The key to beating the Colts has nothing to do with rattling Manning because frankly it can not be done for any length of time. I hear that from booth commentators all the time. Look he does get frustrated at times when the Colts are out of sync or if the other team is rather effective at what it is has designed to use that week. But he has been around too long and is too savvy about the game of football that he will adjust and go another direction. As we have seen the real key is simply keep him off the field. A solid run game that eats up the clock and keeps our boy on bench. But you must put points on the board, settle for field goals and you are in big trouble. His has too many weapons to go too and as they have shown time and again they can score quickly and seem to be at their best when their backs are against wall. Mannings growth as a player is the willingness to take whatever the other guys will give him. Take away the long game and he will dink and dunk you all day with those little 7 or 8 passes to the legion of receivers he has. Start backing a man or two off the line to cover the short lanes and he will adjust and run the ball. I like the fact that they have been making less use of the stretch play this year (which really never did work well since the Edge left) and run the trio of backs more often up the middle or off tackle.

As for those celebrations, I would agree with Woody do not change this year but a serious review of policy is in order. This is entertainment. That is why they spend millions on new fancy stadiums. It is why we have cameras flying around on wires to give fans a better view. It is why we have huge jumbo sized screens for fans to watch replay after replay. Oh let us not for get the cheer leaders, who are there only for the purpose of eye candy. It is a serious game, it is a very violent game so why not let the guys have some fun. Is it even delay of game. Everyone was still milling around in the Dallas game. It was not going to start any sooner if they do not have their little fun.

Peyton Manning - Game time decision

Packers notes: Rodgers, Finley, Matthews join list of injured



Michael Vick out with chest injury

The announcers covering that game totally blew it. All the cameras showed, and all the announcers talked about was handing the ball off and the spike. Their failure to explain what really happened no doubt fueled a lot of the criticism of the rule.
The penalty was the proper call, and I wouldn't change that at all.
I do believe the league should change it to 5 yards next season, except when the celebration involves taunting an opponent or something like throwing or punting the ball into the stands.
Having said that, the Cowboys still had an obligation to cover the kickoff and stop the Titans from scoring. They failed miserably.
The players lost this game.
Not Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett or Jerry Jones.
Not the officials.
The players.
Specifically: Jenkins, Romo, Gurode and Davis.

I would agree with the yardage change, they have it as a major penalty at this point which is nuts. I think it has to bee a legitimate delay of game. Kicking the ball in the stands would surely qualify. But what about the leap into the stands that Green Bay players do? Would that not be a delay of game as well? Well in the case of the leap by Arron Rogers this season he should have gotten a twenty yard penalty for incredibly bad form as he missed the stands all together....but then hey, he is a quarterback.

Funny, Dave. You do raise a good point. I don't have a problem with the leap. But we are talking about players actually leaving the playing area and then having a longer jog back to the bench. It does raise the question of different standards.
Define celebration.
Define excessive.
And be consistent.
I'd like to see something done about those showboats who have a sure touchdown but get to about the 10-yard line and start high stepping like Deion Sanders used to do.
Oh, and enough with the strutting around like big shots after a play. There are occasions when a big catch or momentum-shifting hit is made that may warrant a little boasting. But there's way too much, "Yeah, I did this," after normal plays.
And, yes, this includes Marion Barber. Every time he runs for a first down, he pops up like he's done something. So annoying. How about scoring a touchdown once in a while?

You're condoning the unsportmanslike conduct as exhibited by Marc Colombo. Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 (d) of the NFL Rule Book states: "players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground." This new rule will prevent Jared Allen from dropping to the ground and "roping a calf" after sacking Tony Romo.

I wish the NFL would penalized players for performing the first down signal. I view it as a taunting gesture and an attempt to usurp an official's authority!

I'm not condoning anything.


I just think 15 yards for that is excessive. Offensive holding only counts for 10. Likewise an illegal block in the back, which could actually hurt an opposing player.
And yes, the first down signal has also become very annoying. Give the ball to the ref and go back to the huddle.

Turnovers, penalties, stupid stuff.
Oh, my!

The only thing missing from the Cowboys' last play versus the Vikings was "keystone kops" music ( A Bag of Rags by W.R. MacKanlass )! The New York Giants need to put a proverbial nail in the coffin for Cowboy haters worldwide.



The Patriots looked just good enough without Moss.

That's what bad teams do! I don't want to hear from Cowboys apologist who say they are so talented yet underachieving. Every team in the NFL has talent.

The Colts are an example of a team that doesn't have top talent like Dallas in every position yet gets the job done. The Colts have so many injuries because they are pushing their overachieving selves to the breaking limit on every play. Of course, they have Satan Manning and a lot of luck that I hope runs out soon.