Professional football is a game of inches. As the New England Patriots were in the process of squandering a 17-point 4th quarter lead, they gambled on a fourth-and-two from their own 28-yard line—and lost by an inch. A Tom Brady to Kevin Faulk completion was ruled just short of a first down and the Indianapolis Colts proceeded to turn it into a 29-yard yard touchdown drive to come from behind and shock the New England Patriots 35-34.
The Pats couldn’t challenge the controversial decision because they wasted two timeouts on their final drive and had nothing left to possibly overturn that …read more

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is having an MVP-type 2009 season. At the halfway point, he’s first in the National Football League in completion percentage (70.6), second in passing yards (2,545) and touchdown passes (16), and third in overall passer rating (105.2). Most importantly, his team is still undefeated at 8-0. This afternoon, he made some long-term noise by becoming the first quarterback in any decade to pass for 40,000 yards. Peyton was 34-of-50 passing for 318 yards and one touchdown as the Colts beat the Houston Texans 20-17.
Speaking of decades, Peyton now only needs three touchdown passes to become …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
There’s a rather disturbing story about Marvin Harrison in the new ESPN Magazine (01.26.09). I’ve always admired Marvin for his stellar play and the way he performed his job. Who hasn’t? He and Peyton Manning hold the record for most receptions between a quarterback and receiver with 956. All the while, Marvin has seemed like a good guy — quiet and unassuming. He’s a lunch pail kind of player. He comes to work, does his job (well, I might add) and goes home. In this era of overpaid, high maintenance, loud mouth, prima donna receivers, …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year today. Drew was a great choice. All he did was re-write the Saints’ record books this season. He became just the second player in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a single season and he had a team-record and league-leading 34 touchdown passes. Naturally, he spoke of team first:
“I don’t come out from week to week and say I have to throw for 300 (yards). I don’t think about that. It’s really about what I can do to …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was named the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player today. It was a landslide win as Peyton received 32 votes, well ahead of Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington and Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner, who received four votes each. It was Peyton’s third time to win the NFL’s highest individual honor. Only N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre has won as many league MVP honors. As usual, Peyton had the right words to graciously capture the moment:
“I know it’s an individual award, but … truly, in my opinion, a team …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Here is the AFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Peyton Manning, Colts; Brett Favre, Jets; Jay Cutler, Broncos
RB: Thomas Jones, Jets; Chris Johnson, Titans; Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
FB: Le’Ron McClain, Ravens
WR: Andre Johnson, Texans; Brandon Marshall, Broncos; Reggie Wayne, Colts; Wes Welker, Patriots
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs; Antonio Gates, Chargers
T: Joe Thomas, Browns; Jason Peters, Bills; Michael Roos, Titans
G: Alan Faneca, Jets; Kris Dielman, Chargers; Brian Waters, Chiefs
C: Kevin Mawae, Titans; Nick Mangold, Jets
DEFENSE
DE: Mario Williams, Texans; Dwight Freeney, Colts; Robert Mathis, Colts
DT: Albert Haynesworth, …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received 951,246 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in fan balloting for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre (880,833 votes) ranks second overall, while N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning (821,852 votes), Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (767,817 votes) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (673,710 votes) round out the top-five. Here is the list of Top-Ten vote-getters for the 2009 National Football League Pro Bowl:

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Brett Favre, N.Y. Jets
Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Larry …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Forget seconds. How about thirds? That’s the appetizer on the National Football League Thanksgiving menu this Week 13 of the NFL season — three Turkey Day servings of football, followed by a whole lineup of games on Thanksgiving Sunday and Monday. Even the players will be in their easy chairs. Like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning:
“I remember watching Thanksgiving games as a kid. Even in high school and college, and now in the NFL, you practice, you come home and you watch Thanksgiving football.”
Football has been a part of my Thanksgiving Day for as long …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
On November 2nd, World MasterCard is debuting a new Priceless commercial and campaign microsite featuring Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. In the 30-second spot, Peyton appears as a hotel guest vacationing in three “rival” cities: Boston, Cleveland and San Diego. Unaware that the seemingly hospitable hotel employees are in fact taunting him, Peyton responds politely and enthusiastically:
“When I was doing the ‘fan of the fan’ series of spots with MasterCard, fans in other stadiums would chant ‘cut that meat’ and ‘rub some dirt on it.’ Before that, I was used to hearing jeers similar to …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Here’s a sneak peek at the new Peyton Manning World MasterCard commercial which will first air during this weekend’s much-anticipated Sunday Night Football game between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots. This clip includes an interview with Peyton as well as behind-the-scenes footage and outtakes. I’ll post the full commercial tomorrow.