My final thoughts on Painter-gate.  I haven't been this ready to move on from something since high school.  Fittingly there are seven of them.

1.   It was good that Irsay said something.  He took responsibility (which he should have).  I agree with him that the move was courageous because it was rooted in principles.  Personally, I believe that "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" and that there are moments where your principles can be exposed as inadequate for the circumstances.  That's what happened here in my opinion.  You can call this decision whatever you want, but cowardly isn't an adjective that can be used.  It was sloppy.  It was unnecessary.  It may or may not have been stupid.  It was not selfish (it cost Caldwell a Coach of the Year award).  It was not cowardly.

2.  The net effect on this season will be negligible.  Nothing that happened last week nor this week matters.  I've now read scores of articles arguing that there is and that there isn't 'momentum' in the NFL.  Whenever you see that much noise on both sides of an issue, it means no one knows.  One thing is certain:  even if there used to be momentum, each of the last three seasons have produced a Super Bowl team that looked dead in the water going into January.  This season will too.  Maybe it will be the Vikings.  Maybe it will be the Saints.  Maybe it will be the Colts.

3.  If I hear one more writer bring up how resting didn't work in 2007 I'm going to scream.  You listening, Kravitz?  Everyone knows that rest had NOTHING to do with the Colts' 2007 playoff loss to the Chargers.  No one can honestly look you in the face and say otherwise.  Just shut up.  People need 2007 because without it, the evidence tilts in favor of rest.  1999 and 2004 outweigh 2005, but if you wedge 2007 in there, it looks like an argument.  I'm still waiting for ANYONE to explain how rest hurt the Colts in 2007.  Don't let them throw Marvin Harrison in there either, if he could have played before the playoffs he would have.  He shouldn't have played AT ALL in the playoffs.  That's a different issue.  Even mentioning 2007 in this discussion is intellectually dishonest.  Kravtiz has said before that he knows there is little real connection between rest and the 2007 loss, but he keeps waiving it about wildly anyway.

4.  This was not a "once in a lifetime opportunity". This is a third or fourth time in a lifetime opportunity already.  Seriously, no one even batted an eye when the Colts went to 10-0.  You don't think they could go for this whenever they want?  13-0 in 2005.  10-0 in 2006.  7-0 (with narrow losses late) in 2007.  This team will always be in position to rip off 10 or 12 wins in a row.  If I told you right now that in the next three years the Colts would have a season where they went at least 11-0, would you even blink?  Indy will be in this same spot again soon.

5.  The 2007 Pats were not noble.  They were perhaps the least honorable, least sportsmanlike team in history.  Their "quest for perfection" was not born of any great love and honor of sport and the essence of competition.  They also wound up as the biggest chokers in the history of football.  So save me interviews with those guys.  Their opinion is utterly irrelevant.  If nothing else, I'm glad the Colts have tried to be the opposite of that team.  They were evil.  They were not sportsmen.  If you don't think the arrogance got them in the end, just rewatch Brady's smug press conference before the Super Bowl.  They thought they were invincible and they took the Giants lightly.  They paid for it and will live in history as choking dogs.  So shut it, Teddy Bruschi.  I don't give a flying fart what you think about this.

6.  The Colts have to drop this "other records were more important" crap. Just say, "We didn't care!"  I can buy that. I can buy that you think it is all utter nonsense.  Just don't tell me that one obscure record is more important that an undefeated season.  That makes no sense.  Not 10 people in a 1,000 would agree.  Just say, "We only care about one thing...the Super Bowl".  There is a difference by the way between letting players get individual records and a team record.  The players use those personal records to make more money.  The players will revolt over the long haul if you suppress their stats.  Guys like Manning, Wayne, Harrison, Clark...they are all great guys.  But other guys see that stuff too.  By letting players hit personal milestones, you smooth things out in the locker room in the long run.  Now, the Colts only do this when it only takes a few extra plays to get the guy a mark.  In my opinion, it would have taken only a few extra plays to get the win on Sunday too. One or at the most two more drives would have done it. That leads me to the final point:

7.  I'll never be ok with what happened. I'll never ever agree. I'll never say it was necessary.  No matter what else happens from here on out.  Super Bowl or no.  There was no reason to take Manning out up 15-10 with the ball on the 10.  Taking him out? Sure.  Resting players?  Sure.  But playing a weird "in between" strategy of not announcing the move before the game "for competitive advantage", but then coaching the game like the outcome didn't matter (punting on fourth and 3 with just two offensive possessions left) just makes no sense.  That kind of half way coaching is indefensible.  Righ move, wrong move...whatever.  It didn't go down correctly.

