Just having read through this thread, I think the two sides aren't that far apart. I think Joe appears to be against people labeling Peyton Manning a "choker" because he sees it as implying that people think Peyton Manning is incapable of winning (or getting to) a Super Bowl.
Yet, I don't see the statement -- Peyton Manning choked today -- as being mutually exclusive from -- Peyton Manning can someday win a Super Bowl.
I'm sure there are plenty of people that simply will blindly say Manning has some mental block that will forever prevent him from winning the big game, and I couldn't disagree more (i.e., I'm with Joe here).
HOWEVER, if we're defining CHOKE as someone whose own performance falls short of their normal standards, then I have no problem saying that TODAY (and today only), Peyton Manning "choked."
That doesn't mean the entire offense didn't choke, but like Tom Jackson said today on ESPN Countdown "If not today, when." If Manning and the Colts, who were 1st in points this year couldn't beat a Patriots team without its top four defensive backs, then when will they get that monkey off their backs?
I mean, Manning played this Patriots team in Week 1...and he was 16 for 29 for 256 yards, 2 TDs and a pick. Not the HOF caliber numbers Manning put up for much of the season, but certainly better than what he delivered today.
This was the first game he failed to throw a TD all season (excluding Week 17 when he barely played)
Manning's 5.7 yards per pass was BY FAR the lowest of his season and one of the worst performances of his career in that regardThis is an offense that put up 20 or more points EVERY game Manning played this year, so I can't see how a 3 point goose egg doesn't reflect poorly on the players in some way.
As much credit as I give Belichick, Crennel and the Patriots players, I simply can't accept that Manning didn't perform significantly below his own standards in the most important game of the season...again.
That's a shame, I'm pulling for the guy and hope he'll avenge his demons someday. Give this guy a half decent defense so that he can actually play one of these games at the dome, and I think he'll get the monkey off his back. Until then, the label may not be "fair" but you can't really say it's inaccurate either.