peyton Manning as a Bronco? I think pretty badly. The stability is there, he’d have a great offensive line, and he’d have an exciting wide receiving corps to boot. I can’t remember the last time the Broncos spent big money on a free agent, but Peyton Manning is a different animal altogether.

Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins certainly haven’t had any lucky drafting a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino, so why not go for the sure thing? The stability could be in question with a new head coach, but Peyton would have an instant franchise wide receiver to throw to, as well as one of the most underrated up-and-coming defenses in the division. Financially I don’t know if the move would make sense for the Dolphins, but you’d certainly have to put them into consideration.

Kansas City Chiefs - They brought a Hall of Fame NFL QB in once at the end of his career, why not twice? The stability here is certainly a question but a healthy Peyton Manning could have a field day with the weapons he’d have with the Chiefs. I think Peyton really enjoys playing in a place like Indianapolis because it isn’t as high profile as a New York or even Miami team. Kansas City would allow him a similar lifestyle, a franchise full of great tradition, and a very beatable division. Unfortunately Cassel’s ridiculous contract makes this a lot less likely to happen than it should be.

Houston Texans - The Texans would certainly be a surprise suitor for Manning but is it really that far-fetched? There is a lot of talent here and while Matt Schaub is a pretty good QB, he hasn’t been able to get the job done. Schaub is entering his contract year so they could trade him, cut him, or keep him and allow Manning to continue rehabbing to make this work. Remember how much Brett Favre wanted to come back and beat the Green Bay Packers? The idea of playing for an immediate contender in the Colts division would have to be appealing to Peyton. It’s a dome, the organization appears relatively stable, and he knows the division. Don’t count these guys out.

The NFC Peyton Bowl Contenders

Philadelphia Eagles - Yes, I list the Eagles as the top team in the NFC to land Peyton. This is obviously a team not afraid to spend in free agency. The Michael Vick contract is tricky but you can’t tell me that the Eagles wouldn’t find someone that would want to trade for Vick. The stability is certainly in question with Andy Reid, but I could see the Eagles giving Reid an extension immediately as a show of good faith to Peyton. He also has the Howard Mudd connection which while not great, is something to consider. I would not be surprised to see this go down, as a matter of a fact I’d be surprised if the Eagles weren’t at least in the top running to land him.

Dallas Cowboys - Talk about a shocker! Yes, the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones is tired of losing. He just mortgaged his entire business on a shiny new stadium which is going to have some empty seats if these losing seasons continue. Jones took some subtle shots at Tony Romo (and not so subtle) for the first time this season, especially after watching Eli lead the New York Giants to the Super Bowl. Jones is a high stakes man and I think he would sell his soul to bring an elite QB like Manning to the Cowboys. Tony Romo has two years left on his deal and trading him probably wouldn’t be too difficult with his numbers. Would Peyton want to come to Dallas? Throwing to Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, handing off to DeMarco Murray, and playing in a dome sounds pretty enticing if you ask me.

San Francisco 49ers - Like the Baltimore Ravens, this was a team very close to going to the Super Bowl. While Alex Smith had one of the greatest postseason games for a QB in NFL history against the New Orleans Saints, I don’t think anyone is ready to anoint him as an elite QB. Smith is a free agent which frees up any QB controversy in San Francisco. Manning would immediately be paired with a franchise tight end (he likes those doesn’t he?) as well as one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. A former Indianapolis Colts QB coaching a former Indianapolis Colts QB? Sounds pretty good doesn’t it 49ers fans?

Arizona Cardinals - Arizona appears to be the early leader for Peyton’s services, yet I am not convinced that they would even make his top five list of desirable teams. The coaching situation is unstable, the franchise just spent some decent change for a QB, the offensive line stinks, and there isn’t a whole lot of talent on offense other than his wide receiver. Most importantly, the Cardinals are a losing organization with very little rich tradition other than a few good years with Kurt Warner. Players go to Arizona for the pay check at the end of their careers, not to win a Super Bowl. It’s a possibility but I think it is a long shot.

St. Louis Rams – Like the Texans, this would be a bit of a surprise. Most seem to agree that Sam Bradford has the potential to be one of the elite QBs in the NFL. However, the team is taking on a head coach (who they paid a lot of money too) who didn’t draft him. Fisher played against Manning 2-3 times a year and rarely beat him. Trading Bradford wouldn’t be an issue and the dome situation would be fantastic for Manning. Unfortunately he’d have little on offense and a terrible offensive line. On the other hand, the Rans will have the cash to ante up to at least make them a contender. The Rams are a long shot but a possibility.

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The Peyton Manning soap opera has now hit Las Vegas. RJ Bell at pregame.com is reporting on the latest Peyton Manning odds and there are some interesting numbers coming out of Vegas. If the oddsmakers are right, get your popcorn ready Miami!

RJ Bell does a great job of bringing football fans some of the more fun odds and prop bets you’ll find on the Internet. To be clear, I am not an affiliate nor do I make a dime off of RJ’s website. I am just a fan and if he happens to send out anything good, I do my best to bring it to you here on the CCB. That said, let’s take a look at these odds.

The oddsmakers are split on the two favorite prop bets here. According to these math hats, Peyton will either retire or bring his talents to Miami. Yep, retirement and the Miami Dolphins both lead the way with a 20% shot or betting $100 to win $250. The retirement I buy, but I am still not as sold on the Dolphins as some people are. I think Peyton wants a team with better weapons, more stability in the office, and a city with a lower profile.

It is interesting to note that Bodog.com gives the Arizona Cardinals the best chance of grabbing Peyton. According to Bodog.com’s current odds, the Cardinals are +225 to land Manning. The New York Jets get +500 odds, making them the least likely team on Bodog.com’s list to land Manning. RJ’s odds have the Jets with an 11% chance to land Manning. Eric Gargiulo gives the Jets +1000 odds because I don’t think there is a prayer that he lands in New York…other than to visit his baby brother.