They botched this.  I don't remember the Colts ever botching anything under this regime, but they botched this.

It's not the end of the world.

It won't matter in the long run.

But they botched it.

Let's talk about football, shall we?

Remember that game with a brown ball played on a striped field?

Now that the Colts have completed the regular season (chuckle, chuckle), it's time to look potential pitfalls come playoff time.  The Colts are a very good team.  They may be an all time great team.  They are not a flawless team.  In January, anything can go wrong, and one bad break can end your season.  That being said, some things are more likely to go wrong than others.  Here are the top five areas that could be exploited come January.

1.  Field Goal Kicking

This is the only true glaring and obvious weakness.  Right now, no one knows if the Colts have anyone who can reliably make a 46 yard field goal.  We've already lost two playoff games this decade on blown field goals, and another could kill me.  The upside is that it makes the Colts more likely to go for it on fourth and medium in no man's land.  That could be a benefit, but when it comes to end of half and end of game scenarios, the Colts need 10 yards more than most teams.  They have to aim for the 25, not the 35.  It hasn't hurt them yet, but it could. It wouldn't be the first time our hearts were broken by a kicker.  It wouldn't be the second time...or the third come to that (2004 Opening Day @ NE).  Everyone ought to be very nervous about this.

2.  The Offensive Tackles

If the Colts are going to be exploited, it's going to be because one of the tackles has a bad game.  I know that they have been solid in pass protection this year, but both Diem and Johnson have looked shaky at times, and Johnson still has not managed to be effective in run blocking.  I can see a situation where a team comes in and confuses CJ and gets sacks.  This is not nearly as big a concern as the kicker situation, but it's still high on the board.  Before the season, I said I thought there was a limit to where this team could go with CJ as left tackle.  That's proven to be false during the regular season.  I hope I'm still just as wrong a month from now.  I'd be thrilled.

3.  The Young Wideouts

Collie seems to have everything figured out, but the playoffs can be a whole different deal.  Garcon has been all over the map this year, alternating spectacular games with horrid ones.  If you were to tell me that the WRs were to vanish in January, it wouldn't be hard for me to believe you.  Manning is going to come their way.  They have to be open, and they have to make the catches.  Should Garcon not be able to go or if someone gets hurt, it'll be Baskett time, and no one wants that.  Again, these 'weaknesses' are getting progressively less scary every time, aren't they?

4.  Don Brown

His injury was unfortunate because he needs time to figure out how to run behind the Indy line.  He's a true X-factor because he could go either way in January.  He could wind up with a crushing 5 yard loss to kill a drive, or could be the hero who randomly takes a 3 yard run on 2nd and 10 to the house for a 50 yard TD.  He could pick up a key third down, or blow a critical block.  He's still learning how to play in the Colts' offense.  He could do some incredible things as Dom Rhodes Jr, but honestly, he scares me.

5.  Jim Caldwell

Jim has been calm and courageous all season.  He's stuck to his guns and done most things (cough) correctly.  Now it's playoff time, and he is going to have to have the guts to go for the tough fourth downs.  I hope he doesn't learn the hard way that going for it on fourth and 3 from the 45 is what it takes to win Super Bowls.  After the first game, Indy is going to play some prodigious offenses.  Field position will become a meaningless term in the Luke in January against Rivers or Brady.  Going for it is the only option.  Jim's been great (as have a lot of guys on this list), but it's time to do it in January.  Everything he does will be scrutinized more closely than ever.  Hold on tight, Jimmy C.  It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Note what isn't on here anywhere: The Defense

The reason I have supreme confidence in this team is because I'm 100% in the tank for the 2009 Colts Defense.  I believe that with Mathis and Powers playing, we are going to see a true shut down group.  My gut tells me they don't allow 21 points to any opponent this entire postseason.  That includes the Chargers and the Patriots.  Every kick freaks me out, but when the D is on the field, I rest easy.  Having all the top CBs together for the first time in a month while having Freeney and Mathis both as close to 100% as possible is going to be a sight to behold.

