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Vic Ketchman calls out Peyton Manning: Prepare for the Worst

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Peyton Manning: "Vic, Ah, why you a make'a the fun at me?"

In what will only inspire all sorts of intelligent and sophisticated responses from our friends at Stampede Blue, Jaguars.com Senior Editor elected to eviscerate Peyton Manning for his performance against the Chargers on Saturday.  Vic, it seems, likes to raise my blood pressure to unbearably high levels as I await the reaction to his commentary.  Manning, like most great players, inspires passionate responses from his critics and his supporters.  This passion tends to degrade into name calling, straw men arguments, and ad hominem insults.  It also leads to the complete disregarding of legitimate points based on emotion. 

What Vic said, for better or for worse, was spot on, though as I will argue below, somewhat misplaced:

Manning did his job. Defense not only wins championships, it loses them.

Vic: Manning did his job? What is it with you Peyton Manning apologists? He was nearly intercepted four times and three of those should’ve been intercepted and returned for touchdowns. The only play he made in the second half was catching the Chargers off guard and lobbing a touchdown pass to an uncovered receiver. In his last four possessions, with the game on the line and the Colts only needing one more score to clinch the win, Manning managed a total of 20 plays for 38 net yards. Hey, that’s crunch time, baby. A day after he wins the league MVP, he gags with the game on the line and does his usual one-and-done routine. When are you people gonna get off your knees? The guy is 7-8 in career postseason games and six times he’s lost in the first playoff game of that year’s postseason; three times in the last four years. Manning did not do his job. His job is to win. His job is to get it done at crunch time.

Sadly, Vic fell into the name-calling and insulting approach but considering the kind of stuff he gets in his mailbox, it's not surprising.  If you look at the facts, however, there's something to be concerned about when it comes to the Colts and the post-season. One-and-Done is a completely unacceptable outcome in the playoffs if you're the Indianapolis Colts.  They have at least one Hall of Famer at Wide Receiver, the best Defensive End tandem in the league, the best freak of nature at Safety in Bob Sanders, the best Center, and a three time league MVP in Peyton Manning.  Yet 40% of the time the Colts leave the playoffs after the first game.

When the Colts lose in the playoffs, there emerges two schools of thought: Manning is a Choker vs. Manning did his best with a poor supporting cast, usually the defense.  Vic elected to take the first approach, pointing the finger at Manning and his post-season record and justifying his take with the fact that as one of the highest paid players at his position, it is his job to win the game no matter how bad the running game or how porous the run defense. If you reject Vic's point of view, as most Colts fans will, tell me who is at fault for the 40% of the games lost in the first round?  Is it Tony Dungy?  Is it Bill Polian?  Is it the strength and conditioning coaches?  Who falls on the blade for a losing post-season record and having one of the most talented teams in NFL history consistantly miss out on the big dance?  I've only heard reasons why Manning is better than his critics, but I'd love to hear someone explain how any season where the Colts are not in the Super Bowl with their stacked roster is anything less than a complete and total failure?

What went wrong and who is to blame?  Were I to guess, I'd bet Tony Dungy retires and the revisionist history about the 2008 Colts will be that his heart wasn't in it and a new coach-in-waiting in Jim Caldwell  should right the ship.  Blame the coach that's held the office for too long with an underpeforming team, a classic approach to tossing the season down the memory hole.   It works to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy, but will it address the issue? 

In a way, Manning supporters who assume he can do no wrong, like I assume all those who attack Vic for his statement will do, the implicitly blame someone else, like Tony Dungy, for the outcome.  It will be interesting to see the debates in the Colts fan community about what must be done in the offseason.  In the spirit of full disclosure and before anyone accuses me of being a Manning "hater', I thought he deserved the MVP award.  So there.

(By the way, the first person who calls me out for criticizing Manning by referencing the "number of rings" he has compared to Jacksonville, the Jaguars record, or says the Colts "own" the Jaguars will find themselves on my bad side)

 

Poll
Did the Colts have a successful season?
Yes, they overcame a slow start and a slew of injuries.
119 votes
No, that roster is too stacked to do anything less than compete for a Super Bowl
71 votes

190 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

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I think the best analogy here is Wilt Chamberlin vs Bill Russell

Sure Chamberlin did get a championship, but he’s always remembered for all his postseason choke jobs, especially to Russell. Same is Manning.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 2:39 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Also just got done reading the rest

I wonder if Vic was hitting the bottle a bit. He had some venom to spew in those answers.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 3:00 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Why do you Jaguars fans

still read this douchebag, Ketchman? Also, FSBlue, are you seriously that fucking stupid? Wilt Chamberlin? The only choke jobs associated with him involve the hundreds of women he allegedly slept with. the man is remembered for being one of the great basketball players ever. Hell, RUSSELL HIMSELF says Wilt was better. I mean, forget the fact that comparing basketball players to football players is about as dumb as it gets, but to suggest that Chamberlin is remembered for his “choke jobs” only make YOU look like a gigantic moron.

