SUPER BOWL XLIV - COLTS QB PEYTON MANNING - Ingles

COLTS QB PEYTON MANNING

(on the game) “We probably never got into a great rhythm. We were certainly worse in lapses in our final possession. Like you said, we got the ball on the first drive and had a good drive, then the second drive went down there and scored and then it was strange there after that not having, I think maybe six plays in the second quarter then of course once the Saints won the toss, it was big to hold them there at the end of the first half on that goal line stand. Disappointing possession on that next series not being able to maintain the ball, run the clock out, gave them three more points, and then we let them have the onsides kick on that first series of the second half. That kind of negated the coin toss. That was disappointing so certainly made it tough.”

(on the interception by Saints CB Tracy Porter) “Made a great play. He made a great play. That’s all I can say about it. Porter made a heck of a play.”

(on the route that Colts WR Reggie Wayne ran on the interception by Porter) “It’s kind of a play we’ve run a lot and Porter just made a great play.”

(on if the interception was the play that broke the back) “Well yeah certainly is disappointing. We were down seven there and on the drive before, that was disappointing as well. We had a good drive going, got down there, had good field position. What happened on first down ... Had a second down when we threw a screen that really had a chance to be a big play, we lost yards on that. Had the third down that was incomplete and then giving them good field position with the missed field goal, and then the Saints of course capitalized. I give the Saints a lot of credit. They played well in all phases. Made some critical plays on special teams, defense made stops when they had to, and Drew (Brees) did a good job getting his team in the end zone. They deserve the win today.”

(on what he saw from the Saints offense) “I really didn’t ... Obviously I’m over there thinking about our offensive plays, thinking about what adjustments we have to make. I was thinking about plays so I didn’t get a chance to watch their offense specifically, but it looked like they converted some critical third downs and did a good job there in the second half in the red zone.

(on if he’d call it a disappointing interception) “It’s certainly disappointing. Very disappointed. Disappointed.”

(on if he thought this game would come down to a big play like that) “Yeah it’s the Super Bowl. You never know how it’s going to turn out. I thought the Colts started out hot and I thought the Saints had got some momentum there at the end of the first half and beginning of the third quarter and kind of kept the momentum from there. I thought we just didn’t play well enough at certain times and in certain phases and the Saints certainly deserve the win.”

(on it being Saints head coach Sean Payton’s game plan to keep the ball away from Manning) “Obviously he’s got to speak to that. When we have a chance to possess the ball, it’s our job to score. The first drive we wanted to score a touchdown having to settle for a field goal there was disappointing, then the turnover – disappointing. And then there at the end, obviously, if we punch it in down there at the end there, you have a shot at the onsides kick. So we had some chances, but like I said, I give the Saints all the credit. They made the critical plays when they had to, we didn’t, and that was the difference in the ball game.”

(on if he can address what this win for the Saints means to the people of New Orleans) “Well it’s hard to address at this point. I certainly know how excited our team was three years ago and how excited our fans in the city of Indianapolis were three years ago, so I understand how excited the Saints players are, their families, and the city of New Orleans is going to be. But obviously, on behalf of the Colts and our team, we’re very disappointed and we’re sorry to our fans. I’m sorry to our fans that we weren’t able to get it done today.”

(on if there was more pressure on Colts former head coach Tony Dungy’s comments that the Colts would win) “I didn’t hear. I didn’t know what he said. Obviously, it’s a game that we wanted to win.”

(on leaving the field immediately and not congratulating Saints QB Drew Brees) “I’ll certainly talk to Drew. I certainly know how it was three years ago when we won and there’s not much consolation for the guys that didn’t win. There’s the stage being set up, and the celebration, and it’s the time for the Saints to celebrate. It’s their field. They deserve the moment. But I certainly congratulate all their players and the Saints organization. I will speak to Drew Brees, speak to Sean Payton, and they deserve all the credit.”

