Peyton: Naughty or Nice?
December 23, 2004
I kind of like Peyton Manning. I don’t have him on any of my fantasy teams or anything, I just kind of like the guy. So when late in the third, after the blocked field goal and after he threw two passes to get the Colts to the seven-yard line, he called two run plays for the break-it-open score, I thought, Now there’s a smart QB.
Then when he took a knee twice to end the game, I liked him even more. Oh, yeah, it was a "classy move" and the "right thing to do" and all that happy stuff but, more importantly, I was playing Pork and the only reason Pork was in the playoffs was he had Peyton Manning.
So, you know, I was okay with Peyton waiting a week to get the record.
Wait, flashback moment, one in which some of you most likely shared. Back in August and early September when you were drafting your fantasy team and some guy took Peyton with like the 5th overall pick and you laughed and thanked him for leaving you Jamal Lewis or someone like that...yeahhhh, remember that? Well, that idiot was right.
There was no way taking a QB that early made any sense, I mean, where’s that guy going to get his running backs? Turns out he didn’t need them. Up until most everyone's playoff week game against the Ravens, Good Manning was averaging three and a half touchdowns a game for that idiot's team. (Can I still call him "an idiot"? Hmmm...When's an idiot not an idiot?) Plus there were plenty of yards and if they were fortunate enough to be in a league that gives points for completions, forget it.
So when Peyton only put up one TD for Pork, it was like getting an early Christmas present. In fact, I really think that what we saw was Peyton realizing the true meaning of Christmas: Giving me something.
Unfortunately, the lump of coal Peyton gave Pork wasn't enough to overcome two extremely sensible decisions which gave me a kick in the ass.
'Nother flashback: Hmmm, Tiki's been struggling and the Giants are playing Pittsburgh...Meanwhile, Willis McGahee's been tearing it up and so has Kevin Jones and heck, they're playing Cincy and Minnesota...yeah, I'll bench Tiki.
And while I'm at it, Santana Moss just ain't worth it, I'll put in Boldin, heck, the Cards are at St. Louis, they'll be playing catch-up.
Man, oh man. That can't be the true meaning of Christmas. I left so many points on my bench. Heck, I also started Pittsburgh against the Giants. Sheesh, that was a gimme and I got burned.
I clearly didn't deserve to lose, and yet he gets Jerry Porter's 3 touchdown catches and 148 yards and blah blah, I lose anyway.
Personally, I think what he did is very un-Christmas-like. I mean What Would Santa Do?
Fortunately, it isn't an entirely bleak Christmas, there're still presents under the tree--In another league, I get to go up against a guy who just replaced T.O. with Amani Toomer. I mean, even when Eli actually created a little fantasy value in New York, Amani still only got 34 yards and no score. (quietly singing made-up song called Merry Christmas to Me to me)
You might argue that it's very un-Christmas-like of me to consider someone's personal injury to be cause for caroling.
But who am I to question the wisdom of Father Christmas?
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All right, let's hear some playoff stories: Heartbreaking losses? Stunning victories? Christmas wishes?
Fantasy Football 
:-P