A brief list of some of the things Bill Polian has done for Indianapolis:

1.  Drafted Peyton Manning.

2.  Drafted Edgerrin James.

3.  Hired Tony Dungy.

4.  Drafted Dwight Freeney.

5.  Won Super Bowl XLI.

6.  Won 115 games in a decade.

7.  Created a team known throughout sports for its class and competence.

8.  Hired and trained his son, Chris, to ensure the winning continues for years to come.

9.  Prevented the Colts from leaving town by building a consistent winner.

10.  Put the Colts in perfect position to win Super Bowl XLIV.

I have no idea what a Rally Mask is or in what situation you might wear one.  But I believe this with all my heart:  Indianapolis would not have a professional football franchise today if Bill Polian had not been hired in 1997.

DZ and Big Blue Shoe will be on XL 950 today to discuss the "unpleasentness".  Tune in at 4:20 Indy time.

Just a special note to congratulate our 18to88 fantasy winner:

Demond Sanders and his team 2Cool4School and 4U!

Demond dominated the league as the #1 overall seed, but squeezed out a narrow semi-final victory by just 0.7 points.

A big congrats to league runner up Eric Frohiep's Triple Threat team and third place winner K Michael McCammack's Black Knight.

Seeing as how Demond was going to give two preseason tickets to winner, and the winner is himself, that works out.  Eric and Michael can email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with their addresses and shirt sizes, and we'll mail them their runner up prizes.

Thanks to everyone who played in the 20 team league.

Some disclaimers before I begin:

• My brother and I are season ticket holders for the Indianapolis Colts.  Currently, I live overseas and Demond attends all the games, but my name is on the tickets too.
• We sold our tickets for Sunday's game for a decent price.  Ours is a working family.  We knew the Colts were probably going to pull starters at some point. It's Christmas.  We needed the money.  I make no apologies for that.

The outrage over Sunday's debacle continues to wash unabated over Indianapolis.  It is starting to drive me insane.  Before I address the solution, let me make a couple of points:

1.  Fans should not be allowed to run football teams. GMs and coaches SHOULD NOT EVER take fans wishes into consideration.  That is not their job.  Anyone who suggests that Bill Polian or Jim Caldwell should give two flips what any fan thinks is building a recipe for a losing franchise.  Stuff your anger at them.  They don't care what you think. They are smarter than you are.  Bill Polian is one of the smartest front office men in the history of football.  Jim Caldwell has a 14-1 football team. They know better than you.  Accept it.  I'm considered a knowledgeable Colts fan.  I would take any one of you and anyone in the media in a throw down about Colts knowledge right now and beat you silly.  I'm actually writing a book about the complete history of the Colts in Indianapolis.  When it comes to football, I am a moron compared to those men.

2.  The Colts made a purely football decision.  They only considered the football ramifications of the decision.  Good.  That's what I want from my coach and GM.  Ask the Jags what it feels like to have to make football decisions based on the crowd.  They are going to draft Tim Tebow and ruin their franchise forever.  We can debate the football merits of the decision.  That's fair.  Personally, I believe the decision had precious little football merit.  There was some merit, which I tracked yesterday, but I will be annoyed for the rest of my life when I talk about Sunday's game.  That being said, it was a football decision, and I trust those men to make good ones because they have for a decade now.

3. Only one thing matters.  The problem, at its core, is that too many of us have started to believe the media.  Here's a list of meaningless things:

• Team of the Decade!
• Greatest Team of All Time!
• Legacy!
• Franchise rankings
• Most anything on ESPN voted on by writers
• Everything written on SI.com
• The '72 Dolphins

Most of us saw this season as a chance to get a leg up on the Pats.  They have three rings.  We have one.  A perfect season, according to some, was worth two or three rings.  I said so myself.

The Colts have said, "Nothing is worth a ring but a ring".  Nothing matters but the Super Bowl.  There is no value in the rest of it.

They are right.

You care more about Indy being the "Team of the Decade" than Polian and Caldwell because they know the truth:

The decade is an arbitrary (and wrongly calculated) time period.  What matters is that the Pats have three rings, but none since 2004.  They want another. So does Indy.  The Chargers have no rings and would kill for one.  Team of the effing decade?

They just want to be team of the year.

So does everyone else.

The Colts have thumbed their noses at "history" because they know that today's history is tomorrow's afterthought.  The only thing that matters is the hardware on your finger.  That you take to the grave.  Anything else, and the media will just yank it away when the next flavor of the month comes along.

