Posted on 01/12/2005 11:52:50 AM PST by bikepacker67
FOXBORO, Mass. -- Peyton Manning, who rarely speaks ill of anyone, referred to his teammate, kicker Mike Vanderjagt, as "an idiot kicker" before the 2003 Pro Bowl.
Vanderjagt, who handed the Patriots a 27-24 opening night victory when he missed a 48-yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime, has been cementing his reputation for running off at the mouth. After the Colts beat the Broncos last Sunday in Indianapolis to set up Sunday's playoff against the Patriots, Vanderjagt said that the Patriots, who beat the Colts in last season's AFC Championship Game, aren't as good as they once were and "I think they're ripe for the picking."
Most Patriots declined to comment on Vanderjagt's statement.
"You're asking me to comment on what a kicker said?" linebacker Tedy Bruschi said.
But safety Rodney Harrison, never scared to make his feelings known on or off the field, couldn't resist a swipe.
"He has to be a jerk, Vanderjerk," Harrison said.
Bill Belichick declined to comment on what Vanderjagt said, but the Patriots coach did admit that he sometimes has used what opposing players say to motivate his team.
"I'm sure he'll be out there a few times in the game to do his one special thing," Belichick said. "I don't think this game is going to be decided by some comments ... in the paper."
(Excerpt) Read more at ctnow.com ...
lol...you need to cut back on the caffeine amigo
Pats by 3 (a last second Vinateri kick, of course)
New England has a REAL kicker (or at least a real good one).
As a Pats fan, I'd say the Pats have a lot of pressure. True, a lot is made about the Pats beating the Colts, but it's not quite at the point where people just assume that they'll win, like when the Yankees played the Red Sox before the '04 ALCS. But right now, most people are favoring the Colts because of the injuries the Pats have suffered of defense, and because there's a lot of support for Peyton Manning to come through.
They would have won three Bowls in a row, had they not lost that tiebreaker to the Jets 2 years ago (which the Jets painfully squandered against the awful Raiders).That's only because the Packers laid down and spread like $3 whores in the last game of the regular season.
What a freakin letdown! After we came back to shock the fins.
I don't think they'd have won two the Super Bowl years ago. They were 9-7 and couldn't stop the run to save their lives.
Once he got the record out of the way, Peyton has looked like a man on a mission. Especially Sunday vs. the Broncos. The guy is fricking awesome, especially considering that he's not very athletic. IMO 90% of Peyton's success is pure determination to excel. Eli is the one who's almost a clone of their father in a physical and athletic sense, but he's very laid back and reserved, dead opposite of Peyton.
MM
correction:
won two the Super Bowl years ago= won the Super Bowl two years ago
I agree with him though. Remember last year, how everyone and their grandmother was jumping on the Brett Favre bandwagon? And then they blew it against Philly. Three years ago, it was all about "The Greatest Show on Turf", and how the Rams were destined to go down in history as one of the greatest teams of all time... and then the Super Bowl came around.
I'm no big Colts fan, but I have to remember someone else as having that title...
They should not have been in the Super Bowl vs the Rams. Thanks to the refs blown call in the Raiders game. But..since I hate the Raiders and the Rams who cares.
"Psh niether has a chance once my Jets get done with the Steelers".
HA H HA HA HA HA HA
Superbowl Falcons
Colts
Yeah right. A rested Steeler team will take this one.
If I was Mr. Vandeerjerk, I would exit the field very quickly after kicking the ball........
the colts have too many weapons and if they lose to the pats i will be very surprised. i think all this "peyton is a choker" thing is unfair and will get put to bed where it belongs.
sorry, pats fans, just my opinion.
My point exactly. This is why I think they may keep the "Arc of the Covenant" in their locker room!
I'll say it again--Go Pats!
But, it wouldn't surprise me if this is Peyton's year. He's been awesome.
Wouda couda shouda
3 bowls in a row.
In order to be considered a super bowl winner, it helps to actually win one. not woulda, but actually playing in the game and walking off the field as a winner.
I actually have come to like Peyton, even though I'm from Baltimore.
True, but did you see that article the other day about how the Steelers being trapped in a Miami hotel during one of the Florida hurricanes is what brought their team together and started them on their dominating path? Well, the Pat's injury situation is like a hurricane stranding a week and shared adversity is a pretty good motivator sometimes.
Pats by 9 - a Vinitari FG and a Vrabel TD reception.
Yes, quite clearly. He NEVER won a playoff game there, so, no he never got over it. Peyton may win a game in Foxboro...someday...but not Sunday.
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