It's Going To Be Hard For The Patriots To Hate Peyton Manning This Year

by Brad Wells on Aug 30, 2011 10:15 AM EDT in 2011 Colts News

FOXBORO MA - NOVEMBER 21: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots on November 21 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Colts 31-28. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Marima over at Pats Pulpit shared this with us today (via Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston):

"We lost our ability to win Super Bowls back-to-back years to Manning brothers, and then to see each of them send very generous checks to this fund . . . and Peyton wrote me a beautiful note," [Robert Kraft] tells [The Boston Globe's Greg A.] Bedard. "They’re sort of two people that broke my heart on the field in back-to-back years, and then they warm my heart with generous donations. It’s something special about this NFL and the great people associated with it.

"It’s sort of the great part of football, the fact that it’s a team sport and you have all these rivalries but they together - with people like Matt Cassel and Junior Seau and Tom Brady and just a ton of guys - have made contributions, dozens of Patriots players, that are going to allow us to keep the spirit of Myra’s giving back to the community live for generations to come."

The image of Colts center Jeff Saturday hugging Patriots owner Robert Kraft outside the NFLPA's offices following the agreement to the new CBA will stand as a symbol for labor peace in the NFL for a decade. Now, with Peyton writing a generous check to the Myra Kraft fund, in honor of Bob Kraft's recently departed spouse, it adds to the new perception that the rivalry between the Colts and Patriots (which is, without question, the greatest rivalry in modern sports) is a friendly and respectful one.

I will admit that the thought of the Patriots owner having his heart broken by Peyton Manning in the playoffs does make me feel the tinge of satisfaction. We Colts fans had to endure years of the Patriots beating our guys.

But, really, in the grand scheme of life, none of that really matters.

Bob Kraft's wife is gone after fighting through a long and difficult illness. Football really becomes pretty insignificant in the face of that kind of loss, and it is a kind, honorable gesture on Peyton's part to pay his respects and condolences to the Kraft family in this way.

Bravo.

Thanks to Marima for letting us know about this.

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Comments

peyton's the man!

but Pats fans (and fans of most other teams) will continue to hate him because of pure jealousy. It will never go away…and i’ll never understand it

by bigpony on Aug 30, 2011 10:48 AM EDT reply actions

I think it's natural to dislike

a guy who can easily keep you from advancing in the playoffs. However, I’m not sure it’s jealousy in the Patriot’s case. They have a pretty good QB too.

by Ayrshire on Aug 30, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

your right, its not jealousy with the Pats

its the inferiority complex all Boston fans have, they need to establish that “their guy” is better. Im a Sox fan so i understand the mentality, we go thru it every year with the Yanks!

Other teams fans its just hate and jealousy. They’re mad at him and the Colts for beating the sh*t out of their team, and they wish they had him!

by bigpony on Aug 30, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Especially the Texans.

As many times as Manning has waxed them over the years and all they have to show is a couple of wins…..I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of their fanbase was in therapy.

by Ayrshire on Aug 30, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

There’s a difference in “hating” him our of respect for his ability, and hating him as a person. I “hate” Peyton because he’s damn good at what he does. Some hate him and want to see him carted off the field. I’m not in that category. Though I would be ok if I didn’t see him in a commercial every break…

TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....

by Evanbio on Aug 30, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure Eli's was written in crayon, and had lots of backwards letters.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 30, 2011 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

If you read the comments

many of the Pats fans turned it around choosing to write about Manning “college prank” moonfeast with the female athletic trainer. Hey, every team has low character guys. We have Peyton and they have Haynesworth.

"We want the ball and we're gonna score" Future HOFer Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Williamson's 31st rated NFL QB

by PV Mike on Aug 30, 2011 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

Moonfeast?

That seems unintentionally funny, given the allegations.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 30, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

That's why I never read those comments

Those clowns can be found everywhere. SB Nation provides a much more civilized community, even for rivals hatin’ on each other’s teams.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Aug 30, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree. ESPN posts are all harsh.

I do not even have issues with the Pats anymore. While the rivalry will always be there as long as Peyton and Brady play at a high level, I think many Pats and Colts fans have changed their “hating” more to the Jets, At least I have. I think Brady and Manning are both at places in their careers where they have begun to like as well as respect each other. Very similar to the evolved relationship of Bird and Magic.