4.  Colts fans are spoiled. You want meaningless games?  Go to a game when your team is 1-14.  That's a meaningless freaking game. That's a waste of money.  I've done that.  Before 1997, we paid for my grandparents tickets and went to the games.  We bought our set in June of 1997.  We started that year 0-10.  I never want to hear anyone bitch about having to watch a 14-1 team.  I know seats are expensive.  I know it's real money.  It was real money when the team sucked.  I went to plenty of those meaningless games and watched first stringers worse than this team's backups.  About 26 other fanbases would trade places with you RIGHT NOW.  Bill Polian has given you more wins this decade than in the first 15 years of the franchise combined.  Before Polian:

• We had won one division title.  Now we have seven.
• We had won two playoff games.  Now we have a Super Bowl.
• We had been to the playoffs three times.  Now we go every year.
• We had three Hall of Fame Players (Dickerson, Faulk, Harrison and not all at the same time).  Now we have Manning, Freeney, Wayne, and Saturday all at once.

****

Now, none of that is to say there is no problem.  There is a problem.  The decision to rest players was handled as sloppily and poorly as possible. People are angry.  I don't blame them.  I'm angry about it too.  No matter how over the top and out of proportion the reaction is, the Colts have to recognize that it is a real reaction.  The football side of the operation did not anticipate just how much the rest of the city wanted 16-0.  They had no clue what a fire storm they had touched off.  Why? It's not their job to worry about the fans.

It is Mr. Irsay's job.

Jim Irsay is a great owner because he stays hands off the football side. He should NOT have stepped in to mandate the Colts play their players.  That would be a violation of every thing he stands for as an owner.  He SHOULD have demanded they tell the fans up front they were doing it though.  Listen, don't give me any bunk about "competitive advantage".  The Colts went into the game with Curtis F. Painter as their #2.  They intentionally lost that game.  When you are trying to lose a football game, you don't get to claim the right of secrecy.

IT WAS TWO DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS.  There were scores of people who spent good money to take kids to games.  That was a big event for a lot of families.  They had a right to know up front was happeneing.

I have no sympathy for season ticket holders.  We know the drill up front.  We pay for 10 Colts games.  We get 7.  We pay for two preseason games and a meaningless last home game.  That's the deal we've made for 10 years now.

But anyone who spent money just on this game as a single ticket, and didn't realize what was going to happen, you have my sympathy.  The Colts were way too cagey about the decision.  They did it for football reasons, but Mr. Irsay has to realize that his team was watched in a public stadium by people who paid real money and gave gifts of tickets.  Those people had a right to know what they were seeing. The football people wanted to lose the game.  That's their prerogative, but should have warned the rest of us.  By the way, I don't buy the retarded conspiracy theory that they did it to sell concessions.  That stadium was going to be full no matter what.  The Colts had already sold all the tickets.

So now it happened.  It's done.  Polian is mad as hell because he doesn't think he should have to explain and justify a football decision to the fans.  He shouldn't.  They aren't his problem. Mr. Irsay on the other hand DOES have to worry about the fans.

Mr. Irsay needs to come out and apologize for the way the franchise handled the weekend.  He doesn't have to apologize for the decision, just for the fact that they didn't give paying customers a heads up they weren't going to make an honest effort.  And it was NOT an honest effort.  An honest effort means a team does not:

• Run a practice squad caliber rookie QB on the field against the #1 defense in football deep in his own territory and ask him to drop back and throw passes
• Punt on 4th and 3 from the 47 knowing the offense only has two more possesions the rest of the game.

Right or wrong as a football move, it was a PR disaster and no amount of self justifcation is going to correct that.  People don't care about the Super Bowl.  They've listened to Deion Sanders and Keyshawn Johnson and Don Banks and Peter King and Rodney Harrison and now they want MORE.  Right or wrong, that is the case.

Mr. Irsay needs to step in as a businessman and apologize that people weren't notified.  He needs to show that he cares that people are mad.

Because I don't think this will just blow over come January.

Say you are sorry, Jim.

Even if you don't mean it.

No arugments.  Just numbers.

Since 2004, teams entering the playoffs with a winning streak of at least three games are 15-16 in the playoffs.