One of my dark horses, the Houston Texans have a 1% shot of landing Peyton according to RJ’s blog. I had the Texans as a long shot, but a team that could surprise people in landing Manning. I stand by that and if I were a betting man, I’d jump on those odds ($750 to win $1,000). The San Francisco 49ers are given a 2% shot according to Bell, which makes them another fantastic bet, as well as the Cardinals who are given a 3% shot ($100 to win $2,500).

So there you have it. You could visit his blog to read the entire list of odds or check out my predictions on Peyton’s next team. If you want to place some fun bets are in Vegas sometime in the next few weeks, this could be an interesting prop bet to make. I think Peyton either retires, stays with the Colts, or winds up on a surprise team. These stories rarely shake out the way the experts predict. That is what makes these kind of prop bets so much fun!

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You prepped so very hard. You got your party favors, your wings, pizza, beer, snacks and on and on. The hours of preparation and hard work seem to be just the beginning of a fun-filled football evening, full of excitement and cheer, big plays and the 2 best teams letting it all hang out. Sadly, it turns into card games, girl talk and soggy left overs sometimes, when one of these 2 great teams kind of leaves the “A-Game” at home, and we are stuck watching a dud.

Sure, over the last few years we have had some excellent games, and as we look ahead to this year’s Super Bowl XLVI match-up between the AFC’s New England Patriots and the NFC’s New York Giants, chances are we will see another good one. We also have to be ready for the fact that all that glitters is not always gold.

So what I am bringing to you here is a list of the Top 10 worst outings in NFL Super Bowl history. 10 clunkers where a team just was happy to be there and not really gave the fans a quality performance. It has to stick in the heads of the players for years to know they got on the grandest stage and just fell totally flat. Sure, I have never played pro ball, but I know enough to be aware of a clunker! So, with all that in mind, my “Not-So-Top 10″ worst Super Bowl moments:

10. Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts 29 vs. Chicago Bears 17

The game started off with a bang. Kick return super stud Devin Hester made Super Bowl history by returning the opening kick-off for a touchdown for the first time in Super Bowl history while head coach Lovie Smith was running down the sidelines in jubilation. The rest, well not so pretty for the Bears.

In a game that featured 2 African-American coaches for the first time in NFL history, the world watched as the 2 teams combined for 8 turnovers, watched the Bears have the ball for just 21 minutes to the Colts 39, and the Bears muster just 265 yards of total offense. What made it worse for those who went to the game were moments of heavy rain and the first-ever tailgating ban by the NFL. Fans were not allowed to consume alcohol in the stadiums parking lot pre-game and no non-ticket holders were allowed anywhere near the stadium for pre-game activities.

In summary not an awful game, but with the combination of all that played out this is a worthy of a top 10 spot here.

9. Super Bowl XXIX: San Francisco 49ers 49 vs. San Diego Chargers 26

The Niners came into this game as the 2nd highest favorite in Super Bowl history at 18 points, yes that’s right, 18 points!

Steve Young, who tied a Super Bowl record with 6 TD passes and opened it up quick with a 44 yard TD pass to Jerry Rice, followed quickly by a 51 yarder to Ricky Watters. Yes, San Diego answered back to cut it to 14-7, but the Niners pretty much had control the whole time taking leads of 28-7 and as high as 42-10.

The Chargers were not expected to bring much to the game yet some expected a little more out of the AFC reps in this one. The Niners domination of the NFL was quite evident here, but it still was one of the most viewed Bowls in history.

In summary the Chargers gave as much of a performance as expected, which was not a whole lot by 49ers standards.

8. Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48 vs. Oakland Raiders 21

Jon Gruden’s old team from Oakland came in as a 4 point favorite against Gruden’s new team from Tampa. What was labeled as “The Gruden Bowl” turned into a very lopsided mismatch.

For the first time in Super Bowl history the number 1 offense in the league went head to head with the number 1 defense in the league and well as the phrase goes, defense wins championships. Raiders QB Rich Gannon threw 5 interceptions, 3 of which went for TDs and 2 of them to Dwight Smith. The Raiders could get very little going against the Bucs which included just 10 yards rushing on 7 carries from RB Charlie Garner. Every time it appeared the Raiders would make some kind of run the Buc defense came up big.

As for the crowd, it was the 3rd lowest in Super Bowl history as maybe the fans expected what we had saw in the end. The Raiders were listless and seemed totally over-matched, especially for a team that finished 11-5. The speculation raged on as to how Gruden knew their every move and how to sniff out every formation, but hey you can’t blame the guy for using what he had to win it all.

In summary, the Raiders really have yet to recover from this game and are still struggling to get back to the playoffs or get another winning season. The curse of the “traded” coach Gruden lives on.

7. Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 38 vs. Miami Dolphins 16

This Bowl, which was heavily hyped as the battle of footballs 2 best QB’s turned into a very one-sided affair which lacked in many elements. The game started off with the first ever Presidential coin toss by California native Ronald Reagan yet sadly done via satellite at the White House. Even Ronnie knew better than to waste his time on a plane ride to this one.

While 49ers QB Joe Montana was living up to his end of the hype with 3 TD passes with 1 rushing DT counterpart Dan Marino had little to brag about. The Niners defense sacked him 4 times, picked him off twice and only allowed just 1 TD pass. As a team the Dolphins rushed for just 25 yards and had a game total of 315 which was  a far cry from the 537 the Niners racked up. Make no mistake, this 49ers team may have been the 49ers all-time best coming in with a record of 17-1. Despite trailing one point 10-7 it was only a matter of time before San Fran would run off 21 unanswered. One high note: the heavy TV exposure of star Teri Hatcher, who at the time was a 49ers cheerleader.

In summary, Montana proved to be more of a big game QB then Marino, who would never make it back to a Super Bowl after this loss.

6. Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders 38 vs. Washington Redskins 9

The mighty Redskins who entered the game wait a 16-2 record and also came in as 3 point favorites. They were a team that many thought were a true football dynasty…well until this game.

