F- I- N- A- L- L- Y.   This year of professional football has finally come to an end.  It’s been a good year for some teams, and a great year for a lot of fans (unless you are a fan of the Colts, Rams, Dolphins, Browns, Vikings, or Deadskins……oops, typo there, I meant Redskins).  Most of my friends, including my Wife, are Redskin fans, and I dearly love to tease them.  You see, for thirty years I was a Baltimore Colts fan, and it was a requirement that you had to “hate” the Redskins.  Of course, I don’t dislike the Redskins anymore.  In fact, I am a fan (don’t you go telling my friends that), unless they are playing the Colts, or Ravens.  Old habits are hard to break.

It’s been a year full of surprises and accomplishments.  Some teams playing WAY over their talents, and great teams playing UNDER theirs. Fans or not, you have to enjoy watching Brady, Brees, and Rodgers.  They make it look so easy, setting records as they go.  And the future of the quarterback position in the NFL, Newton, Stafford, and TeBow.  Next year, if things play out as predicted, we can watch first round draft picks, Luck, and RGIII.  How exciting.  I’m  not taking anything away from the talented running backs, wide receivers, tight ends , line backers. corner backs, kickers, linemen, and special teams, I’m just saying the Old Guard at quarterback is being replaced by a new breed.

Peyton Manning.  Quite possibly the greatest quarterback to ever  play the game.  (I’m sure Brady and Brees would disagree with that statement).  Peyton, sidelined with neck surgery, had to watch his beloved Indianapolis Colts lose game after game.  As you watched him on the sidelines, you could almost see the tears in his eyes.  For this team does not belong to owner Jim Irsay, it belongs to Manning.  He built this franchise.  Without him, they would still be at the bottom of the AFC South (just like this year). The new Lucas Oil stadium isn’t called the “House that Peyton built” without reason.  So, whatever happens to Peyton, whether he plays, retires, or coaches, he will always be the “Gentle Giant” of football to me.

Moving on to Super Bowl XLVI.  One team, the Patriots, which I predicted before the season started, would be there.  And the Giants, not a chance in h*** of being there (I predicted the Bears).  But, the Cinderella Giants, and, playing beyond his natural ability, Eli Manning prevailed.  They beat the dominant Patriots, and their cheating head coach Belichick, at their own game (again).  And, ironically, Eli Manning did it in the “House that Peyton built”.  Congrats to the entire Giants team for a job well done.

Ten years from now, will we remember which teams played, and which team won?  Probably not.  But, we will remember some wanna-be singer named M.I.A flipping off the crowd, and millions of people watching on TV.  Such class.  When will people learn that, if you want to be remembered, do great things.  Create world peace.  Stop global warming.  Cure cancer.  Don’t resort to sensationalism, as your claim to fame (aka Janet Jackson).  Maybe this young lady(?), who calls herself M.I.A., will do us all a favor and really become M.I.A. (Missing in Action).

God Bless America