Indianapolis Colts

I have to admit being a little shocked (and perhaps more than a little pleased) that the Indianapolis Colts lost their bid to join the New England Patriots for the Super Bowl.

So baby brother Eli is now with the Giants and facing Tom Brady as the underdog. I think (whether I'm a Pats fan or not) that they have as good a chance of winning as the Colts - but then again I didn't think the Colts could beat the Pats either so I guess that's not saying too much.

So Peyton Manning will be watching from the sidelines and hoping that his brother Eli - who has far less experience and polish than he does - can give Tom Brady the 'comeuppance' that they feel he so richly deserves.

Tom Brady is a better quarterback than either of the Mannings. The 2007 stats tell the story:

Tom Brady: TDS 50 INT 8 YDS 4,806 RTG 117.2

Eli Manning: TDS 23 INT 20 YDS 3,336 RTG 73.9

Payton Manning: TDS 31 INT 14 YDS 4,040 RTG 98.0

Call me foolish but I think that Tom Brady clearly is the better quarterback and neither of these brothers is capable of beating him.

So if you watched the Colts vs the Titans on Sunday December 30, you're aware that the Colts didn't even bother to leave their starters in. Let's face it, the game meant NOTHING at all to the Colts, they've already clinched their playoff spot.

In my opinion, this was just WRONG. Let's face it folks whether you like it or not the Titans simply are not playoff material (this year). The Colts (in my opinion) gave the game to the Titans. They had an obligation to play like they've played every other game all year long, they had an obligation to play like they cared if they won.

I believe the Colts should have taken a lesson from the Giants who had nothing to gain and nothing to lose when playing against the New England Patriots on Saturday - they played their hearts out. But then again - for as much as we're saying that they had nothing to gain or lose, is that really true? The Giants stoood to be the team who once again stopped a perfect season!

Anyway, going back to the Colts - I don't like Peyton Manning - I think he's arrogant - not to take away his work he's a good quarterback (not great in my opinion).

So, chances look fairly good that Peyton Manning will be meeting Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. Will Manning only play part of a game like he did against the Titans? Not likely.

The Colts' Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl V is reportedly in the possession of Georgia Frontiere, owner of the St. Louis Rams. Frontiere's late husband, former Colts' owner Carroll Rosenbloom, swapped franchises in 1972 with Rams' owner Robert Irsay but managed to keep possession of the Super Bowl trophy by "borrowing" it and simply neglecting to return it. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle authorized a replacement trophy for the Colts, but the Colts lost possession of this trophy in 1986 when, as part of the legal settlement following the Colts' move to Indianapolis, the replacement trophy was awarded to the city of Baltimore.

The Colts are one of eight "dome teams" in the NFL, and in 2007 became the first such team to win a Super Bowl since the 1999 St. Louis Rams, and the first ever to win one in an outdoor stadium.

The Colts are the only team in the AFC South to have won a Super Bowl.

All three of the Colts Super Bowl appearances have been in Miami.

No Colt has won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Before Colts home games between 2004 and 2006, the RCA Dome monitors displayed the warriors from the final battle in the film
Braveheart which features warriors with their faces painted blue with woad screaming and shouting, while the Dome crowd joins in. In 2007 the footage was changed to a scene from the film 300 with a similar motif.

At the start of the 2007 season the Indianapolis Colts franchise is 8 games under .500 (including playoffs).

First Regular-Season Game as the Baltimore Colts: A 13-9 victory over the Chicago Bears, 9/27/53.

 First Regular-Season Game as the Indianapolis Colts: A 23-14 loss to the New York Jets, 9/2/84. First Regular-Season Win as the Indianapolis Colts: A 35-21 victory over the Houston Oilers, 9/9/84.

 First Winning Season: 1957 (7-5).

 First Playoff Appearance: A 23-17 overtime victory over the New York Giants for the 1958 NFL Championship, 12/28/58.

 First Super Bowl Appearance: A 16-7 loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III, 1/12/69.

 First Super Bowl Win: A 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V, 1/17/71.

 First Draft Choice: Billy Vessels, HB, Oklahoma, 1953.

 First to Rush 100 Yards in a Game: John Huzvar, 117 yards vs. the Detroit Lions, 11/7/53.

 First to Pass 400 Yards in a Game: Johnny Unitas, 401 yards vs. the Atlanta Falcons, 9/17/67.

 First 1,000-Yard Rusher: Lydell Mitchell, 1,193 yards (1975).

 Most Career Rushing Yards: Edgerrin James, 9,226 yards (1999-2005)

 Most Career Passing Yards: Johnny Unitas, 39,768 yards (1956-1972).

 Most Career Receptions: Marvin Harrison, 1,022 receptions (1996-2006).

 All-Time Leading Scorer: Mike Vanderjagt, 995 points (1998-2005).

 First All-League Selection: Tom Keane, HB, 1953.

 First Colt Elected to the Hall of Fame: DT Art Donovan, 1968.

 Most Lopsided Win: A 56-0 victory over the Green Bay Packers, which was also the team's first shutout, 11/2/58.