Manning reunion rough
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Being neutral didn't come easy to Archie Manning, the former NFL quarterback who was always the ultimate competitor, even while playing most of his career for a New Orleans team that was a perennial loser.
So no wonder it was difficult to pry any words from him after he watched sons Peyton and Eli quarterback the Colts and the Giants on Sunday night. The Colts won 26-21, but there was no joy for Archie — it would have been just as hard on him if the result had gone the other way.
"Good game. That was about all I can say," Archie said afterward, not much for a man who for years was the radio analyst on Saints games. He seemed to understand that if Peyton was a winner, then Eli was a loser and he knows all about losing.
This was something for the Manning family to endure, not enjoy, although Olivia Manning, wife and mother, said it wasn't quite as bad as she had thought it might be.
"I'm just glad it's over," Olivia said.
"I'm just glad it's over," said Cooper, the oldest of the Manning brothers.
Relief must have been in the genes on this night: "I am glad it's over," Peyton said.
You too, dad?
"Absolutely."
Archie, Olivia and Cooper Manning — along with Peyton's and Cooper's wives — sat in a luxury box and revealed little in the way of emotion, wearing mostly blank stares as the game unfolded. Archie sat slouched in his seat and crammed a fist in front of his mouth after Eli threw an interception, while Olivia sat upright, stiff and expressionless — pretty much as she was for the entire game.
Statistically both the game and the quarterback numbers were close: Peyton was 25-of-41 for 276 yards and a touchdown; Eli was 20-or 34 for 247 and two scores. Each threw an interception and Eli lost a fumble. For those who care about such things (the brothers certainly don't), Eli's passer rating for the game was almost 10 points higher: 88.7 to 78.9.
