Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning (David J, Phillip/AP Photo)
When it comes to Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning, statistics are impressive, but they're not the only measure.
And lately, Colts President Bill Polian said they sometimes don't apply at all.
Manning, in his 12th season as the Colts' starting quarterback, has thrown multiple interceptions three consecutive weeks for the first time in eight seasons, but Polian Monday on his weekly radio show says the nine-time Pro Bowl selection is playing at the highest level of his career.
“I told one national reporter [Monday] that Peyton is playing as well as he ever has played given the fact that he's breaking in new receivers, that the offensive line play hasn't been what it was in the 49-touchdown season [of 2004] and as a result, our running game – even though the running backs are running tremendously well – isn't what it was in those days,” Polian said on his weekly radio show on 97.1 Hank FM in Indianapolis.
“He has had to shoulder more of the burden. But we're getting great help from the running backs. Our receivers grow every day. [Wide receiver] Pierre Garcon is turning into a run-after-the-catch threat that we've never had here, quite frankly, as well as a tough guy who dishes out as much punishment as he takes. [Wide receiver] Reggie [Wayne] is playing as well as he ever has played.
"[Tight end] Dallas [Clark] is having his best statistical season and playing as well as he ever has played, which is great every year – he should have gone to the Pro Bowl the last three or four years. We're making due on the offensive line, which is a tribute to their courage and grit and toughness.”
*On criticism of Manning and the Colts for interceptions and close victories: “Those things are going to happen. We won the football game. Again, I've said this from the start of the year on: do not subscribe to the theory that you have to throw for 350 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, that you have to allow the other team 170 yards total offense, that you must sack the quarterback four times and have four turnovers or else you don't play a good game. That's not true in the National Football League. It may be at the high school level. It may be if you have Alabama playing a Division I-AA school, but it certainly is not true in the National Football League. That's the bar that so-called experts set, which is completely unrealistic. The rule of thumb for years and years among football professionals has been, 'Have twice as many touchdown passes as interceptions – the ratio is 2:1 – and that's perfectly acceptable. And be careful with the football.' Peyton is nothing if not careful with the football. And, if you are among the best teams in all of professional football – among probably the top four – your turnover ratio, takeaway-giveaway ratio, will be 2:1. If it's plus – let's say five takeaway to four giveaways – you're likely to have a winning season. If you're 2:1, you're likely to finish with 13 or 14 wins. Again, so don't subscribe and accept the unrealistic benchmarks that are created people who really have no understanding of the game.”
*On clinching the AFC South Sunday: "It is a major [step]. It's our first goal every season, to win the division and guarantee ourselves a home game. We are guaranteed a home playoff game. Now, we'll do our best to continue our quest and see if we can the best possible seed we can.”
*On the Colts' recent comebacks: “I think it's a very gritty, gutty football team. They have a lot of confidence in themselves and in each other.”
Reviewing Colts President Bill Polian's weekly radio show . . .
* Part One: Late-season rust and momentum "pure fantasy." Here.
* Part Two: QB Peyton Manning at high a level as ever. Here.
* Part Three: No problem with Dungy's Colts analysis on NBC. Here.
* Part Four: Victory over Houston Sunday showed team's professionalism. Here.
WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE COLTS? SUBSCRIBE TO JOHN OEHSER'S EXAMINER STORIES ABOVE
DOES PEYTON MANNING GET TOO MUCH RESPECT? HERE
MANNING: TOO EARLY TO TALK PLAYOFFS. HERE
POLIANS' CONTRACTS EXTENDED. HERE
REVIEWING BILL POLIAN'S WEEKLY RADIO SHOW
Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part One | “Peaking not an issue for us”
Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Two | Media and team in parallel worlds
Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Three | RB Joseph Addai having “terrific year”
Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Four | Victory over Ravens “courageous performance”
COLTS FANS OWE RB JOSEPH ADDAI AN APOLOGY. HERE
*** CATCH UP WITH ALL THINGS COLTS ON INDY FOOTBALL REPORT. HERE
COLTS 2009 MIDSEASON REPORT: PART ONE. HERE.
COLTS 2009 MIDSEASON REPORT: PART TWO. HERE.
*** READ JOHN OEHSER'S INDIANA PACERS COVERAGE. HERE.
MAGNIFICENT SEVENS: WEEKLY COLTS THOUGHTS . . .
Magnificent Seven I: Seven training camp thoughts and observations
Magnificent Seven II: On the Colts' defensive tackle position and WR Reggie Wayne
Magnificent Seven III: On the Colts' running backs and offensive line
Magnificent Seven IV: On the Colts' offense, OG Ryan Lilja and WR Anthony Gonzalez
Magnificent Seven V: On S Melvin Bullitt and QB Peyton Manning
Magnificent Seven VI: On RB Donald Brown and the start of the season . . . at last
Magnificent Seven VII: On WR Reggie Wayne, the OL and blitzing
Magnificent Seven VIII: On WR Reggie Wayne, QB Peyton Manning and DE Dwight Freeney
Magnificent Seven IX: On DE Robert Mathis, S Bob Sanders and DE Dwight Freeney
Magnificent Seven X: On QB Peyton Manning's start and life without DT Ed Johnson
Magnificent Seven XI: On RB rotation, DE Dwight Freeney and S Bob Sanders
Magnificent Seven XII: On WR Reggie Wayne, TE Dallas Clark and running game
Magnificent Seven XIII: On offensive balance and resting QB Peyton Manning
Magnificent Seven XIV (Part One): On DE Dwight Freeney
Magnificent Seven XIV (Part Two): On TE Dallas Clark
Comments
Peyton your really nice sweet I think you can really trow a ball and that's hot ,Eli is underrated and motionless. But you a great at football and wonderful hope that's forever andeli is. Foreveness fina
December 27, 2009
John Wayne is dead, and apparently so is his spirit.
John Wayne; the personification of the spirit of America, hero, never say die, do what is right regardless of the consequences, right has might, everything we as a people want to stand for, dead.
The Indianapolis Colts coaching staff added the exclamation point this evening in a professional football game with the New York Jets. In an era when this nation so desperately needs a hero, something to believe in, something greater that we can imagine ourselves to be, the coaching staff of the Indianapolis Colts cowered in the face of greatness.
Like the CEOs and politicians of our era that sacrifice the greater good for the potential short tem gains the coaching staff of the Indianapolis Colts succumbed and allowed their team, dare I say, America’s team to fail, to fall short of what might have been. Why? How many Super Bowls have there been? How many Super Bowl winners have their been? How many wi
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