In his post game press conference Peyton Manning, said, "I want to be a good teammate and all, but we definitely had some protection problems". So he's blaming his offensive line for the loss.

That doesnt show much class to me. Give Pitt. credit for getting pressure and confusing them.

I was disappointed also. Character, class, leadership all seem to be lacking in Manning's repeated comments about "protection problems". If he was worried about protection he shoulda wore a condom...over his head. Step up man, didn't Tony teach you better? Maybe that's why, even with all the talent he has, he just can't win the big one.
Thank goodness we carve our acheivments in stone and our faults in the sand. Time will wash away the bitter taste of defeat. The Colts will be back...but ya gotta wonder if Manning's team mates will ever have his back again.

That was pretty weak in my opinion for Manning to say that.

Manning spoke the truth. When his line played well, in the past, he also let people know about it. I think Glenn's been playing soft since his Pro Bowl snub. That, and failure to pick-up the blitz, were the Colts major problems today.

Surprised he didn't criticize Colts fans. Crowd noise cost the Colts a TD.

Manning, as talented as he is, would have been ran out of town had he criticized the fans for "fan noise".

Case in point - In the mid 90's, it was a regular occurence for Troy Aikman to have to make gestures to the crowd as he came to the line for them to quiet down. It would happen multiple times in a game during key situations when the crowd was going absolutely nuts. After the game, he would praise the crowd. They are fans, they will make noise.

As for condemning his o-line, that statement should not have been made. He can make that statement in the lockerroom. It wasn' simply to offensive line, they were playing a damn good team, and in true Indianopolis Colts fashion, they got beat.

Why is it classless? Did you not see all the sacks the line was allowing? yeah pitt got there on blitzes but even when they werent blitzing the front four was getting great pressure.

The defense was winning the battle. Regardless of why, even if it was poor play, it should have been kept in the lockerroom.

Manning has made some bad passes in his career, and he has even had some bad games. I dont think the offensive linemen were getting behind the mic and blaming Manning for sucking.

The offensive line always gets a pass....he praises them when they do good and should say when they sucked.

Just don't say it on national T.V. It must suck to be a Manning about now.

You don't call out teammates in a press conference. You got a problem with the way they played, say it in the lockerroom or on the sidelines. MAybe instead of changing the play every 3 seconds,which in turn changes blocking assignments, he should stick to what he called in the 1st place. That offense has to much "commition"going on before the snap.

Manning chokes again in a playoff game and wants to blame someone else, typical.

Manning didn't exactly choke, Vanderjagt did. I probably spelled that wrong, but oh well. Manning shouldn't have made the comments he made, but it wasn't completely his fault.

When a team goes into a prevent, which Pitt did, it is real easy to rack up numbers. Manning should of been doing that all day but he fails to show up in the big game, as usual.

He didnt complete a pass until what the Second quarter? He should have blamed himself and took a page from Tiger Woods. " I didnt have my A game today!"

Manning shouldn't have mentioned his "protection" problem. His O-line didn't overthrow every Colts receiver in the first quarter.

And who ARE these idiots attending home games? The home teams QB shouldn't have to make gestures in an attempt to hush the crowd. Saw the same shit in the Dallas game a couple of weeks ago..... Idiots.

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First off, let me ask these questions:
1) Show me where he blames the O-line? Could it be he is calling out the coaching staff?
2) Show me the FOUR questions before this one, where he was asked about protection...and he poo, pooed it off.
3) If you watched the game, they had no issue when Pittsburgh ran straight in with 4 or less, or used one of there normal blitzes. They totally changed their blitzes..and the o-line and off. plan by Indy couldn't handle it.
4) If you honestly think "we had some protection problems" is calling someone out and dogging them...you are all waaaaayyyy to damn sensitive.

I played some O-line in high school...if I played like that and that was all that was said...I would be ecstatic.

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Expert on nothing, opinionated on everything...

It's called being a pro. For all the hurries,hits and sacks Kyle Boller takes, never ONCE has he blamed his protection or called out his teammates, its always " I have to play better". Kyle may not be the player Manning is but he is definitely a better man.

1.) "I am trying to be a good teammate". That telss me he is talking about his O-Line not his coaches...

He probably heard Tiki Barber get away with making excuses for just having a bad game so he felt he could follow suit. I don't think Peyton's a bad guy at all.. au contraire, I feel he's one of the better spokesmen for today's NFL, not unlike Tiki. But it is really classless on the parts of 2 normally classy players to make public statements to cover their own temporary inadequacies, be it against teammates or coaches.

On the other end of the spectrum... Funny how I read that Cowher was actually supporting the officials that are now taking heat from the league.

I have come to the opinion the past 2 years that Peyton is starting to think he is above the law. Maybe believing his own press clippings and Sportscenter features? That was only reinforced when he had the balls to wave off the punt team that Dungy sent out. In the past he has been revered as a "2nd Offensive Coordinator" by many media outlets. Looks like now he feels as though he's a "2nd Head Coach". Wait 'til April when he's calling the shots in the Colts' Draft War Room.

Too bad because he's a tremendous cerebral and physical talent.. but this past weekend reinforces why I'd take Brady over Manning... I can live with a guy that has a bad game and acknowledges it over one that has a bad game and seems to be in denial about it.

Above the law? Give me a break. You do realize that to reach this level in sports you HAVE TO BE arrogant, greedy and selfish. These guys make a living at beating other men at a physical game. Every single one of these players think they are better than everyone else ESPECIALLY the great ones. Why is it that people get upset when players are honest.

Leinart said that he still thinks that USC was better...good for him...yet people bash him for that? I would bash him if he DIDNT think his team was better.

Tiki said the team was outcoached among other things. I would bash him if he said the coaches did a fantastic job because it is clear they did not.

Now Peyton says they had some protection problems. What do you want him to say that the line did great? Peyton never got hit that much in the past and Im sure he beleives with every fiber of his being that if he has time the team is successful.

Zepp,
That's all well and fine. To make it to the top of any profession takes a great deal of self centered focus. Cockiness, false bravado, egotism, self agrandizment are usefull against 300 lb men hell bent to crush your liver. He lost, take it like a man. From a mechanical point of view, Peyton threw like Eli. Didn't have a damn thing to do with protection. His lack of mobility and missed reads caused most of the problems. The series prior Bettis' fumble, Pitt went back to their first half defensive scheme, forgoing the prevent defense, and flat out played him and his line. I didn't see anyone throw Peyton under the bus because he was slow footed and unable to make the right call under pressure. Maybe his shit works against some of the lower bracket teams that they fattened up their record against, but in the playoffs he has yet to really impress. He purportedly has a leadership position on his team, as such he needs to keep the finger pointing in house. He'll have plenty of time in the off season (again) to address his "protection" problems. In the mean time, he dissrespected his team and most of all, Tony Dungy. Peyton sucks as a man.