Marcus Allen and the Raiders offense pounded the NFL’s top ranked run defense. The Raiders scored 2 TD’s and Allen finished with 191 yards himself. In a game still known as “Black Sunday”, the black jersey of the Raiders rough and tough defense scored TD’s on a blocked punt and an interception run back against a very out of sync Skins team. The Raiders held Washington to 283 total yards of offense, and making this one of the more unexpected blow outs in Super Bowl history.

In summary, the Skins did have some good Super Bowl success in but for quite a while this lasted as the most one-sided blowout in Super Bowl history. That record has since been smashed.

5. Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins 42 vs. Denver Broncos 10

This game quickly seemed like one you would turn off  but not by the team we thought would rout in the end.

The Broncos raced out to a 10-0 lead behind QB John Elway and seemed as if they were going to put this game away early, in addition to  playing tough defense. The next thing to happen turned into Super Bowl history. The Redskins ran off 35 unanswered points in the second quarter, setting records for most points in a half or a quarter by scoring the  most TD’s in a quarter by a QB. Doug Williams was the man here, also the first African-American QB to win the Super Bowl. The Redskins shattered many records on their way to the destruction of Denver.

In summary, we see the Broncos had the ability to really lay flat in Super Bowls. As great of a legacy as John Elway had this was a real clunker. Elway was sacked 5 times and picked off 3.

4. Super Bowl XVII: Dallas Cowboys 52 vs. Buffalo Bills 17

If no one ever remembers who finishes second, then the Buffalo Bills must have been one of the most forgotten teams ever in this era. After 2 straight Super Bowl losses, the Bills gave it their all ( or more like nothing ) against the resurgence of America’s Team.

The Bills let it float away behind an effort of 9 turnovers, a Super Bowl record. They did somehow manage to get as close to 31-17, but the score was not indicative of the blowout. This game that seemingly had lots to offer including an awesome 98,712 person attendance, a halftime show featuring Michael Jackson, and America’s team. The Bills just looked beat for the third of 4 tries to be exact and were never able to shake off the previous losses. Troy Aikman passed for 4 TD’s in the first of the Cowboys 2 blow outs of the Bills.

In summary, the Bills never had the NFC’s number in the Super Bowl and as good as the likes of Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas were, they just did not have the fire power Dallas, Washington or the New York Giants had. Four straight Super Bowl losses is a long standing record for the Buffalo Bills that will probably never be broken.

3. Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens 34 vs. New York Giants 7

Even though the Ravens came in as a Wild Card team, the defense managed to get red-hot at the exact right time in the ultimate example of “defense wins championships” and thumping the New York Giants.

In a Super Bowl that may have been the worst outing by two offenses in history, it was the Ravens defense that forced the tempo with 5 turnovers including 4 interceptions of QB Kerry Collins, who was just 15-39 passing. As a team the Giants only posted 152 total yards of offense as opposed to the Ravens 244 yards. The Ravens used defensive and special teams scores to pull away here.

In summary, one of if not the poorest played Super Bowl games in history. Some of these guys are still in the league and the Ravens continue to play good, hard-nosed defense.

2. Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears 46 vs. New England Patriots 10

Not that many had any faith in what the Patriots could do yet it was worse than any could have imagined.

When one team comes to the big game with a 17-1 record, and a top 40 billboard hit with a song known as “The Super Bowl Shuffle” chances are they are really good, and in this case a little too good. The Patriots were a surprise opponent, starting the season 2-3, flip flopping quarterbacks without the a star-studded roster. The Bears, and the ferocious 46 defense set a Super Bowl record with 7 sacks, allowed just 7 yards rushing, and held the Patriots to just 123 yards the entire game which is second lowest in SB history. The Bears even used William Perry, the well-known defensive tackle for rushing TD’s and pass attempts, showing they had zero fear of who was in front of them.

Sadly some of the Bears swagger took some of the class out of the winning. In the days leading up to the game, we of course had the ego-laden “Shuffle” but we also had Bears QB Jim McMahon calling New Orleans women “sluts”, and of course his head band scandals refusing to respect the NFL’s uniform policy. None of that seemed to really matter or slow this team down all season.

In summary, it was a game I clearly remember being over quickly, despite the Pats jumping out to a 3-0 lead. My clearest memory? My friends and I breaking into a game of indoor volleyball at half-time, after the Pats -19 yards.

1. Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers 55 vs. Denver Broncos 10

This was not what the league had in mind when Super Bowls were invented, clearly.

This one, by far was the most lopsided game in the history of the Super Bowl. While the 49ers put on one of the very vest performances led by Joe Montana and his 5 TD passes and 279 pass yards and 3 TD catches by Jerry Rice, the Broncos could only muster a total of 167 yards of total offense and just one TD. The Broncos would drop their third attempt at a Super Bowl victory, and it marked the second time they were beaten so badly. The 49ers 55 points and 45 point margin of victory are still Bowl records.

Not a lot of surprise being that the 49ers came in as 12 point favorites, and in anticipation of such a mismatch this game earned the lowest TV ratings since 1969. The Niners put up 300 more total yards of offense, and this game never even had a sniff of being close. For the 49ers it was a second straight Bowl win, and the first by a rookie coach, George Seifert, who took over for retired coach Bill Walsh.

In summary, it was what the 49ers did to opponents back then. Although many think the Steelers teams of the 70′s may have been better, the Niners left everyone in their path and steamrolled all the way up to this Super Bowl.

I certainly hope that this year brings good plays, excitement and action. I fail to see how these two teams, with such similar styles and quality athletes could give anything less. Then again even legends like Elway and Marino can have bad days, as we saw here.

For the Super Bowl remains as heavenly to men as a wedding day to women, we hope not for divorce due to such poorly matched “couples”. Happy Super Bowl Day everyone!

If you’d like to hear anything else from me on topics or ideas I can be reached at phillyphan1971@yahoo.com.

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The hype and propaganda surrounding Jeff Fisher by his fan boys around the country is bordering on sickening. I haven’t seen this much promotion for an overrated since Mike Shanahan and just ask Washington Redskins fans how that is working out.

