Reggie Wayne(87)Mandatory Credit: Matt Stamey-US PRESSWIRE

As we all continue to debate which free agent wide receiver we want to see in a Minnesota Vikings jersey in 2012, the names most frequently mentioned are Vincent Jackson and Dwayne Bowe.  While both are wonderful targets, let me throw a name at you that is almost being forgotten:  Reggie Wayne.  Thanks to the Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay, apparently wanting to move in a different direction, and showing more interest in re-signing Colts wide-out Pierre Garcon, it seems Reggie Wayne will most likely be a free agent who is up for grabs.  Sure when you think about the incredible size and talents of V-Jax, maybe Wayne isn’t the “sexier” option to shoot for…but maybe he’s a little more realistic of an option.  As I mentioned (more…)

Feb 5, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham (82) catches a pass during the second half of Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

It only took one play for Mario Manningham to become a star. Now thanks to his acrobatic sideline catch in the fourth quarter against the Patriots in the Super Bowl, Manningham has a chance to cash in big. And I don’t just mean with endorsement deals. It just so happens that Manningham is now a free agent. Some team out there is likely going to give him a large contract based at least partly on his Super Bowl heroics. That team probably won’t be the Giants, who already have Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. But for a team that’s thin in the receiver corps and could use a downfield weapon? Manningham just went from a nice option to a very intriguing one.

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Kurt Warner, Hall-of-Famer.  Brett Favre, Hall-of-Famer.  Peyton Manning, Hall-of-Famer.

The Saints beat Warner and Favre by mercilessly pounding them, sending Warner into retirement and Favre into a bruise-covered limbo.  Peyton Manning was spared the physical punishment, but by game’s end, had received a psychological beat-down perhaps even worse than that suffered by his predecessors.

As with Favre two weekends ago, the final blow to Manning’s psyche was delivered by Tracy Porter.  With the Colts driving for what seemed like an inevitable tying touchdown in the fourth quarter, Porter read Manning, stepped in front of Reggie Wayne, caught the ball and raced downfield for a 74-yard touchdown, giving the Saints a 14-point lead.

The Colts got the ball back after that, but you could tell by Manning’s body language that he was already defeated.

That’s what the Saints do on defense.  They give up  yards, they give up points, but then they turn you over and score, either via return or their quick-strike offense.  In football there is nothing so disheartening as coughing the ball up and watching helplessly as the other team converts the mistake into points.

The Vikings may have a more consistently stifling defense, at least when they’re on turf and can generate their pass rush, but one wishes they were a little more like the Saints in their ball-hawking ability.  Grinding a team down is one thing, but what really breaks their back is the turnover.

Something Brett Favre and Peyton Manning know all-too-well.