Yep, my similar reaction before they identified him was, “well, I hope that’s Porter, at least.” I don’t hate him for it at all. I have to say I think this game has brought out some of the worst in the sports commentariat. Sean Payton is being lauded for “taking risks.” Peyton Manning again is being berated for “choking.” But the thing that seems to be lost is that risks have upside and downside. Sean Payton opened the second half with an onside kick, which is a low percentage play even when unexpected. It was not particularly well-executed, either—a 14 yarder directly to a WR, theoretically a “hands guy.” Had the most likely outcome occurred, the Colts probably would have gone up 17-6 and today Payton would be excoriated today as “not believing his team could win straight up, etc.” But because it worked, it’s genius. On the INT, the Colts were in crunch time. Manning had to try to make something happen. So, he made a risky throw and paid for it. So much of any given game is decided by luck, yet most commentators act as if the result was preordained and is always a reflection of the quality of the decision. But I digress. Good for Porter and Roby.

Oh, I’m not that classy. I will miss pointing out that Randle El’s TD pass was much more recent than Purdue’s last, but there’s not much negative to say about Brees.

Thanks, and congrats. Bitter as the defeat is, 4.5 years ago the conventional wisdom was that no NFL game would be played at the Superdome again, and look at the Saints now. As for Manning, I’ve simply accepted that whatever Peyton does, the media will move the goal posts. Before 2006, he couldn’t win the big one. When he won the big one, it didn’t count because the defense and running game were strong. Hell, if Peyton ends up with four, people will say he should have won more. Thanks for stopping by.