I have never been a Jeff Fisher fan. I watched a head coach over the last several seasons come up short every year with excuse after excuse made for him by the national media. I watched a guy given more opportunity to win than any other NFL head coach in history yet I am in the midst of watching a charade produced by the NFL Network and many at ESPN that hasn’t been seen since, well you already know his name.

The Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams have each made big plays for Jeff Fisher. In a season where you have analysts and NFL reporters bloviating weekly about the merits of not paying a guy like DeSean Jackson, they are giddy with the prospect of Jeff Fisher cashing in a king’s ransom at the hopes of “selling seats,” in spite of his winning record and rumors of insubordination in his last gig. Shame on them for not giving NFL fans the real story.

An objective look at Jeff Fisher shows a guy that had sixteen years with the same team and never won a Super Bowl. During a time where we are seeing coaches fired in 1-3 years for not producing, Fisher had sixteen and did nothing! Well, if winning one AFC championship is something than Jeff Fisher is your man. And oh yeah about that 1999 AFC championship win…he got lucky!

Let’s go back to 1999 and take a look at Jeff Fisher’s one and only Super Bowl run…twelve years ago! There was a play, a historic Wild Card play called the “Music City Miracle” which won the Titans the game. Yes I know it isn’t how you win the game it is only about winning the game. But if not for an incredibly fluky play that will probably work once a century, Jeff Fisher wouldn’t have even made it to the Super Bowl!

So in sixteen years the man has one, yes one season in which he went to the Super Bowl and lost. NFL fans are constantly reminded thanks to NFL Films and sound bites about the ultimate prize, the Super Bowl. Winning the Super Bowl is all that matters in the NFL and anything else means nothing. In other words, Jeff Fisher accomplished nothing in 16 years.

As disgusted as I was with the Mike Shanahan hype a few years back, at least the man won multiple Super Bowl championships. Fisher not only didn’t win the Super Bowl, he has a record 5-6 of under .500 in the postseason altogether. Jeff Fisher hasn’t even made it out of the AFC divisional round in 10 years. To put it more into perspective, Fisher was bounced in his first appearances in his last two playoff games, the last one at home. Call me crazy but this guy doesn’t sound like any kind of coaching guru.

This was my recap of his last season with the Titans when I blogged about his firing last year. “We have all watched the Tennessee Titans this season and what about the way their season ended gave anyone a though that they’d be a team to reckon with in 2011? Their defense did improve, but it was hardly at a level to stop Peyton Manning on a consistent basis. Rusty Smith is a nice project but did he show you anything to make you believe he can win games next season in place of Vince Young? The running game which was the calling card of the Titans in 2009 regressed. It should also be noted that the Titans had the worst record in their conference going 2-4 against the AFC South. Can someone please explain how this makes Jeff Fisher a great coach and what owner shouldn’t fire Fisher after a season like this one?”

At least I am consistent.

Fisher’s off the field issues in his last couple of seasons as head coach are also curiously forgotten. He handled his quarterback Vince Young with the maturity of a pee wee football player. He had a locker room split and in chaos his last season in Tennessee thanks to his handling of the quarterback and showing up at a charity event wearing his rival QB’s NFL jersey. Let’s not forget the chaos Fisher caused for his organization with the irresponsible contract extensions he dished out to coordinators. Aren’t these the kinds of mistakes rookie head coaches make? Yes, but this guy was in his sixteenth season!

Did he have some winning regular seasons? Sure he did. But so do a lot of NFL head coaches in a league full of parity and regular injuries. The luck always runs out in the postseason when you can’t duck the elite of the division and that is where Fisher crumbled. He was 27-21 in his last three regular seasons. Is that what Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams fans are hoping for? Three seasons with six wins over .500?

There is a big problem here and I thought the NFL media would learn this with Mike Shanahan but they haven’t. Instead of reporting objectively on Jeff Fisher and his coaching merits, they are more concerned about chasing the “sexy” name and creating a story for ratings, interest, and of course the hopes of their good will paying off in getting the exclusive Jeff Fisher interview. Quite frankly it disgusts me as a fan and is one of the reasons I rarely torture myself by watching those carnival NFL pregame shows or newscasts on television.

The other dirty secret here is that the over-hyped head coach hasn’t won a Super Bowl with his new team in years. Not since Jon Gruden (and some will tell you it was Tony Dungy’s team) nine years ago has a former head coach won the Super Bowl with his new team. Yet these former failed head coaches are pushed on the networks and in newspapers over more deserving candidates for reasons I can’t comprehend other than the ones I listed above.

Quite frankly an NFL team would be better off picking up a hot NFL coordinator. They are more humble, less financially secure (although they will still make plenty), and bring new wrinkles to the game which give them an edge. The last three Super Bowl winning coaches are first-time head coaches who were promoted from coordinator.

So let’s hope two years from now when Andy Reid becomes a free agent and Mike Shanahan is either gone or coming off another losing season and Jeff Fisher is making more excuses for his Dolphins or Rams that the NFL media take a lesson here and think twice before singing the high praise of an over-hyped failed former NFL head coach looking for a new job.

Something tells me that’s not going to happen.

100 Yards of Glory: The Greatest Moments in NFL History

NFL Jerseys on Amazon.com

Madden 12 video game

NFL America’s Game Super Bowl I-XL on DVD

Let’s take a look back at some of the things that stood out from Week 17 in the National Football League!

- San Francisco gets the must needed win in Week 17 to clinch the #2 seed and a bye in the NFC playoffs. They needed the bye pretty badly because unlike the New Orleans Saints I am still not officially sold on how far the Niners can go in the playoffs led by Alex Smith. Stranger things have happened and less dominating quarterbacks have led their team farther in the playoffs but for me to be 100% sold on this team being “for real” they will have to win that mighty divisional matchup.

- St. Louis fires Steve Spagnuolo and no real surprise there. He is a great defensive coordinator and a ton of teams will be knocking on his door to lead their defenses. I see him heading back to the NFC East to be the Eagles defensive coordinator.