(on the interception) “Porter made a great play on the ball. He made a good break on it and just made a heck of a play.”

(on if he regrets not being more aggressive on the last series at the end of the first half) “I think based on the field position, certainly on third-and-one, we expected to get that. Had we gotten that first down, we were going to call a time out and then go back into our two-minute offense, but (Colts Head Coach) Jim Caldwell told (Colts Senior Offensive Coordinator) Tom (Moore) to try to get a first down, try to punch it out first. We were in phase to do that. I think we had second-and-six and then got five yards on the next play I think. Third-and-one, we were in good position. The third-and-one execution of the play was disappointing. We feel like you should convert that third down and we didn’t, certainly gave them a short field, and gave them the easy field goal. That was a disappointing series.”

(on putting tonight into perspective after a 14-2 season) “We sort of addressed that whole situation a month ago during the regular season. I felt like we played well this postseason. We played well in our first playoff game, played well two weeks ago, and at times made some plays against the Saints, but obviously didn’t make enough plays. We just didn’t play well enough to win.”

(on if the key play was the one down the middle to Colts WR Austin Collie) “It was a third-and-12, no, that’s certainly … (Jonathan) Vilma gets in that area in that certain coverage. We were disappointed to have the third-and-12e. We talked about kind of staying in phase on first and second down, and we had a negative second-down play that forced that third and long. So that was disappointing.”

(on if he can imagine what the people of New Orleans are feeling right now) “Well like I said, we are disappointed; certainly having won a Super Bowl three years ago I know how exciting it was for our team and for our players and our fans. So I know the people of New Orleans and the Saints have that same feeling right now and I congratulate them.”

(on how their lack of offensive possessions left them no room for error when they had the ball) “Yeah I would certainly agree. Every possession felt precious out there. I was disappointed on the first series having to settle for a field goal. Then we had a third-down drop which stopped another drive, had the third one where we got stopped, and then moved the ball pretty well in the second half when we had it. Then obviously the turnover – disappointing – then the turnover on downs at the end of the game was disappointing.”

(on what it was the Saints defense did specifically that disrupted the Colts’ offensive rhythm) “Oh, I think I’d have a hard time saying that. I thought their offense staying on the field probably, kept us off the field, kind of like you said earlier. But I felt like we probably stopped ourselves for the most part on the third-and-1, on the third-down dropped pass, and then certainly on the interception. (Tracy) Porter made a great play on that play.”

(on his brother, Eli Manning, talking to him after the game) “Certainly my family’s been very supportive of me all year.”

(on if WR Reggie Wayne was where he thought he would be on Porter’s interception) “I haven’t seen it. I haven’t seen the play. I didn’t see it on the replay or didn’t look at the picture.”

(on if he talked to Wayne about it coming off the field) “Yeah, he said Porter squatted on the play, and Porter made a good break on the play. I give him a lot of credit.”

(on going to Wayne on a couple of in-route plays) “It was a different formation than the plays before. That’s been a good play for us all year long. On that particular play, like I said, Porter made a great break on the ball.”

(on if he called that play at the line because he saw a blitz coming) “That was after a timeout. We called it on the sideline.”

(on Colts WR Pierre Garcon’s drop on a third-and-4 play) “You never know. Pierre’s made a ton of plays for us all year. He had a huge catch today and the touchdown, that’s one. It happened. When something like that happens, you’ve got plenty of chances to overcome, it and Pierre’s had a heck of a season. He made some big plays there in the second half, and made some good runs after the catch. He’s had a heck of a year for us.”

(on the job that the Saints did constantly changing up their looks) “Yeah, I mean, it’s certainly what they do. I felt like we handled their looks for the most part when we had the ball. Like I said, we had some chances to make some plays that we just didn’t make, but they’re a versatile defense and you have to read it out every single play. I thought we did handle most of their looks, but, certainly we had some chances to make some more plays and we just didn’t make them.”