Peyton's missed opportunity

Congratulations to the Saints!! I wasn't rooting for them, but neither was I rooting against them. But...Peyton, Peyton, Peyton. He dropped the ball.

If you look at the stats, he had a great game, but with one blemish. 333 passing yards on 31-45 attempts and a touchdown. It was the interception, though...

Now I have, as do many, a HUGE man crush on number 18. He is amazing to watch. It is football artistry. He is the smartest player on the player on the field and nothing surprises him. He eats defenses for lunch. He is already in the discussion for greatest quarterback ever, but that discussion is usually a heated argument of detractors because of playoff failures. Yes, he has a ring, but it is just one- the same amount as Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Jeff Hostetler, and Mark Rypien. A second championship, and he cements himself as a winner (multiple rings) AND incredible quarterback.

However, reality clobbered this possibility. Manning's great numbers were for naught when he threw the game deciding interception. Now, to be clear, Manning did not lose the game. Pierre Garcon's third down drop in the second quarter halted Indy's insane offensive momentum. The Colts' defense, after the one Dwight Freeney sack, didn't get close enough to even sniff Brees' deodorant, much less pressure his throws. Brees picked them apart, and tackling was an issue throughout the game. Old Man Stover missed a crucial field goal. New Orleans made in-game adjustments after a disaster of a first quarter and took control of the game with the onside kick at the start of the second half. None of this was Manning's fault.

But what he needed to do was to go and WIN the game. He needed to, for his legacy, take all of these disdvantages, and then put the team on his shoulders. He needed to march down the field, hitting pass after pass, using the clock, leading his team to the tying score with just a few seconds left. He needed a single break in overtime, and then to take the Colts down the field for the championship winning score. We needed the Manning Machine QB. Instead, we got Brett Favre- a pick-six at the worst time.

Alas, for now, Peyton Manning is still the greatest REGULAR SEASON quarterback of all time. I don't think that there is much argument there, but he could have made himself the best ever. Maybe he will yet win another Super Bowl, or even more than another, but for now, the discussion will be the same- just discussion.

Super Bowl Sunday- The Debate

The debate- Colts or Saints? Manning or Brees (Drew Breeeees!)? Pierre or Pierre? Nope- the debate I face is the same each year, regardless of the two championship opponents. This debate is that of faith or football, or in some cases, family or football. I was raised for the most part with no TV on Sundays, at the guidance of a stake president when I was quite young. Even now, just the discussion of sports, especially on Sundays, can bring disagreement when I get together with my siblings and their spouses.

Sundays are a day of worship, a day of rest, a day for family and a day for the Lord. It is a day of service for our fellow men. Football doesn't really go along with that. And yet, I'm stubborn. This Super Bowl will mark the fourth year in a row that my wife and I will get together with friends and/or family to watch the Super Bowl. We eat, cheer, and enjoy the time together. It is not spiritual, but it is not irreverent.

Here is my regret- it isn't something I can share with my whole family. My wife's family isn't huge into sports, but one thing they did on Sundays was watch TV together as a family, creating time together doing that. No, it wasn't the Super Bowl, but it was a family activity. I wish I COULD share this with my family (brothers, sisters, parents). I consider myself a faithful member of the Church and a spiritual man. The Super Bowl will not keep me away from Church meetings or from responsibilities to my family or to the Church. But I will be cheering on Peyton Manning, hoping to see him cement himself as one of the greatest ever.

Maybe my parents are right. Maybe I am not as good a man I could be if I chose to forgo football and TV on Sundays. No, it has not been said specifically that TV or sports on TV is wrong. Maybe it is. If so, I may someday make that change. Until then, Super Bowl Sunday will continue to be a chance to share time with friends and family (at least those that will share it with us).