- The disappointing season for the New York Jets has come to a close with a Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins that didn’t even give them a chance to make the playoffs. The Jets collapse needed to happen and I think this happening to them this year is the best thing for this team. They needed to be brought back to reality after two years of living on “cloud nine” and overachieving.

- I really like how the Dolphins finished this season and I would not be surprised if a big name coach debates on leading this team. They have a ton of things working for them and all they really need is a quarterback to lead the way. I wonder if the Dolphins would consider knocking on Matt Flynn’s door…

- Chicago finishes 8-8 and had a terrible stretch of bad breaks to finish the year with Jay Cutler, Matt Forte & Johnny Knox all getting hurt. Lovie Smith is like Andy Reid when it comes to a Head Coach you think will get fired in the off-season but will end up staying. This will be the case for Smith where a repeat performance and missed playoffs next season will help his exit from Chi-town.

- Where do the Vikings go from here? I believe only up. This is a team with a decent amount of talent on the field and it’s all depending on his Adrian Peterson gets back into form in the off-season. Don’t sleep on Minnesota as they are a team to watch out for next season.

- I know I’m beating a dead horse here but New England finishes the season strong but with a horribly weak schedule. They are the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs but have received a ton of breaks this season and haven’t been truly tested since about their loss to the Giants. Come playoff time that could really hurt the Patriots.

- Props to Chan Gailey for benching Stevie Johnson after Johnson once again looked like an idiot on the field of play. Johnson needs to keep his head on straight as he is a remarkable talent when thinking accordingly. Sad to see he has fallen into the path of a wide receiver who thinks he is bigger then the team.

- Drew Brees is the NFL MVP for this season. He played all 16 games for the Saints and came up big to end the season against tough divisional opponents. The Saints are a favorite to make it to the NFC Championship and even represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season.

- Props to the Panthers and eventual Rookie of the Year Cam Newton on having a great season. This is a team to watch for next season and a team that is making the NFC South very interesting. I’ll be looking forward to how they build this team come the NFL Draft.

- Ever since their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs the Green Bay Packers have received a ton of flack in that they may not be “the team” after all to be the favorite to win it all this season. They may have quieted some of those issues after they put their “B-Team” on the field in Week 17 and beat the playoff bound Detroit Lions. When you sit out Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Greg Jennings, James Starks and Charles Woodson you are basically conceding the game & that wasn’t the case in Week 17 as they looked very good at maybe 50%.

- Detroit enters the playoffs without any momentum and they go into the playoffs playing the New Orleans Saints who may be the best team in the NFC right now. Momentum is so key right now (just ask last year’s Green Bay Packers) and a win against the Packers in Green Bay would’ve been that surge that this team needed. This is going to be a great NFC team in the real near future but they need bumps in the road like this for them to realize what it’s like to be rock bottom, not sure if their playoff debut works out well for them.

- Philadelphia finishes the season with four straight wins and missing the NFL playoffs. Andy Reid’s job is safe and the off-season will be spent re-tooling the “dream team.” I think they have a great bounce back year next season.

- Washington is one of these teams that you just don’t know where they will go next season. They need a great draft and to start tooling this team for the future. If they don’t do that then the Redskins will continue to struggle under Dan Synder’s reign as owner.

- Congrats to the Indianapolis Colts on winning the “Suck for Luck” sweepstakes! Oh and how does Jim Caldwell keep his job?

- Will the Jacksonville Jaguars look into drafting a quarterback in this year’s draft? I know they used a first-round pick on Blaine Gabbert but he didn’t have a single game over 250 yards. That is not a good statistic, just ask the Jets how they feel about a quarterback with stats like that…

- Tennessee made a great late season effort but failed to make the playoffs this season. Tennessee can only blame each other for that as they should’ve beaten the Colts a couple weeks ago and they wouldn’t have to worry about not making the playoffs this season. Despite the successful season it’s time for Jake Locker to get the keys to this franchise.

- The Houston Texans may be the most worst #3 seed going into the playoffs ever. This team is being highly disrespected and they rightfully should after finishing the year with three straight losses. I wonder if the playoffs will be a different beast for the Texans come playoff time.

- Atlanta looked pretty good in Week 17 and achieved that momentum the Lions failed to do. Many people believe this could be the wild card team to look out for and I have to agree. If all things click this team is really dangerous, they will have a very interesting battle against the Giants next Sunday.

- Farewell Raheem Morris. This Bucs team was just dreadful to end the year. Don’t know where they go from here.

- Baltimore heads into the AFC playoffs getting a pretty big victory over a playoff bound team in the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens have struggled as of late but needed a victory like this to help their momentum going into the playoffs where they will receive a first-round bye. Baltimore is a really good team and someone that can knock the Patriots off their pedestal.

- How about this for things I didn’t see coming: the Cincinnati Bengals are going to be in the playoffs. Congrats to this team, they had zero believers outside of their franchise and they earned the opportunity to play in January. Great season from this young team with a ton of potential, they could be an AFC North mainstay soon.

- Like Washington, St. Louis & Tampa Bay I have no idea where the Cleveland Browns go from here. I suppose re-signing Peyton Hillis will be their first priority? I wonder if they go for Robert Griffin III in the draft…

- Do you think it felt good for Kyle Orton to beat the Denver Broncos in Week 17? Sure they didn’t knock out the Broncos but I’m sure Orton was pretty happy with the victory. This Chiefs team will be back next season as a top AFC West team.

- Denver backs into the playoffs as an 8-8 team and the big achievement is they did it with Tim Tebow. The Broncos haven’t played as well the last couple of weeks and doesn’t look like the “magic” team the big networks were hoping they’d be. I’ll be interested to see how “Tebow Time” handles that “Steel Curtain” defense.

- San Diego finishes the season 8-8 but I still think Norv Turner loses his job at the end of the year. It looks like Jon Gruden could be the guy leading this team next season and if that’s the case he will be a great fit as a head coach for the Chargers. This team is very talented and would be a head coaching dream job.

- Oakland misses the playoffs again and finishes 8-8 for the 2nd straight season. I’m interested to see how this team looks next season with Carson Palmer at the helm for a full season. This team is so inconsistent that they can win just four games or possibly win 10 games. At least we know Hue Jackson will keep his job this season…I think.