No reasonable, rational fan remembers Chamberlin that way. And only small, tiny like peons like Ketchman still hang onto the “Peyton is a choker” label. you’d be wise to salvage whatever clout you have left and just stop posting about Peyton Manning (or wilt Chamberlin for that matter) for a while. you simply have no idea WTF you are writing about.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Jan 5, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

And there it is.

BBS, I respect the hell out of your opinions, but you sort of made my point. So did FSBlue. Once again, it’s functionally impossible to have a serious discussion about what makes the Colts so different from their regular season performance during the playoffs. While it’s amusing to trash Ketchman and call him a Douchebag, did he make up the 7-8 record in the playoffs? Did he invent the 6 one-and-done seasons? He sees a trend and attempted to explain it. If it’s not Manning, what is it? Why do the Colts win 10,11,12, or more games a season and then have a sub 50% winning record in the playoffs with a nearly all-pro roster?

This is the debate that’s far more interesting. Vic instantly killed that debate by going over-aggressive with a commenter, FSBlue and BBShoe keep it going. If it’s not Manning, what is it?

I’ll completely concede that the Colts do a remarkable thing year in and year out and that if you’re having to discuss why you’re only winning in the playoffs after getting to them every single season, things are clearly on a good track, but something’s got to explain the numbers. It’d be interesting to see that debate happen without turning into a mudfight.

-Chris

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Jan 5, 2009 4:18 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ill refer you to this

http://18to88.com/2009/01/who-would-you-rather-be.html

In a way, it kind of thwarts your argument. There has been no other team that has won multiple superbowls besides the Patriots. Not only that, but you disregard the number of injuries the Colts have suffered the last 2 years. People dont like to use that argument, but its the truth.

by metal_militia on Jan 11, 2009 8:20 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thwarts who's argument?

I think that pretty much showed everything River City Rage said to be true. The Colts were way at the top of the list in regular season play with Peyton, yet they have 6 one and done playoff runs.

by SoCalStites on Jan 12, 2009 3:06 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Alright, to BigBlueShoe

Chill out, when have I ever come over to your board and acted like a douchebag, even when you guys have tried to bait us into doing so? Chill out man, chill out.

As Vic says, Manning is 7-8 in the post season. 6 one and dones. He’s been the only constant in all of it. He doesn’t take that sack at the half yard line against the Chargers, the Colts aren’t punting with their backs to the wall and maybe they get enough field position San Diego can’t get the FG to force overtime.

I won’t say anything more on this subject.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 4:55 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Show me where Vic went overboard

Was it where he called all the senders of the probably-profanity-laced emails in his inbox “apologists”? Because that seems fair. Was it where he stated facts and statistics? Because the truth hurts. Was it when he told all the Manning worshipers to get off their knees (which I interpret as like genuflecting, not a much more vulgar meaning)? Maybe that was near the line, but he backed it all up with facts.

How am I going to remember Tom Brady in ten years? I am going to remember him as the quarterback that went 14-3 in the postseason, the quarterback that has 3 Super Bowl rings and would have a fourth if not for a ridiculous catch by a 5th string Giants receiver.

How am I going to remember Peyton in ten years? Pretty much how Vic thinks of him now, and I can promise you that the majority outside of the state of Indiana will too.

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 5, 2009 4:59 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yeah, I agree with that

I don’t want to know the amount of hatemail he gets on a daily basis. I’ve gotten some, and though I generally laugh it off, if I got 50-100 messages telling me to F Myself a day, I think I would somehow get even more jaded. Same goes for all the emails about “Local College Star X”

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 5:11 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

This is beautiful

I wish Vic would run a tally of all the hate mail he gets tommorow. I don’t look forward to the day that Jacksonville finally acquires a Hall of Fame Player that helps dilute reality and turn a fanbase into a village of worshipers.

by floridaboiterk on Jan 5, 2009 5:07 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

They outnumber us

By at least 18 to one. As I like to remind people, don’t get into a war of words. My point was to try and raise the level of debate. Not lower it.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Jan 5, 2009 5:30 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If you brought your boy, we might have a chance..

