Dungy step closer to pinnacle
''The wives were together talking about things wives talk about,'' Dungy said. ''We were talking about '96, where we started. Where we've gone from there and how they're doing in their jobs is just incredible.''
When Dungy became head coach in Tampa Bay in 1996, he hired Edwards and Smith as assistants. Now, all three are head coaches -- three of the four black head coaches in the NFL. And while they're helping to define a time of inclusion among NFL coaches, a black head coach still hasn't taken a team to the Super Bowl. These were the three with a chance this year.
The next day, Saturday, the story was Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning. People keep trying to include him among the all-time bests, but he hasn't been to a Super Bowl, either.
We're waiting for history to tell these stories. And they're all tied together.
On Saturday, Dungy's Colts beat Edwards' Kansas City Chiefs 23-8, with Bears coach Smith in the stands. When it was over, Edwards, eliminated from the Super Bowl tournament, shook Dungy's hand on the field and said, ''You hear me? You win this thing.''
Manning, who has made a career of regular-season brilliance and postseason losses, was in the unfair position of being a one-man team this time. The Colts have a soft defense that can't stop the run. How did it go?
Well, the Colts' run defense shut down the Chiefs' stellar running game. The Colts' defense hit hard and tough.
Manning threw three interceptions, two to Kansas City's Ty Law. Manning's passer rating of 71.9 was beneath that of Colts punter Hunter Smith, who threw a desperation pass for a 16-yard loss. And a 79.2 rating.
''I told Ty Law I'd be glad to introduce him at the Hall of Fame,'' Manning said. ''There were two miscommunications between Marvin [Harrison, a receiver] and me, and they were both my fault.''
We still don't know about Manning. The absurdity that he might be a playoff choker didn't seem so absurd by halftime. He has won two MVP awards and has amassed huge career numbers. But the postseason has become a real problem for his legacy.
Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl. But he got there. Manning is 4-6 in the postseason.
But on Saturday, he kept drives alive with short, safe passes, and then would throw interceptions with none of his receivers around. Just before halftime, his receiver was halfway to the back of the end zone, but his pass was intercepted at the 3.
''You have to keep playing,'' he said. ''As soon as it gets you second-guessing, generally, that's when you've got problems.''
This has to be getting to him. John Elway used to be known as a big-game choker, too, and it was killing his legacy. He would say that it wouldn't ruin his career not to be a champ. Then he finally did win, and admitted that it changed everything.
''Every game takes on a personality of its own,'' Dungy said. ''If you're going to win a championship, you have to have games where the defense comes on when the offense is a little off-track.''
Maybe that's what it takes, really, for a superstar to reach the top. We criticize these guys for never winning a championship, but maybe it takes just what the Colts did Saturday: A day when the rest of the team pulls one out for their leader.
History isn't finished with Manning, whether that be for good or bad. And his history is tied to Dungy's, whose history is tied to Edwards' and Smith's.
Dungy smiled calmly afterward in the Colts locker room, thinking not only about one game, but also about the big picture of his career. That's what Friday's dinner did to him.
''We didn't talk about strategies,'' he said. ''It was more a night for reminiscing, how excited we were when we all first came in there. And then we were down 35-3 at halftime to Green Bay in our first game [actually, 24-3], and we weren't quite sure we knew what we were doing.''
They knew. And at least one of them will get to the Super Bowl one day, maybe soon. Maybe two. Manning will probably get there, too, eventually.
Just wait.
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If Patriots win today:
Patriots at Chargers, 3:30 p.m. next Sunday, Ch. 2
Colts at Ravens, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 2
If Jets win today:
Jets at Chargers, 3:30 p.m. next Sunday, Ch. 2
Colts at Ravens, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 2
Conference championship: Sunday, Jan. 21, Ch. 2 • • Super Bowl: Sunday, Feb. 4, Ch. 2