- Arizona was one of my choices to have a comeback season and I even had them down as the NFC West Champion. At least I was right with one thing. Imagine how good this team would be if they had that franchise quarterback they thought they had with Kevin Kolb?

- Do you think the Seahawks will come knocking on Matt Flynn’s door during the off-season? Historically the Seahawks do enjoy Packers back-up QB’s so Flynn would be perfect there. Tarvaris Jackson is definitely not the guy for the Seahawks as you can tell by their record despite playing surprisingly well this season.

- The Dallas Cowboys miss the playoffs for the 2nd straight season and the whirlwind of rumors regarding if Tony Romo is “the guy” for Dallas will be spreading the next couple of days. It wasn’t his fault they lost to the Giants in Week 17 as he did what he could with a bruised hand. I’m sure Dallas will enter this off-season looking to achieve their ultimate goal but I’m not sure if they can do it with Romo anymore.

- The New York Football Giants may have the most momentum of any other team entering the playoffs. This team looks to be very dangerous entering the playoffs as they are peaking at just the right time. Watch out for “Big Blue” in the playoffs, they can do exactly what they did in 2007 again.

Join Bower, “The Sweet Nasty” Chris Cause & myself every Sunday for more NFL & Fantasy Football talk over at www.wheelhouseradio.com!

Jeff Peck is the producer for the “Wheelhouse Radio” program that airs every Sunday at www.wheelhouseradio.com.

Jeff also co-hosts “The Still Real to us show” with Eric Gargiulo which can be available at www.wheelhouseradio.com and can be downloaded in the “Real Guy Radio” section of the site.

You can follow “The Champ Jeff Peck” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealjeffpeck you can also follow Wheelhouse Radio on twitter at www.twitter.com/thewheelhouse and you can e-mail them @ wheelhouseradio@gmail.com

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Refererence Guide

NFL Jerseys on Amazon.com

Madden 12 video game

NFL America’s Game Super Bowl I-XL on DVD

Let’s take a look back at some of the things that stood out from Week 14 in the National Football League!

- The win may have not looked pretty against a below average team in Cleveland but a win is a win and the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to roll as we are now three weeks away from the playoffs beginning. It hasn’t looked pretty in the process nor dominating but the Steelers have now rolled off 8 wins in their last 9 games making them the hottest team in the NFL sans the Green Bay Packers. This team looks to taking a slight edge as a potential AFC favorite as we get closer to the playoffs.

- Whether or not Peyton Hillis returns to the Cleveland Browns won’t be their biggest off-season storyline yet whether or not Colt McCoy is their starting quarterback will be. I believe he is but he needs more weapons because the Cleveland offense isn’t putting him in the best of lights right now. Decent quarterback, ton of potential, just needs to tap into it.

- Okay two things here: who would’ve thought that the Houston Texans would have won the AFC South this season and done it all thanks to current starting quarterback T.J. Yates? You may have thought one of the two but not certainly the latter of them. People may think you can sleep on the Texans but I don’t think so yet, they are still a team that you cannot take for granted.

- The Bengals gave it their all and tried their best to play spoiler but came up short this Sunday. One thing I noticed in this game that is positive for the Bengals is that A.J. Green is a future elite wide receiver and you can see that in his rookie year. I believe he will be discussed in the likes of Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald in a couple of seasons.

- Detroit needed to make a statement today that they were a playoff caliber team and despite winning they did not prove that in the slightest. The Lions have been struggling just as much on the field as they have off of it & needed that win to give them some confidence so they could carry for the rest of the season. I did not see a team that is ready to make a turn yet and prove to be a dangerous team come playoff season.

- Minnesota made a game of it but they are in desperate need of their offensive leader Adrian Peterson. I’m starting to be skeptical based on their record if we will ever see Adrian Peterson suit up for the rest of this season. If not no worries, there is always backup QB Joe Webb to take the carries.

- Speaking of making a statement the New Orleans Saints failed to do the same as well in Week 14 as they barely beat the fading Tennessee Titans. The Saints needed to have a decisive victory to prove that they are an elite team that can knock off the Packers and have failed to do so yet again. They are winning but not decisively like Green Bay has, New Orleans and the Giants (if they make the playoffs) are the most dangerous teams to knock off the defending champs.

- Do you write off the Titans yet? I’m not sold on that until we see how they do in Week 15. But one thing is for sure, you need to win 10 games in the AFC to make the playoffs this season.

- “The Dream Team” living up to their self given nickname in Week 14 as they put the boots to the Dolphins as they continue to play for nothing but a hope & a dream. LeSean McCoy had the crazy statistic of Week 14 as he carried the ball twenty-seven times and only rushed for thirty-eight yards. No matter what, Andy Reid is still getting fired, even if they finish the year 8-8.

- Farewell Tony Sparano. I look forward to Bill Cowher becoming the head coach for the Dolphins next season.

- Rex Ryan stated when the Jets were 5-5 that “every game was a playoff game from here on out” and they are playing like it as they have gone 3-0 in their last three games & becoming the favorite for the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs right now with three games to go. New York has one of the easiest schedules for the rest of the season and I don’t see any reason why they should not make the playoffs at this point. Will they be dangerous like they have in years past, that I am not sure yet.

- Farewell to Todd Haley, very surprising firing to be honest. Would’ve figured he received some sort of pass after the injuries they were dealt to this season. Guess it might have been more then meets the eye in Kansas City.

- New England is the best team in AFC as right now in Week 14. For them to keep that title they need to beat teams like the Washington Redskins convincingly. They failed to do that in Week 14 as their flaws are continuing to be showcased against weak teams in the final stretch of the regular season. If they get a first-round bye I will be shocked if they make the AFC Championship Game at this point.

- Washington’s offense showcased the flaws of the New England defense to the rest of the league. If the Redskins can just barely beat them imagine what a team like the Ravens, Steelers or even the Texans may be able to do. It was a great job by the ‘Skins in making it interesting all the way to the end.