Colts fans are bitter. Think about how it must feel to think you are the best every year, and then you almost always lose in the first week of the playoffs… Seems to me that it would lead to some kind of complex, or personality disorder or something… haha

by silencecs on Jan 5, 2009 6:36 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

But I remember when

We played Indy a few weeks ago and The Stampeders came on here saying that “to anyone who just has a common knowledge about the NFL Peyton is the best” I still completely disagree. I have always thought Tom Brady is the best NFL player. Much better overall than Choke Manning.

by harveyismyboy on Jan 5, 2009 5:26 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yep

I agree that Tom Brady is the better quarterback. Your’e right about his playoff record, the stats don’t lie.

by Bestjagfan on Jan 5, 2009 7:12 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ok, I just caught this, but what is the "Meta-Jaguars" category for

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 6:44 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Peyton Manning is simply the best QB in football

From what I see, Big Ben and Peyton drive their team. No other QB’s on other teams deliver as much as those two. Of the two, Peyton is the better QB. I don’t see how anyone can see it different.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Jan 5, 2009 8:47 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He is definitely the best healthy QB in the game right now

but I don’t find him better than Tom Brady. Even in their Super Bowl run in 2006, Peyton Manning did his best to blow it for the Colts, throwing two touchdowns and six interceptions. I don’t demean his accomplishments, he is a great QB without doubt, but his post-season stats aren’t consistent with his regular season performances. Tom Brady owns more Super Bowl rings and regular season records than Peyton with, IMO, a less talented wide receiver corps.

by car-ramrod on Jan 5, 2009 9:22 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Because he doesn't win in the playoffs... plain and simple.

He has one ring, so he’s got that going for him, but he isn’t Tom Brady…

by silencecs on Jan 5, 2009 9:22 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Also, today on Jaguars reporters

Vic guranteed we would draft Tebow if he came out to “Energize the Fanbase” and “Get buzz going.” I wonder if he’s just decided to say to hell with it and troll everyone possible.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 11:03 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

At least PFT is on our side

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/05/ketchman-crushes-manning/

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 11:07 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

sweet jesus

I’m going to hate the next nine months…

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Jan 5, 2009 11:09 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ummnnn

Let’s not go there.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Jan 5, 2009 11:15 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Not even going to ask

Though, I will say this. I still think all the Tebow talk still hasn’t hit the absurd meter like when people were saying Weaver should have matched the offer Spurrier got from the Redskins.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 11:17 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Granted, he qualified it by saying if Tebow was still available in the 4th or 5th round

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 5, 2009 11:14 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think all 32 teams

would pick him in the 4th or 5th round.

by Ewdtrey on Jan 6, 2009 12:03 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Manning is a great QB, but (Hello, my 1st post here)

when the postseason arrives something happens with him. Maybe it is a mental thing, but most of the time in the Playoffs he is not that exceptional like he is in the regular season. Yeah, he had very good playoff games, (the AFC title game against the Patriots 2 years ago comes to my mind), but Vic has right, he is not a good post-season QB. And why his critics and some journalists points their fingers to him because of that? Because he and Tom Brady is considered the best QBs in the NFL by far, and because Manning’s post season record not so impressive as Brady’s.

by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 6, 2009 1:52 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Welcome to the best Jags site on the net..

How’s budapest? Are you there on business or something or do you live there… How did you find the JAgs? Why them and not a more high profile team?

Thanks for joining and we look forward to hearing more from Budapest soon!

-Collin

by silencecs on Jan 6, 2009 2:01 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hey there Zoltan

I recognize you from Ask Vic; he’s answered a few of your questions in the fast. Welcome to BIg Cat Country!

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 6, 2009 2:26 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yes, I'm that guy

I live here in Budapest. I was born here. I live here since. How I find the Jags? Well I starting watching the NFL around 1998 (Well watching it’s a bit too far, I watched th Superbowls since 1998 on German Tv stations. Then there was a nice hearing team name called the “Jacksonville Jaguars”. Then when in 2004 a Hungarian Sport Channel start to broadcast the games (2 game pro week) plus I discovered the internet, I looked after the team. I found Jaguars.com, with Vic, and I started to become a fan of the team (and Vic as well, I learned very much about the NFL because of him). And when it turned out, that Jaguars are not belongs to the most popular team, I liked them better, because they were not a popular pick(Sadly, in Hungary they have the same popularaty then in the U.S. outside Florida). I found also very sympatic players like Fred, John Henderson or Mathis, and head coach Del Rio as well. Now the team is part of my life. And I must tell 1 thing about myself, If I loves something (Team, person, or else) I will becoming a faithfull supporter of that.
I discovered this site about a year ago, and now I decided to jump in, because I like very much what I saw so far here!

by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 6, 2009 2:58 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That is one

awesome story! Welcome, again, to the site.

by Ewdtrey on Jan 6, 2009 3:43 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That sounds a bit like

how I became a fan of Cardiff City, a Welsh club in the English football (soccer) system. I have an arguably Welsh background, but it was cicumstances and outsider stasus that drew me to them, and sticking with them is the only way to become a true fan. Zoltan, if you are ever able to make it to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium to catch a game (including tailgating), then by all means do so. The folks I met in Cardiff cemented my lifelong affection for that club, and the folks you’d meet in Northeast Florida I’m sure would do the same for you with the Jags.