"We want the ball and we're gonna score" Future HOFer Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Williamson's 31st rated NFL QB

by PV Mike on Aug 30, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

yea there isnt much "hate" between pats & colts anymore

…at least as far as i’m concerned. I’ve grown to respect them. The Jets?? Cant say i hate them either, i love everything about Rex Ryan and wish he coached here. Hes the anti-Caldwell!! Hes a REAL football coach with real feelings and emotions, he holds nothing back. Plus they knocked the Pats out last year and I enjoyed every minute of it!

by bigpony on Aug 30, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

if theyre gonna knock us out they might as well knock them out too!

by bigpony on Aug 30, 2011 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I think many Pats and Colts fans have changed their "hating" more to the Jets

not me.
I guess I’m kind of the odd man out here but I still hate the pats and honestly, I like the Jets. Maybe it’s because I’m from NJ, but I like watching them beat up on the pats on what is becoming a regular basis.

The Indianapolis Colts are going to be the 1st team to win a super bowl in their own stadium. 'nuff said.

by It'sAlways18 on Aug 30, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

That's like saying the Texans beat up on the Colts on a regular basis.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 30, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

tell that to GGN.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 30, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Rivalry on the field...

is different from that in the stands. We tend to get the notion that these guys hate each other…far from the case. When it is all boiled down..it is just a sport…and the loss of a competitors spouse or family member should always take a higher position. People posting on blogs are not the players…and show that by their actions. As much as we “hate” the Pats or their fans…I suspect that the field is full of guys with tons of mutual respect and admiration!

"If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out. And it wouldn't be the monkey."
"I don't really trust a sane person."
"I never met a man I didn't want to fight." The one and only Lyle Alzado

by TRDean on Aug 30, 2011 11:35 AM EDT reply actions

players hate each other on the field

but there is mutual respect off the field, the fans hate each other a lot more,,I have the utmost respect for their owner, if Kraft and Saturday were not involved , there is a good chance the strike would not yet have been resolved,,the only thing that alays gets me going is that my Patriot freinds down here in S Fla always razz me that Peyton is a pu—y and he is a whiner and not tough which is the farthest thing from the actual fact,,and they used to show no mercy before the Colts started paying them back in 2005

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Aug 30, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

You always have this in your arsenal for you Pat's friend. Who's the pu**y?

http://youtu.be/dgi2lY62Hto

"We want the ball and we're gonna score" Future HOFer Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Williamson's 31st rated NFL QB

by PV Mike on Aug 30, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

*your

"We want the ball and we're gonna score" Future HOFer Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Williamson's 31st rated NFL QB

by PV Mike on Aug 30, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

thank you

Never saw that one!!!! and also the pic of him crying on ESPN about almost not getting drafted when he told the story a few months ago

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Aug 30, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Make sure the sound is turned up loud for him.

"We want the ball and we're gonna score" Future HOFer Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Williamson's 31st rated NFL QB

by PV Mike on Aug 30, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Aug 30, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I disagree...

people throw around the word hate too much…me thinks that they don’t know what it means. This isn’t Medieval warfare…this is football. If they hated each other so much I think you would see more attempts to hurt other players. I stand by my feelings that these guys (for the most part) respect each other…knowing that they have families to provide for…

by TRDean on Aug 30, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

the best rivalry

Is the Steelers and Ravens now. Colts/Pats hasn’t been that great for a while. For it to really return to greatness they need to meet again in the playoffs.

by FatDT on Aug 30, 2011 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

its not a rivalry...

the steelers win ALL THE TIME! Its like sayin Colts-Ravens is a rivalry

ESPN hypes up their matchups as “physical” and “tough” games…dont people get hit and tackled in other games besides steelers vs ravens?? Its a freakin joke, and so is ESPN…but thats a topic for another day

by bigpony on Aug 30, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

Okay dude,,,

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by coltsfan723 on Aug 30, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Hasn't been great for a while?

I agree with the playoffs really heightening the stakes, when it’s win or go home, but you can’t discount the recent games between these two teams. Even 2008 without Brady was a close one. 2009 and 2010 were almost the exact same game, just with a different ending. Both were hair-whitening.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Aug 30, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey Marima, I just saw your bio

What a great family story. I didn’t know we were blogging with a sports fanatic mother!
Your posts are always well done and respectful. BTW, one of your 3 sons doesn’t by any chance post here often as a kangaroo with boxing gloves does he? If so, then you need to give him an occasional “timeout”

"We want the ball and we're gonna score" Future HOFer Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Williamson's 31st rated NFL QB

by PV Mike on Aug 30, 2011 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions