What Doppler was to radar, Peyton Manning is to quarterbacking. In this sublime campaign of an already stellar career, here are Manning's record-setting numbers:
Most touchdown passes in a season (49).
| _____ Monday Morning_____
A look back at the weekend and a look ahead at the coming week's action with a fresh new edge.
• Norman Chad's Couch Slouch
• Starting Lineup
• The Chat: Ultimate Fighting Championship reporter Kerri Kasem
• Two-Minute Drill
• 7 Days
_____ The Quote _____
"I'm the biggest thing to hit this city since Tony Montana."
-- Shaquille O'Neal, referring to the character portrayed by Al Pacino in "Scarface." _____ The Monday Morning Poll _____
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Most audibles on first down in a season (117).
Most words spoken at line of scrimmage while pointing (12,029).
Most TV commercials concurrently airing (4).
Most younger brothers winless in first season as NFL quarterback (1).
As I watched the Colts' Manning throw his record-tying 48th and record-breaking 49th touchdown passes Sunday to James Mungro and Brandon Stokley in Indianapolis, two things came to mind:
1. They were well-thrown balls.
2. They were balls well-thrown in a climate-controlled, environmentally pristine setting.
Playing in the RCA Dome is like living in Biosphere 2 -- you eliminate most of the outside-world deterrents, degenerates and distractions. And, indeed, Manning plays most of his games indoors. I hate to diminish Manning's wonderful season, but this is an area of expertise I've built my entire life around.
Quite simply, everything is easier indoors.
Have you ever tried running a two-minute drill from a one-horse open sleigh? Trust me, you'd rather have Michael Strahan nipping at your heels than Jack Frost nipping at your nose. So before we ship Manning straight to Canton, let's see him bundle up and play like his rough-and-tumble predecessors.
Sammy Baugh wasn't slinging it indoors. Otto Graham didn't go to 10 straight championship games indoors. Johnny Unitas didn't throw touchdown passes in 47 consecutive games indoors. Brett Favre hasn't started 204 straight games indoors.
(Note to Editors: If you need to fill space, please call me during normal business hours and I will provide you with up to 25 additional "[Fill in the blank] didn't [fill in the blank] indoors" items.)
