Here's a pretty good article about Manning and the Colts by black NYT writer William C. Rhoden:
Colts Take a Long View and See the Future Now
By WILLIAM C. RHODEN
Published: January 10, 2005
Indianapolis
I HAVE a jinx theory about the Indianapolis Colts, the same theory that affects the Boston Red Sox, the Jets and all other franchises that have been punished for some act that enraged the sports gods.
Indianapolis's transgression is pretty easy to figure out, and Peyton Manning's role in reversing the hex is becoming clear as well.
The Colts' hex began on March 28, 1984, when Robert Irsay, who was the Colts' owner, ripped the heart out of Baltimore. In the darkness before dawn, Irsay loaded up the vans and moved the Colts from Baltimore, which had its first pro football franchise in 1946, to Indianapolis.
Four day before the Colts' move, Peyton Manning celebrated his eighth birthday.
More than two decades later the franchise - and the franchise quarterback - are attempting to win a Super Bowl.
As a result of their 49-24 pasting of the Denver Broncos yesterday, Manning and the Colts are three steps away from breaking the hex.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are strong, the Jets are fortunate and the New England Patriots are well rounded. But the Colts are this season's team of destiny.
I saw something in the Colts and heard something from Manning yesterday that made me think the hex will end this year. I saw physicality from the Colts' defense and heard Manning describe a sense of mission that went beyond merely competing to win.
Players routinely talk about taking it one game at a time. That's one of the great and most uttered clichés in sport. Players, in fact, do look ahead. But Manning, perhaps because he has enjoyed such a record-breaking season, is attuned to how hollow statistics without championships can be.
Manning became aware of the importance of legacy last January when he was forced into one of the most humiliating games of his pro career. He was sacked four times by New England and he threw four interceptions as the Patriots beat the Colts in the A.F.C. championship game, 24-14.
"I played like an absolute dog last year in that game," he said yesterday.
The performance validated the perception that the Colts were a fragile team and that Manning was a fragile player who would put up great numbers but would crumble under the pressure of playoff competition.
So when he was asked after the game yesterday how important winning a championship is to him, Manning leapt at the question.
"It's extremely important," said Manning, who passed for 457 yards and 4 touchdowns yesterday. "That's all I want to do. Individually I've accomplished a lot in a short period of time. But we haven't won the Super Bowl since I've been the quarterback here."
If more athletes placed themselves in the larger context of history - thought about how and why they would be remembered - a lot of the misdeeds and public outrages would be reduced, if not eliminated. Randy Moss has a mixed legacy for greatness on one hand, poor taste and bad timing on the other.
Manning, meanwhile, is playing for the moment, but he is also playing for the archives.
He passed Dan Marino's league record for must touchdown passes in a season, but the most significant achievement is winning the Super Bowl. From 2000 to 2003, the Colts under Manning lost three consecutive playoff games. The Ravens, who replaced the Colts in Baltimore, gave the city a Super Bowl championship in the 2000 season.
Last season Manning won his first playoff game and led the Colts to the A.F.C. championship game against New England, where he had his miserable day.
Manning watched all the games on Saturday. He watched St. Louis squeak by Seattle and stayed up late to watch the Jets beat San Diego in overtime. He identified with the losing teams.
"I understand what it's like for these teams that came up short," he said. "I've been there. I know how disappointing it is. It's why you lift weights in March - for the opportunity, and you want to take advantage of it.
"We've got a shot. It's all you can ask for. There's nothing worse than being home right now and saying 'Boy, I wish we would have had a shot at New England.' We have a chance."
The Colts have a great chance. There will apparently be no blizzards in New England next Sunday. More important, there will be no Ty Law. Law, the veteran cornerback who was the cornerstone of the Patriots' defense against the Colts last season, has a broken foot and will miss the game.
The Pats will be a different team, but so will the Colts.
"Obviously, I would really like to go up there and help my team win the game, whether it's 35-34 or 3-0," Manning said. "You never know what it's going to be up there.
"I just want to go up there and play well, to win; that's what you have to do against these guys. You cannot play average and then beat these guys. You got to play well."
After the game yesterday, Tony Dungy, the Colts' coach, said this team was more mature than the team that was mauled by New England.
"It means we do a lot better now in the pressure situations," Manning said. "We're not being overwhelmed by the moment."
Maturity sets in when a team or a player becomes aware of laying track, making history. The Colts - Manning in particular - are aware of laying track this season. That gives the team a sense of resolve and purpose that goes beyond a simple game won.
Manning is playing for the archives.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/10/sports/football/10rhoden.h tml