- Atlanta wants to be in the playoffs they proved that to me and the rest of the league today as they came from behind to beat the Panthers this week. At one point I thought we were getting close to putting the “nail in the coffin” on the Falcons but they came back from a pretty good deficit to live for another day. This could be the momentum the Falcons need to carry them for the final push in the regular season.

- Is the wear & tear of the NFL starting to get to Cam Newton? He hasn’t been as dominant in recent weeks and I’m wondering if we could see his flaws being showcased now by the professional defenses in the NFL. You know what they say, time shall tell.

- Don’t know what to say about this Jaguars/Bucs matchup except that Maurice Jones-Drew is a beast. He has had another terrific season that people just don’t realize because he plays for Jacksonville. How he hasn’t demanded a trade to a contender at this point in his career is baffling.

- Could there be a chance the Bucs don’t bring back Raheem Morris next season? I guess only if a Bill Cowher or Jeff Fisher wanted to coach there; I consider him in the same boat as Todd Haley. He is in the hot seat for sure next season.

- The “Suck for Luck” campaign has now reached 13 straight losses! They are getting closer to clinching the #1 pick for the 2012 NFL Draft! Oh and its official, in case you thought it was already but Peyton Manning is done for the season. I am officially shocked.

- Baltimore gets the win and improves to 10-3 on the season. They are still my AFC favorite to make the Super Bowl and are playing very well lately whether it is against good teams or bad teams. I’ll be interested to see if Joe Flacco ever takes the leadership role on this team though.

- If you thought the “cat was out of the bag” on the Green Bay Packers last week then you were wrong as they took it too playoff contender the Oakland Raiders. Green Bay gets a convincing win and now sets itself up to clinch home field advantage next week. The only major concern right now for Green Bay isn’t their schedule for the rest of the season but the health of Greg Jennings.

- I think it’s safe to say that the Oakland Raiders are starting to fade back to where I predicted they would be fading to, yet gave them credit, six weeks ago right? They looked good for that short while but that short while has come and gone. If they want to play in January they need to start acting like it now. I’d almost consider Hue Jackson on the hot seat at the end of this season if they don’t make the playoffs since it is Oakland…

- I feel like I am repeating myself since Denver keeps doing the same thing week after week but damn Tim Tebow is clutch. You have got to give the guy credit for what he continues to accomplish this season. He may never accomplish anything else after this season for the rest of his career but people will always remember the “Tebowmania” that has swept the NFL for the 2011-2012 season as the Denver Broncos currently lead the AFC West with three games to go.

- They have been hit with a slew of injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte & their chances of playing in the playoffs this season will be a miracle at best for the moment. Tough break for the runner-up in the NFC Championship game last season; with that being said is Lovie Smith on the hot seat? Hey look at this way, Todd Haley was fired and the Chiefs made the playoffs last season but have been held back by major injuries as well, think about it.

- In the last five games the San Francisco 49ers are 2-3 despite winning the NFC West and being at one time an easy guess for a first round bye in the NFC playoffs. That has all changed in recent weeks and the Niners flaws are continuing to be showcased by the rest of the league. They are a division leader but they are being led by Alex Smith, the Texans may have more faith in T.J. Yates then San Francisco has in their former #1 overall pick.

- Arizona continues to play well and win when Kevin Kolb isn’t their QB or getting the most reps. Maybe the Cards need to rethink their franchise’s game plan of Kolb being their quarterback. Things just haven’t worked in Kolb’s favor at all in 2011.

- I love how the Chargers have come back from the dead and have looked like the Chargers team we typically remember the last two weeks. They are sitting at 6-7 currently and are still in the playoff mix & should not be counted out just yet. They very well could shock the world and make the playoffs whether it is by Wild Card position or dare I say the AFC West. Stay tuned.

- Man the Buffalo Bills really have disappointed me this season. They are a bad case of a team having two seasons in one season as they started off strong (5-2) and have ended up horrible (0-7) with a record of 5-8 on the season. I really believed this team could have shaken things up in the AFC East and now I’m starting to wonder if they ever will with Chan Gailey as their head coach or with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their quarterback.

- I believe that based off of momentum from the last two weeks, the New York Giants are the 2nd best team in the NFC right now and that is with a record of 1-1 in those two games. They are playing very well, came close to beating Green Bay, defeated Dallas after being behind by 12 with a short time to go and are now atop the NFC East. They needed these two games to set the tone and are looking towards a decent playoff run come January, watching out for the Giants.

- What can you say about Dallas? They had their opportunities but they just did not get things done. Would it shock you if Jason Garrett gets fired during the off-season?

- I can’t believe it either but at least for now the Seattle Seahawks are still in contention to make the playoffs. They have had a great stretch the last couple of games with Marshawn Lynch living up to his “beast mode” nickname in those last 5 games. Seattle has played well down the stretch this season and while I don’t see them making the playoffs (shocking I know), they have a lot to look forward to next season if they can get an actual NFL QB under center.

- Is Steve Spagnuolo the next to go? This team continues to disappoint me as they had a lot to look forward to this season and just have not lived up to their potential.

Join Bower, “The Sweet Nasty” Chris Cause & myself every Sunday for more NFL & Fantasy Football talk over at www.wheelhouseradio.com!

Jeff Peck is the producer for the “Wheelhouse Radio” program that airs every Sunday at www.wheelhouseradio.com.

Jeff also co-hosts “The Still Real to us show” with Eric Gargiulo which can be available at www.wheelhouseradio.com and can be downloaded in the “Real Guy Radio” section of the site.

You can follow “The Champ Jeff Peck” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealjeffpeck you can also follow Wheelhouse Radio on twitter at www.twitter.com/thewheelhouse and you can e-mail them @ wheelhouseradio@gmail.com

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Refererence Guide

NFL Jerseys on Amazon.com

Madden 12 video game

NFL America’s Game Super Bowl I-XL on DVD

As enjoyable as the 2011-12 NFL season has been, it hasn’t been the same without Peyton Manning. Now word comes that we may never see Peyton play another NFL game. True or not, it is an appropriate time to look back & celebrate one of the greatest careers in NFL history.