The 2005 Steelers are the only team with a winning streak of at least three games that has won the Super Bowl in that stretch

Only one other team made the Super Bowl (2007 Patriots).

Only three teams have won two playoff games (2006 Pats, 2007 Chargers, 2007 Patriots).

The last 10 Super Bowl Champions win streaks going into the playoffs:

2008 Steelers:  1 Game

2007 Giants:  0 Games

2006 Colts:  1 Game

2005 Steelers:  4 Games

2004 Pats: 2 Games

2003 Pats:  12 Games

2002 Bucs:  1 Game

2001 Pats:  6 Games

2000 Ravens:  7 Games

1999 Rams: 0 Games

The hottest team (most consecutive wins) going into the playoffs each of the past 10 years and their final record in the playoffs:

2008:  Colts (0-1)

2007: Patriots (2-1, lost SB)

2006:  San Diego (0-1)

2005:  Washington (1-1)

2004: Pittsburgh (1-1)

2003:  Patriots (3-0, won SB)

2002:  Titans (1-1)

2001: Patriots and Rams (Met in SB, 6-1 combined)

2000:  Ravens (4-0 won SB)

1999:  Titans 3-1(lost SB)

Sometimes the hot team wins.  Usually they don't.  Teams with a 1 game or zero game winning streak are as likely to win a Super Bowl in the past decade as teams with a longer winning streak.

There is no such thing as momentum.

Not everything was gloom and doom last night.  There is a bright side to all this, several in fact.  I decided not to post it last night, because I was angry too.  The night was for venting.  The day is for restoring.  Before we close the book on Painter-gate a couple of final thoughts that were among the best I picked up from everyone out there:

1.  It makes no sense to toss this game in the dumpster, but play Jacksonville all out.  If the Colts had said, "4 days is too few.  We are packing it in against the Jags."  I would have defended that.  Then they could have come back and played all out this week and then rested again next week.  I'm sure the NFL wouldn't allow them to because the game was on their network.  That stinks.  I don't buy conspiracy theories, but that is the only explanation that makes sense.  To play against the Jags was so foolhardy and this move was so over cautious that I can't reconcile them any other way.  Someone else pulled the strings on that one.

2.  The one question that I want someone to ask Caldwell point blank is:  "Were you surprised the offense played so poorly under Painter?"  If he says no, then we know he was trying to throw the game.  If he says yes, then he's either a.  a total moron (because NO ONE was surprised Painter was that bad) or b. he's trying to throw Painter under the bus.  My guess is that he would refuse to answer the question and talk about how he was disappointed the team didn't execute.  I want a straight answer.  Jim:  were you surprised?

3.  The Colts didn't want to win this game. If they had, they would have signed a veteran 2nd QB weeks ago.  No way they ever expected Painter to play with competence.  They saw this day coming, and decided to lose.

Now, let's all calm down and be sane for a moment.  It's time for the rule of law:

Law #1:  Anyone saying Caldwell should be fired is an idiot.  If that's your opinion you are welcome to it, but don't bring it in here.  I don't have the energy to argue stupidity today.  Save it and go somewhere where such thoughts are welcome. Polian is not a coward, either.  It's fine to say these things when angry, but if you honestly believe them, then you damn yourself with your own mouth.

Law #2:  Anyone who hopes the Colts lose in the playoffs because of some weird sense of vengeance and isn't named JC can go somewhere else.  Last night everyone was mad.  I decided not to police that.  It was an important moment in Colts history and the rage needed to be documented.  Last night is over.  Take the crazy somewhere else.  We've got enough of our to deal with.

Here's the good we can take from all this:

1.  The '72 have effectively been neutered for all time.  Seriously. The Colts declared that the perfect season is less than meaningless.  They lumped it right up there with a 4-0 preseason mark. To win that game yesterday, it would have taken no more than two more offensive drives.  Caldwell and company CHOSE to lose.  They essentially stated that their team's greatness and legacy would be no better or no worse based on anything but the result of the Super Bowl.  Wow.  Do you think the '72 Dolphins are celebrating today?  Hell no.  They are angry.  They just had a rookie head coach say that they aren't the greatest team of all time and that their accomplishment means so little that the Colts won't even fulfill the football equivalent of crossing the street to piss on them if they were on fire.  It would have required so little effort to go 16-0, that by not doing so the Colts just stomped on their grave and called them frauds.  Why should anyone bother interviewing Mercury Morris?  He and his band of grumpy old men are irrelevant. We don't have to watch them line the field in Miami in February casting their geriatric hoodoo over the Super Bowl.  We don't ever have to listen to them again.  They officially don't matter.

