It wasn't my intention to diminish James or Harrison's roles. My belief is that without a great QB getting the receivers in good places to make plays the run game is a non-factor.
Of the teams still in the playoffs most of them were in the top 10 in the league in rushing. But, they all had great QBs who took pressure off the run game.
I don't think James arrival had as much to do with the Colt's winning as did the fact that the team as a whole had to be built around Manning after the 99 draft. So, I think it's a little disingenuous to correlate James arrival with the Colts improvement. Certainly he helped, but I don't think he'd be as successful if he were playing for a team that couldn't throw the ball as effectively as Manning and crew throw it.
Manning will win a Super Bowl if the Colts keep the core together and continue to draft and use free-agency to improve their defense. In fact, I think he'll win more than one if they keep the core together. I also believe he'll hold more NFL records when he retires than any other QB. He's still relatively young and he holds some records now. He's never had a problem with injuries and is one of the smartest QBs to ever play the game. It does go without saying that no QB, regardless of how good, intelligent, or any other factor placed here ______ can play well when the line doesn't block. Let's face it. The line did a lousy job for the Colts Sunday. If Peyton gives TVs to the line this year, they should be 6" screens. Maybe the narrow view will help them to focus on their play next time they're in the playoffs.
