i wasn't going to say anything...

i wasn't going to say hardly more than a peep about the Patriots this week, because i am a firm believer in the bad karma of trashtalking your opponents (especially in the post season, as has been evidenced by Freddie Mitchell, Mike Vanderjagt, my very own Patriots before playing Denver in last year's playoffs, and, most recently, the San Diego Chargers - it just doesn't turn out well); something called "mystique"; curses; and lucky shirts.

and so i really wasn't going to say anything, lest my running mouth somehow rain down bad karma on my boys (i have a pretty impressive ego to think i can cause something of this magnitude with a few words on my humble little blog, huh?) but this just pushed me over the edge & i can't resist making a comment.

apparently, the Colts have decided to follow suit & limit ticket sales for this Sunday's playoff game to people living in the Indianapolis area only.

ok (i thought to myself) it didn't matter in San Diego. if they want to look nervous going into Sunday's game, that's all right with me.

and then i read this from the Older Doofus Spawn himself:
"We need that stadium totally packed in blue. No Patriots," Manning said.

i'm sorry but my stomach *still* hurts from laughing. go ahead, Peyton. you just throw to the guys you see wearing some blue, mmm-kay?


Pats Pulpit nailed it i think:
This actually explains a lot, particularly Ty Law's three interceptions a few years ago. Apparently, Manning doesn't know that the Patriots and their fans wear a lot of blue.

i am actually far more concerned with the injury reports that came out yesterday:

DOUBTFUL: S Rodney Harrison (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Troy Brown (flu), OT Ryan O'Callaghan (flu), DL Mike Wright (flu)
PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder)
There are several players no longer on the list, including Bam Childress, Benjamin Watson, Richard Seymour and Ellis Hobbs.

For the Colts:
QUESTIONABLE: T Ryan Diem (shoulder), CB Nicholas Harper (ankle), LB Cato June (concussion), G Ryan Lilja (knee), WR Ricky Proehl (hamstring), S Bob Sanders (knee)

several concerns for me. the obvious wishing we had Rodney, but i am really worried about this vicious flu that has been ripping through the team. not only do i hope Troy Brown makes it back for Sunday (the other guys too, of course, but not having him in particular really scares me for some reason), i am also hoping that no one else comes down with this thing between now & game time. we can't afford to be missing anyone. what also caught my attention were three names on the Colts report: Harper, June & Sanders -- all top performers on the (newly potent & acclaimed) Indy defense. this could be interesting. of course they are only questionable (50% chance of playing as of right now) & we could be merely back to playing injury report head games. remains to be seen. warrants watching in the mean time.

and on one last, very childish note. i was reading a pretty good article on SI.com about the Patriots efforts at creating depth on the team & the whole time i am reading, i can't pay attention. because i am laughing. inappropriately. at the author's first name. Nunyo. and thinking it's a good thing his last name isn't Business. i think the stress of last week's playoff game may have pushed me right off the deep end...