Manning only concerned with ultimate goal

INDIANAPOLIS – All around him on the Indianapolis Colts' sideline, there were backslaps and fist bumps; a football team that was soaking up every moment of the final seconds of a 30-17 AFC championship game victory.

Instead, Peyton Manning(notes) stood alone as the clock wound down. He wore a Colts baseball cap and had his arms folded across his chest watching the New York Jets' final plays. When the gun sounded, Manning stepped onto the field, turned and shook the hand of his coach, Jim Caldwell, and then broke into a jog to find members of the Jets, and especially coach Rex Ryan, to congratulate them on a fine effort.

Manning has never been into demonstrative celebratory acts and not even a shot at a second Super Bowl title – one that would continue to cement his NFL legacy and push him into the pantheon of the game's greatest quarterbacks – was going to change that.

He appeared oblivious to the sideline party behind him. He refrained from whopping it up with fans. The trophy presentation appeared to be more of a chore than anything else, Manning speaking mostly about his team being "humble" and then not bothering to raise the trophy above his shoulders.

The only thing reaching the Super Bow means to him is the Colts are just one game away from their goal.

When he finally was allowed to dart off the field, he didn't wave to the screaming masses; he just sought out his father, Archie, for a quick hug.

"I think he puts so much into [preparation] during the week he's kind of exhausted when it's over," Archie said.

Manning all but wore out the Colts' scouting tapes this past week, watching not just a season-full of the Jets but contests Ryan called as a defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens throughout the 2000s. It was anything to get an edge, anything to get extra insight. It helped him go 26-for-39 for 377 yards and three touchdowns as he sparked a run of 24 consecutive points that erased an 11-point Jets lead and blew the game open.

Sunday night Manning and his wife, Ashley, would host their families at their suburban home, but soon enough it would be back to that film room for Peyton. It's work now. It's work forever.

Three years ago the Colts won a Super Bowl in South Florida and the stories emerged of Manning lecturing his teammates all week to focus on the game, not frolic in the South Beach nightclubs. These opportunities are too rare, he pled. We worked too hard, he reminded. He'll be the same this time as Indy returns on Feb. 7 to face the New Orleans Saints, the team Archie played for and Peyton grew up following.

"He's the constant," said team president Bill Polian. "He's going to be there."

For 12 years Manning has built a legacy on that – constant effort, constant preparation, constantly getting better and better. Blessed with immense talent, he's done what all the great ones have done and not wasted a drop of it. He came to a franchise that was desperate for an identity and gave it one: the relentless pursuit of perfection. It didn't change when the Colts went 3-13 his rookie season, when he kept falling short against the New England Patriots or when they finally won it all after the 2006 season.

"When he got one [Super Bowl] he never seemed like, 'this is it.' " Archie Manning said. "I never saw him drop off in his preparation. He doesn't ever slack off."

If anything, he's better than ever, more focused than ever. He's won consecutive league MVP awards, giving him four for his career. His five touchdowns against one interception in these playoffs are his best statistically. At 33, with so much experience, so many memories to fall back on, he can beat you in more ways than ever.

Sunday was the ultimate Manning. He was so concerned with what Ryan would dial up against him his normally fanatical study session went to a new level. Somewhere in the second quarter he figured out exactly what Ryan was trying to do, which allowed him to make adjustments at the line and plot new strategies with the coaches.

"There was a point in the game when I thought, 'He's got them figured out,' " Archie said. From late in the second quarter the Colts steamrolled the Jets' defense, Manning completing 18 of his final 24 passes, three of them for scores.

Manning spread the ball around to five different receivers, with Pierre Garcon (11 catches for 151 yards) and Austin Collie (seven catches, 123 yards) leading the way. Reggie Wayne (three catches, 55 yards) got the blanket treatment from the Jets' Darrelle Revis, but it didn't stop Manning from challenging the star cornerback, throwing at him on the first play from scrimmage.

"The game was somewhat like we prepared for," Manning said.

For Manning it doesn't get much better than that. It's the most satisfying way to win, to win both the physical and mental battle. It's what keeps him hungry, what keeps him driven, what keeps him from jumping around for just for winning a conference title. He wasn't concerned about winning two Super Bowls, just this one.

"Obviously it was exciting," he said of three years ago. "It was the first Super Bowl for the city and the Indianapolis Colts. It's going to be exciting to get back."

Manning has a personality in real life. It's not just the work of commercials. He wasn't displaying much of it after the game though. He agreed with Archie about being exhausted. Mostly he was echoing the theme of these Colts, a team that entered the season with so many questions. There was a rookie head coach, some new receivers and youth all over the place. Yes they had Manning, but "there was a lot of unknowns," the QB said.

"We have a good bunch of guys," he said. "We have a bunch of guys that have worked hard all season and have been very humble. We were very humble this week. I thought we kept our mouth shut and went to work this week."

Expect no different in Miami. If Manning wants humility, then he'll get it. The talk will be on how this could be the third Super Bowl in four years that's won by a Manning brother (Eli led the New York Giants to the tile in February 2008). Someone joked to Peyton that maybe Archie could be harvested for more QBs. "I think he's done," he deadpanned.

Manning can become just the 10th starting quarterback to win two Super Bowls, an accomplishment that will push him even deeper into the greatest ever debates. Not surprisingly, he wanted no part of that discussion.

"I don't know how you [debate] that," Archie said. "I don't know how you say it about anybody. [There are] different eras, different rules different people. The style of the games [are different].

"But when they mention you, it's pretty good."

It's more than pretty good for Peyton. Headed back for Super seconds, he's never been better.