PRESS CONFERENCE COLTS - QB PEYTON MANNING - Ingles

Super Bowl XLIV – Monday, February 1, 2010

QUOTES FROM INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PRESS CONFERENCE

QB PEYTON MANNING

(on developing an offensive rhythm with new wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie) “Well those guys have done a great job improving throughout the season and they have had a lot of help. Our receivers Coach Clyde Christensen has done a great job developing those players. Reggie Wayne’s been an excellent veteran leader for them in the wide receivers room. Those guys, as individuals, have improved. Pierre, I think, utilized his year last year, kind of a redshirt year if you will, and got comfortable with the offense, so he was ready to go when called upon this year. And Austin, for a rookie, utilized his time in mini camps and in our summer school sessions and training camp and was ready to play. But you never know how a guy is going to respond when the lights come on. Both those guys just have a confident look in their eyes. The game has never appeared too big for them, never overwhelmed them. And certainly the timing that I have with those guys has improved through the season through repetition.”

(on the difficulty for those receivers in learning the offense) “Well I think repetitions and experience have become your best teacher. The fact that those guys were starters and playing a ton of snaps, really started with Week 2 after Anthony Gonzalez was injured. That has just paid great dividends for them.”

(on his admiration for what Brees has meant to the New Orleans community) “What Drew, and really the entire Saints team have meant to that community, has been extremely impressive. Being a fellow New Orleanian, I certainly appreciate it. Eli appreciates that. Eli and I both give back, charity-wise to New Orleans. The players that live there, guys that aren’t from there, Drew’s from Texas, other players from all over the United States, that they now play for the Saints have adopted that city as their hometown. Those guys do a lot of things for that city, a lot of community activities. Sean Payton is great that way. You certainly appreciate that, people kind of adopting a city as their hometown, putting their monies and efforts behind it. Drew has spearheaded that. Has been the leader of that team on the field and off the field and I certainly appreciate that. And certainly the city of New Orleans appreciates it.”

(on being a student of the game and what in-game adjustments he makes between possessions) “Well the one thing, since we don’t huddle on the field, we are a no huddle offense, we have to use that time on the sidelines to communicate. And really what I try to do is gain information from Reggie and Pierre, Austin, Dallas, talk to them. I really think it is important for those guys to be assertive and communicate. Tell me what is going on out there. Make suggestions, and real suggestions. Not just ‘hey, I’m open. Throw it to me every time.’ Which is what most receivers say. But, ‘hey, this is a route I can beat this guy on. Don’t call this route, he is covering this one well.’ It has been healthy communication. I can’t tell you how many times we have used a conversation in the second quarter, that comes back up in the third or fourth quarter for a critical play. But you are constantly adjusting. Defenses are constantly doing different things so you better be on your toes. But the main thing is being on the same page with your wide receivers.”

(on the possibility of satisfying critics by winning a second Super Bowl) “I certainly don’t feel that way, don’t get into that. Our team is excited to be here. We certainly want to win this game. Our experience down here three years ago was a memorable one because we were fortunate to win the game. We feel fortunate to be back in this game. I have the same excitement that I had three years ago and just feel fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to play. Your question had a lot of “I’s” phrased in it. I really think of it as a “we.” This is our opportunity to be here as a team. And I feel fortunate to have a number of guys on my team that you would love to go into any type of battle or game with. That is kind of my approach to it and I am sticking with that.”

(on having so many things be the same for the Colts on this Super Bowl trip) “The same weather it certainly appears to be true. I don’t know what that is, the Colts bringing rain down to Miami. People have asked does this give you an advantage staying at the same hotel or practicing at the same field. I certainly don’t think it does. I don’t think staying in the same hotel helps you stop Drew Brees’ offense or figure out where Darren Sharper is going to be. It still has a different feel. It is a new year because we have a new team, we have a new head coach. We have a number of new players. There are 25 guys that were on our team three years ago. Because we are so young, it makes the older guys like myself and Jeff Saturday get excited about being down here. This is not a bad place to have to come back three years later for a Super Bowl. It is a great venue, great football history here, so we are proud to be a part of it. That is kind of how we look at it. We are excited.”

(on not traveling with the team today to Miami) “I think like we have done all year, we have dealt with circumstances in a positive way. We were told what the expectations were for coming to the Pro Bowl. I got to fly on a private plane with six of my best friends and teammates. We had Ruth Chris Steakhouse food on the plane, took a private escort right into Miami, shook a few hands, had to wave, did one interview and made $45,000. I can think of some worse things to put yourself through. I will say, if it was just one guy, if it was just Jeff alone or Reggie by himself, I don’t think that guy would have. The fact that we were together, we felt like we had a team. We got to eat dinner after that. We enjoyed it, made it a positive. But we are glad everybody is here now and we are ready to go.”

(on if winning a second Super Bowl makes the Colts a dynasty) “I don’t view it that way. I don’t analyze it that way. I really analyze it kind of like the previous question, on a year-to-year basis and on a team basis. I have certainly enjoyed this season, playing on this particular team. As I mentioned, so many young players. We got a new head coach. It is exciting to learn more about him as a head coach in a leadership role throughout the season. We are hoping to finish off this season on a high note and make this team a special team. It is a different team than three years ago. It is a different team than last year. I think that is how football is today with the draft, with free agents. Every team has its own unique identity as this team does. It has been a fun ride so far this year.”

(on his initial reaction to New Orleans Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams’ comments last week) “I don’t have one. I didn’t hear it. I guess I have been playing long enough that I don’t have any reaction to a comment like that.”

(on if the Colts offense is itself when Dwight Freeney does not play) “I certainly am not ready to speculate on his situation. I am very hopeful that he will play. Dwight is a guy I have great confidence in since he has been here. He has special characteristics about him and I am counting on those this week. I think in order to win this game, if we are going to have a chance, it has got to be a team effort. Both offense, defense. Special teams have to do their job. We always feel as an offense, responsible and accountable to do our job. You hope Freeney and (Robert) Mathis make a play or Gary (Brackett) or Kelvin Hayden make a play. But at the same time we know we are on offense and we can control what we can control and that will be our philosophy on Sunday against just an excellent New Orleans Saints team.

(on the possibility of the game being a shootout if Freeney does not play) “I don’t know if it would be exciting for me because certainly when you watch the New Orleans Saints’ defense on film all year, one of the things you do notice is the scoreboard. You see every change of possession, you see the New Orleans Saints with seven more points, seven more points. It is not the best feeling and you understand just how explosive their offense can be. I think you have to be careful trying to get out of your rhythm in order to keep up with them. You still have to go play offense the way we have played all year, trying to be efficient. We have been excellent on third down. Been good in the redzone. Those things will be important this year. And for the most part we have protected the ball which might be the most important factor in this game. Like I said, I am not ready to do these ‘what if a guy can’t play’ questions at this point, but I do know that we are going to have to score points in this game if we are going to have a chance to win. But it is a tough task because their defense is unbelievably active. If there is a tipped ball, the ball is going to go in their hands, it is not going to hit the ground. They are around the ball.”