[PAULYPOKER]

Colts are the 'big bad bully' as America starts rooting for the Saints in Super Bowl


FORT LAUDERDALE -- Go ahead, America, root for the Saints.
The Colts realize they are not the popular choice in Super Bowl XLIV. Matched against the New Orleans, Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, a native of the Crescent City, said he understands why neutral fans might gravitate toward the team around whom the still-rebuilding city has rallied.
"We certainly understand that we may not be the team that everybody is cheering for in this game," Manning said. "We are OK with that."
With fans drawn to the revival of the city that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Saints fever is spreading far beyond the state of Louisiana.
"Peyton is a smart guy and he gets it that they're the big badbully," Sirius NFL Radio analyst Solomon Wilcots said. "Everybody loves underdogs, and is there a bigger underdog than the city of New Orleans?"
Colts WR Reggie Wayne said he would be drawn to root for the NFC champions too -- if he weren't competing against them. "I probably would go for the Saints," Wayne said. "I feel like they deserve it."
Archie Manning is bucking the trend. Peyton's father, who was the Saints' quarterback from 1971-1982 and still lives in New Orleans, will root for his son, but said he values the support his former team is receiving.
"A lot of people in this country are really concerned for our city after Hurricane Katrina," said Archie Manning.
Added Wilcots, "They went through this adversity in Hurricane Katrina that since had bonded that team to the community. And boy, have they rewarded the community. So yes, everyone has adopted that story,even if you don't live in New Orleans you're rooting for them."

[Art Vandeleigh]

When I think of the Indianapolis Colts (which I don't very often, btw), but when I do, the word bully does not come to mind. I think it's because they play on artificial turf in a dome when at home, and never see a spot of dirt on their immaculately white with blue trim uniforms. Just not the stuff bully's are made of.

[Busterflywheel]

Ill agree to this!

[DOMINATER]

true, the pats was once beloved, too, Once a team is around a while,and has some bad press they gather some haters

[DaColts]

The Colts don't have bad press or bad apples on their team. This team is full of class act. I do agree if you not a colts fan you lean toward the saints cause of what has happened 4 years ago. Which I'm tired of hearing from the media. If you say the Saints should win because of this I think that's unreal the city need this in 06 this will not heal or hurt there city. They should be happy to be here with the looks of there last game

[veemister]

colts will win im not a fan but they have more talent

[DaColts]

Agreed

[Brocc]

You gotta love the sentimental bullshit...let all the suckers bet Saints, because they think it'll be redemtion for a hurricaine wiping out a shithole city & and killing 1800 homeless people. The hurricaine was the best thing to happen to that piss stained city since mardi gras. Too bad Haiti doesn't have a football team or they'd be a shoe in to win.

[DaColts]

Right on brocc well said this football a game not a natural disater. Go Colts Go

[BigdaddyQH]

A rather rediculous article considering that the Colts depend on a speed and finness style of defense and the Saints depend on more of the power rush and have been told to injure Manning.

[THE PROFIT]

I think we might see some things out of both of these teams that will surprise us. I would say there's never been 2 more motivated teams in this game. Indy knows if they don't win the season will be looked at as a complete failure, as where people think the Saints will be OK with just getting there.....WRONG! The saints have never been to the big game, they know better than any team in the league how hard it is to get to this game, they are the heart & soul of that city so the pressure to win this game is to the boiling point on each side.

This kind of pressure makes ordinary players do extraordinary things. The first thing a good defense does is make a team one dimensional, both defenses will completely shut down the running game & make both QB's light up the sky if they want to score. I see this game going well over the total, teasing it under wouldn't help.