Manning Overload
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--The Pittsburgh Steelers showed during last season's playoffs that even Peyton Manning can be rattled by a good pass rush. The Indianapolis Colts' usually unflappable quarterback emerged from his club's loss to the Steelers in an AFC semifinal talking about the blocking problems in front of him.
The New York Giants face the Colts on Sunday night in Giants Stadium, and they hope to rev up a pass rush that will have the same effect on Manning. The Giants have the defenders to pull it off, led by ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora.
"Anybody can be rattled," Strahan said here Wednesday. "No quarterback likes to get hit. I think that's the best way to disrupt him--knock him out of his comfort zone. But it's easier said than done."
Strahan and other Giants defenders said they wouldn't hesitate to hit Manning hard just because his younger brother Eli is their teammate.
"That's Eli's brother, not my brother," Strahan said. "I'm going to take him out. I like Peyton, but it's football. If I get a chance to get a good shot on him, I will. They'll do the same thing with Eli."
Said Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington: "If his mom was in a uniform and she was out there playing, I'd hit her and I wouldn't think anything about it."
Mostly, though, the Giants defensive players said they were steering clear of the considerable buildup to the Sunday night squareoff between the Manning brothers.
"I definitely want to see Eli win because that means we win," Strahan said, "but I don't get into the Manning hype. It's good for the game if you're not playing. Heck, I'd watch it if I was sitting at home."
By Mark Maske |
September 7, 2006; 10:00 AM ET
| Category:
Colts
,
Giants
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Posted by: oxymoron | September 7, 2006 12:26 PM
Mike Vick and his brother have not had the same success as the Manning brothers either. Poor arguement.
Posted by: Wood | September 7, 2006 12:34 PM
yeah but Marcus Vick sucks and is barely in the NFL...
now, had he not got into problems in college, suspended for his sophomore year and then kicked off the team before his senior year, then he probably would have developed, been drafted high as a QB and then we would get the same hype for the inevitable matchup...
Posted by: nimrod | September 7, 2006 1:39 PM
last time I checked in on the NFL, the Manning family had just as many Super Bowl rings as the Vicks (and my family too!).
Posted by: Boooo the Mannings | September 7, 2006 2:44 PM
Don't let the hype obscure the fact that the Mannings are not really playing each other - their teams are. It is very unlikely that they will be on the field at the same time during the game. Football games are won and lost by teams, not by individuals. That said, this is still a compelling match up b/c of the teams involved, not b/c of any coincidental familial relationship between the starting QBs. Just because the media or network tells us something is so doesn't mean it is.
Posted by: Christopher Sly | September 7, 2006 2:47 PM
The Mannings are the poster boys of the NFL.
Posted by: Chaloo | September 7, 2006 2:50 PM
LaVar's comment made me chuckle. I hope he wasn't being serious. ;-)
Posted by: Q | September 7, 2006 2:53 PM
In response to the comment about what if the Vick brothers were playing against each other. I really hope I'm reading too much into it but regardless there would be this much hype if the Vick brothers were both leading there club and as good as Mannings.
Posted by: Why | September 7, 2006 2:54 PM
Do Vick brothers are not as good as the Peyton brothers. But if it were a street fight I would bet on the BROTHERS!
Posted by: Fernando | September 7, 2006 3:07 PM
Funny how we never heard that Tiki versus Ronde would be a battle of the brothers. And they've played against each other on the same field at the same time.
Posted by: su | September 7, 2006 3:16 PM
Peyton is THE greatest qb of all time. Eli is probably either the 2nd or 3rd greatest of all time, right ahead of Unitas, Montana and Waterfield.
Posted by: AirBrain | September 7, 2006 3:17 PM
The funny part about Lavar's comment that if he hit the Manning boys' mom, he wouldn't think anything about it is that neither would she because she wouldn't even feel it. What's this guy's career sack numbers anyway? She'd probably toss a stiff arm out there and plant him in the dirt. Enjoy the New York media Lavar, you get what you deserve.
Posted by: Skinsem | September 7, 2006 3:23 PM
the Manning brothers are great, good and very handsome, you guys are just jealous. But Peyton is the best. much love from a ky wildcat, go colts!
Posted by: kydianne | September 7, 2006 3:37 PM
I hate lavar, that dumb traitor, Everyone HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!
Posted by: Esco | September 7, 2006 3:38 PM
"Said Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington: "If his mom were out there in a uniform, I'd hit her and wouldn't think anything about it."
This is the only thing Lavar can hit these days..with the bad knee and all - "Lavar is so over-hyped..over-rated!! So glad he's big mouth is no longer with the skins!
Posted by: YCS | September 7, 2006 3:53 PM
La Who?
Posted by: Dude | September 7, 2006 4:38 PM
I love media bobbleheads: so close to the action yet so far away from understanding.
Pittsburgh's pass rush last year was effective for ONE reason--the Colts hadn't played a meaningful game in over a month. Peyton looked like a deer caught in headlights for the first half and the o-line looked about as sluggish as my granddad after our Thanksgiving meals. Pittsburgh did nothing different than they had for the previous 17 games. The defining difference was that the Colts hadn't played NFL-caliber football for over a month. The Colts o-line is one of the most solid in the NFL...Dungy screwed up by not keeping his team hot for the final 3 games of the season.
As for the Vicks, Michael is a very average QB and Marcus recently got released by the Dolphins. No, the Mannings don't have Super Bowl rings, but at least both of their teams went to the playoffs last year. After years in the league, it's time we realize that Michael Vick is average at best.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 7, 2006 4:48 PM
The Colts, and especially Manning, think they are the team to beat, and they have for a quite few years now. Unfortunately, just because you grew up with a silver spoon inserted in your mouth (Manning)or that have a great team on PAPER (Colts), doesn't mean you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm personally sick of America's "love affair" with Manning and the Colts. As a longtime NFL fan, it's starting to remind me of Marino and the Dolphins in the 80s - Alot of Talk, NO Superbowl. Go Giants!
Posted by: Guido | September 7, 2006 6:36 PM
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Too much hype !
If Michael Vick and his brother were playing against each other would there be this much hype ?
Not !