Up the Bluebirds! Go Jaguars!

by Cowtown on Jan 7, 2009 2:38 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

One of my goal is my life

That once (and I hope in the near future, I mean within 1-4 years) to go to Jacksonville, to watch a game in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. I hope it will be a reality one day. I feel right now, that Jaguars will be my only one football team in the NFL. You know, I too cheer for a Budapest based saoccer club called Budapest Honved. (they are also not a popular pick here…Coincidence?) since I was like 4. They have very rough days in this decade, they even relegated the 1st time since 90 years. (But they went back after 1 season to the 1st divison). Did I stoped cheering for them, in that time? No way! And in the last 1-2 years the Jaguars are now on the same level like that team.
And I tell you something interesting: In one way, I’m glad that the Jaguars has a season like this one, because even around the Baltimore game, I didn’t felt, “why should I care about them?” instead of that i read all the stuff on the net for even that game as well. Im proved me, that now there is something between me nad the Jags. I still care even if they losing! And because of that, nowdays I enjoy the NFL better as well. 2 seasons ago when the Jaguars didn’t made the playoffs I was lost my joy the watch the NFL. Now, I can’t wait, what will happen this Saturday/Sunday!

And of course I have another boost with such a nice welcoming by all of you so far, whick I’m very thankfull!

by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 7, 2009 5:00 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Zoltan - that's a great story. Glad to have you and welcome to the Jaguar nation!

Peyton needed to convert a 3rd and 2 to win the game. He didn’t. Class dismissed.

Tebow – for God’s sake, can we have some sanity here. The only way we should show ANY interest is if he gains 80 lbs and wins the Outland trophy. He IS NOT coming out this year and his QB career in the NFL will be NONE EXISTENT. He simply is not an NFL QB. Great college player and fun to watch – doesn’t have the skill sets for the NFL game – much like Danny Weurfel if you will recall.

by OGN on Jan 6, 2009 5:09 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thanks for the nice messages

It is very kind, from all of you.
About Tebow, well if the Jaguars pick him with a middle round(3-5) draft pick, I have no problems with it. I fear that because he is so popular, because of his successes, and because he was born here as well, the Jaguars will draft him in the first 2 rounds when he comes out, to boost ticket sales with it. The Jags are in rebuilding phase, and they have many holes in the roster now. Drat players to this holes, that is the primary objective, not Tebow!

By the way Tebow and I was born of the same day: August 14th

by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 6, 2009 5:35 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Welcome!

Glad to have you at BCC!

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Jan 7, 2009 3:50 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

At first

I thought it was their lack of consistent Defense, then I the lack of a running game. But as the years went on, and the D varied, and their running game was on/off again pretty good, I started to see that Manning’s stats just weren’t there. He looked awful in many of the games. And the teams that were beating them, for whatever reason, had lost to them in the regular season.

FWIW, I seem to remember Peyton not looking that great in their SB run either. They were winning with run and stop the run. Low scoring games, not offensive blow-outs.

So, if it was just that their opponents had figured them out in the post, and found a way to thrash the colts, then why couldn’t they do it next year? It’s not like the Colts change that much from year to year. Peyton is the common denominator. Can he just not take the full season? Is he really a choker? I don’t know. I do know, he has never looked the same in the post season as he does in the regular season. Those of us who don’t like him, AND watch him twice or more a year, can see it. JMHO

by Pyrofish on Jan 7, 2009 2:22 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

It's very obvious to me

Peyton can’t handle the pressure of a lose and go home game. Some people just can’t deal with that pressure. He can obviously deal with the pressure of a split second decision, like whether that guys open or not, when the whole season is NOT on the line. However, I think when he goes to the sideline of a playoff game, the pressure gets to him and he over-thinks, this in turn effects his ability to make those split second decisions, and that equates to him taking that sack in the 4th, forcing his team to punt out of their end zone.

by Nebraska Jag on Jan 8, 2009 4:26 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sorry, late response

He won since it was same record or better, but he hasn’t cashed in on it yet. He said he’d take it easy on me since the Raiders are picking 7th and we’re 8th, but I think he’s lying.

by Nebraska Jag on Jan 14, 2009 1:08 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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