I am certainly not a big Peyton Manning fan. As a matter of a fact, you could have called me a hater for many years. Like many, I began to resent Peyton after the marketing machine got into full swing. Yet after witnessing the greatest comeback I had ever seen on Monday Night Football in 2003, I came around.

It is easy to look back, pick out the flaws, and call him overrated. However, if there was ever a season to reflect on and appreciate how great he was, look no further than the 2011-12 season in which Manning’s Colts are winless without their leader. Talk about vindication!

Furthermore, this season is not exactly an anomaly. Take a look back at the Colts under Manning and you will find a team with a consistently underachieving defense, specifically in the running game. It is a lot easier to win games when your defense is giving you great field position and getting off the field in four downs. It is another thing altogether to put together a consistently winning record with little support on the side of the ball. Tom Brady certainly hasn’t been able to do it since most of his defensive studs retired a few years back.

So today I look back at the top ten memorable career moments of arguably the greatest QB in NFL history. The comebacks, the milestone games, and the big wins may be gone forever, but they certainly will never be forgotten by those lucky to watch the Peyton Manning era of Colts football.

January 21, 2007 New England Patriots 38, Indianapolis Colts 38 AFC Championship Game - I know that a Super Bowl is bigger than an AFC championship game, but beating Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots after trailing 18 points to get the Super Bowl is huge! Down 18 points in the second quarter, Manning rallied the team, winning the game on a historic 7 play, 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter that ended with a Colts field goal. Manning went into the game 0-2 against a team that some felt were easy Super Bowl champions. Manning got a lot of monkeys off his back this day.

February 4, 2007 Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17 Super Bowl XLI – From 1998-2006 Manning had some big wins, but he could never achieve the big one. Would he go down as one of the greatest QBs never to win the Super Bowl. Nope! Trailing 0-7, Manning entered the game and threw an interception. Is he really going to choke against Rex Grossman? Manning would not choke and throw a beautiful 53-yard TD to Reggie Wayne to cut the lead 6-7 (the Colts botched the extra point). Manning would later lead the team on several scoring drives but was unable to throw another TD. With 1 TD and 247 yards of passing, Manning won the game MVP and the big one.

October 6, 2003 Indianapolis Colts 38, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35 – Mark down October 6, 2003 as the night I came around on Peyton Manning. I don’t know why but for me, this is the most memorable Monday Night Football game I have ever seen. The Colts were trailing 0-21 at halftime on the road to the defending Super Bowl champions. Manning put together six scoring drives after halftime, keeping the Buccaneers off the field for most of the half. Trailing 14-35, Manning put together four scoring drives to none and won the game for the Colts. Writing about this game doesn’t do it justice. It needs to be seen to be believed and if there is a greater comeback on Monday night history, I couldn’t tell you what it is.

January 4, 2004 Denver Broncos 10, Indianapolis Colts 41 – Peyton Manning came into this season with a ton of pressure. He was getting the publicity, he was getting the accolades, but were they deserved? For six seasons Peyton Manning had never won a playoff game. Could he win the big one? You’re damned he right he can. Manning won his first postseason game. He was brilliant, throwing for TDs on the first four possessions of the game, finishing for 377 yards and five TDs.

January 11, 2003 Indianapolis 38, Kansas City Chiefs 31 – As mentioned above, It was in 2003 that the Manning critics were louder than ever. He could win regular season games, he could come from behind, but could he win a playoff game on the road? He did and did he ever, in one of the most hostile road stadiums. A battle of two of the most explosive offenses of the 2002-03 season ended with Manning winning a predictable shootout in a game in which the Colts never trailed.

December 05, 1999 Indianapolis Colts 37, Miami Dolphins 34 – Long before the Colts-Patriots rivalry, Manning was thrust in the midst of an old school divisional rivalry between the Colts and the Dolphins. Manning led the Colts on a game winning drive over the Dan Marino led Dolphins in a win that would become absolutely critical to the team taking the next step and earning a divisional title.

September 6, 1998 Miami Dolphins 24, Indianapolis Colts 15 – This isn’t exactly a memorable game like the others but it belongs on the list for one reason. Manning threw his first of 399 passing touchdowns in his first career start against one of his early rivals at home. The TD also marked the first of 112 combined scores between the most prolific combination in NFL history.

November 15, 1998 Indianapolis Colts 24, New York Jets 23 – The first of many comeback wins for Peyton Manning and the Colts. After exploding for 20 points in the second quarter, the Jets came into the second half of the game leading 23-10. The defense stepped up and shut the Jets out for the remainder of the game while Manning went on to throw two touchdown passes to win the game for the Colts by one point.

September 14, 2008 Indianapolis Colts 18, Minnesota Vikings 15 – One thing Peyton doesn’t get enough credit for is his toughness. Manning started 227 NFL games in a row at QB and played through plenty of pain. This game in September 2008 epitomized Manning’s grit. Manning came into the season with one good leg after offseason surgery. After losing in Week 1, Manning engineered another one of his memorable career comebacks. No Dallas Clark, No Jeff Saturday, no problem for Manning. Down0-15 at the end of the third quarter, Manning engineered two touchdown drives and a game-winning drive that put the Colts in position to kick a field goal with 0:03 left for the come from behind win.

October 4, 1998 Indianapolis Colts 17, San Diego Chargers 12 – Do you remember the first time Peyton Manning won an NFL game? If you think back hard enough you will remember the game in 1998 in which Manning earned his first career win over the San Diego Chargers. Even sweeter than the win, the Chargers passed on Manning for Ryan Leaf in that year’s NFL draft.

Peyton Manning Jersey: Reebok Blue Replica #18 Indianapolis Colts Jersey

Peyton Manning: Leader on and Off the Field (Sports Stars With Heart)

NFL Super Bowl XLI – DVD

NFL Jerseys on Amazon.com

Madden 12 video game

NFL America’s Game Super Bowl I-XL on DVD