2.  The media has been told they have no power. The Colts don't care what anyone thinks.  I do believe they should have cared more about what the fans think and done everything in a more sensitive way (but I covered that yesterday).  This goes back to my piece on Kravitz yesterday.  The Colts have just told the local and national media to shove it.  That's kind of awesome.  I hate the media (hence this blog that attacks pundits way more than the team).  Indy's taking an "us vs the world" stance.  I like that.  Most writers act like an undefeated team would be the greatest ever.  The Colts have openly told them they are wrong.  If they win the Super Bowl (and I believe they will with surprising ease), Bob Kravitz will have to eat every word he's written.  I relish that thought.

3.  The Jets may well make the playoffs.  They are far and away the worst team in the AFC mix.  Indy will CRUSH them should they meet again. This felt like 2004 and Denver all over again.  Right now, the Jets and Ravens  are making it.  That would set the AFC up with three really good teams and three awful teams (and trust me, the Bengals are AWFUL.  I watched them yesterday against the Chiefs...they are NOT good).  Seeing as how Indy has the one seed, that works out perfectly.  Things are shaping up nicely with one week to go.

4.  This team will be healthy for the first time in...well, all season really.  You can't argue with the results.  Imagine...Mathis and Freeney at full strength.  Jennings only on the field in dime coverage.  Brown and Addai splitting carries (although Brown...wow.  Some great runs, some HORRID runs).  This team is going to be better come the playoffs than at any time this entire season.  That's a great thing.

5.  The Colts have clowned the Patriots.  They have officially announced that they believe what New England did in '07 was stupid.  They are openly mocking them for playing hard against the Giants and losing the Super Bowl.  They just gave the middle finger to Belichick and called him a moron. They are publicly declaring his decision a mistake.  That's not a bad thing.

6.  The pressure bomb will be diffused after the first playoff game.  Yesterday, I said I hated the way they handled resting the players because they traded one firestorm for another.  I stand by that. It was sloppy and inartful. They could have turned the noise down all the way by just admitting last week what they were going to do.  It will create massive pressure right up through the first playoff game. I think the crowd will be nervous and ill tempered.  But, if they win, it all goes away.  There will still be pressure, sure, but it won't be nearly what it would have been if the team was still undefeated.  Can you imagine the two week layoff before the Super Bowl at 18-0?  It would be a mad house.  No, I'm not crying about it.

7.  No one has beaten the Colts.  The feeling of being invincible is still intact.  God help the Jets if we ever play again.  This team is going to go into "eff you" mode in the playoffs.  All that anger that people thought would become a mutiny is about to turn into white hot rage and will be taken out on the next opponent.  Again, I think it would have been more effective to pull this stunt next week at Buffalo.  That being said, I think we are going to see something special in the playoffs.

8.  The "rhythm/rust" issue is off the table.  The offense certainly played enough yesterday to still be in sync.  No one can claim that sitting the last 20 minutes hurt the team's rhythm.  We already know that momentum doesn't exist (2008 Cardinals being the prime example).  The offense needs to play at least a quarter and a half (unless the weather is awful) on Sunday.  More than one drive would be smart, but not too much more.  Brown still needs more work with the first team (obviously).  We still have NO idea what Vinatieri can do.  But aside from those things, the offense trashed the #1 defense in football yesterday with three scoring drives as well as moving the ball past midfield with ease.

I never thought 16-0 was going to happen.  I did sort of want 15-1.  Curtis "Matt" Painter is not capable of delivering that.  Ultimately, yesterday changed nothing.  This is still the same team it was 48 hours ago.  They are still going to win the Super Bowl.  It will still be awesome.  Now, they'll  be forever known as the team that only lost when they wanted to.  Again, I'm not changing my opinon from yesterday. This was a mess and poorly done.  It'll go on the Painful Losses List.  But there is plenty of good that came of it.

They had to pull Peyton.

If anything happened to him, we'd probably not pick up another first down the rest of the season, let alone win a game.

Curtis Painter is NOT an NFL quarterback.  No team in football has a bigger drop off from #1 to #2 QB.

If anything, Manning won the MVP award today by not playing.