Mixed Emotions for Manning?

In 2005, Peyton Manning returned home to New Orleans with brother, Eli and 30,000 lbs. of supplies to aid the relief efforts of Hurricane Katrina. The two brothers hopped into an AirTran Airways aircraft, flew to Indiana and loaded up every compartment of the plane with the help of about 20 employees of AirTran. The Manning’s then helped deliver the necessities to the devastated victims in Louisiana.

In 2010, Peyton Manning will be hopping on a plane with another goal in mind, to win Super Bowl XLIV in front of a crowd that may include many of the same people he helped with their recovery.

Manning’s dad, Archie, the longtime Saints quarterback will have to sit in his air-conditioned loge with mixed emotions. His beloved Saints on one side of the field, his beloved son on the other side.

Peyton is not returning with supplies this time and has no intention of being charitable to the city of New Orleans when he walks out of the tunnel on February 7, 2010 in Miami.

Instead, the best quarterback in the NFL, who threw for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns during the regular season, will try to take something back to his new home in Indiana.

Manning will be playing for his second NFL title as his Colts beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI. Manning was named the MVP in that contest after completing 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards and a TD to Reggie Wayne.

Archie Manning was celebrating in that game just like he was in 2008 when son, Eli and his New York Giants defeated the heavily favored New England Patriots, 17-14 in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona in Super Bowl XLII. For his efforts, the younger Manning was also named MVP.

Archie Manning never played in a Super Bowl.

Regardless of the outcome on Super Bowl Sunday, all of the Manning’s will still be winners. All of the sacrifice they have given for the people of Louisiana shows the true worth of this football playing family.

And yet another Payton, Head Coach Sean Payton, who literally sacrificed 250K of his own salary to hire Greg Williams as his Defensive Coordinator for his beloved Saints, will be trying to be the one leading the relief efforts for New Orleans on this day.

Every fan who loves NFL football can appreciate the story of this year’s big game. And for one time in the history of the biggest single event on the sports calendar, no one will leave a loser. At least not anyone with the last name Manning.

Contributing Sources: ESPN, en.wikipedia.org