Pretty easy to root for this Manning
To this day, whenever Archie Manning runs into an aging Chicago Bear -- or an aging Bears fan, for that matter -- he knows what's coming.
Unlike most of his career, he's not blindsided.
When I bumped into him on South Beach a year ago, Manning couldn't have been nicer, but he much preferred talking about Peyton Manning that night than the game I remembered from September 1980 at Soldier Field.
On that Sunday, the Bears pounded the Saints 22-3, but the beating the Bears' defense gave Manning, to the tune of 6 sacks, was even worse than the score might indicate.
Dan Hampton had 3 of his own, and one in the second quarter broke Manning's nose.
"Sure, I remember it,'' Hampton said last week. "We beat the (heck) out of him. Poor guy. We spent the whole day in his backfield with him. He had a lot of company.''
And that's what most people remember about Archie Manning, who's known today as the Superfather of back-to-back championship quarterbacks.
But most have forgotten, or never knew, that Manning was a brilliant passer who couldn't overcome some incredibly bad Saints teams.
The second pick of the 1971 draft out of Mississippi, Manning threw for nearly 24,000 career yards, only 800 fewer than Bart Starr, and was 29th all time when he retired in 1984.
But most of his teams were like that 1980 squad that went 1-15. The 31-year-old Manning started 16 games that season, completed 60 percent of his passes, managed an 81.8 passer rating, threw for a career-high 3,716 yards with 23 TDs … while being sacked 41 times.
It was the fourth time in his career he'd been sacked 40-plus times, a dubious category in which he led the league three times.
"Heck of a quarterback who never got any help,'' Hampton said. "He's the classic young QB who gets destroyed and never reaches his potential. He survived the beatings, but they never got him a team.''
When I stood with Manning on a busy street last year a few nights prior to the Super Bowl, he had little interest in discussing his career.
He was as happy as a man could be that Peyton was about to play in Super Bowl XLI, and he believed in his heart that Eli also would someday get a chance. He didn't know if it would be in New York.
Turns out it was, and now Archie Manning has two Super Bowl-winning sons, both MVP QBs.
If that doesn't bury the pain of 1-15 -- and that broken nose -- nothing will.
But you got the feeling talking to him that he didn't need to bury anything.
Archie Manning seemed like a man at peace, a happy guy, and one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.
Rex as in Wrecks
Any day now, you're going to learn that Eli Manning's Super Bowl performance gives hope to all who believe Rex Grossman will still develop into Joe Montana, despite five years of proof that he's more likely to be Joe Harrington.
Of course, had Manning been dreadful the argument would have been that if Eli Manning can get the Giants to the Super Bowl, surely Rex Grossman can make it back to another one.
But you're used to the propaganda by now.
Cubs sign Kosuke Fukudome? Rex is on his way.
White Sox win the World Series? Grossman's a Pro Bowler.
Bulls fight in the locker room? Grossman sees hope for future.
Shaquille O'Neal gets dealt by the Heat? That shows Rex Grossman still has a chance.
Sidney Crosby wins the Winter Classic in a shootout? Grossman will make it big someday.
No, doesn't make much sense, but this is what we've grown accustomed to, so don't be shocked when the Bears re-sign Grossman and tell you that Eli Manning is all the proof you need that Grossman is still headed for the Hall of Fame.
Whether you laugh out loud -- or cry -- is up to you.
The reality
You want to know what Eli Manning did in the biggest game of all, on the biggest stage, at the biggest moment, during the most important drive of his life?
He did something Grossman has never proven he can do at such a crucial time, which is throw the ball to the same color jersey, take the snap from center without it looking like a Three Stooges routine, avoid sacks, step up in the pocket, protect the football and hit wide-open receivers.
Any comparison otherwise is an exercise in fantasy, if not outright futility.
The line
Odds on winning the 2009 Super Bowl: Pats (2-1), Cowboys (7-1), Chargers (8-1), Colts (8-1), Giants (12-1), Packers (14-1), Jags (15-1), Steelers (20-1) and the Bears (30-1).
The line II
Odds on winning the NFC title: Cowboys (3-1), Giants (5-1), Packers (5-1), and the Bears (10-1).
Sounds familiar
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: "The buzz about an undefeated season. A playboy quarterback making tabloid headlines. And continuing allegations of shocking off-field improprieties amid speculation this could be the greatest pro football team in history. But enough about the 2004 USC Trojans."
Best headline
Sportspickle.com: "Roger Clemens gives in, agrees to play for Congressional softball team.''
And finally …
Comedian Alex Kaseberg: "Shaquille O'Neal has been traded to the Phoenix Suns. Now when Shaq gets to the free-throw line, he will still be cold, but it will be a dry cold.''
brozner@dailyherald.com