Manning Passes Father's Hero's Mark

An exception came along Sunday afternoon.

While throwing three touchdowns to help the Indianapolis Colts rout the Cincinnati Bengals 39-26 in the RCA Dome, Manning raised his TD mark to 24 and broke Charlie Conerly's rookie record of 22, set in 1948.

In the 50 years since, the record not only endured, it was scarcely challenged. The names immediately behind Conerly on the list belong to Dan Marino (20 in 1983), Jim Plunkett (19 in '71), Joe Namath (18 in '65) and Fran Tarkenton (18 in '61).

For Manning, this one was more personal, because Conerly was father Archie's first pro football hero.

"I've never been a big individual records guy," said Peyton, "but the fact that Charlie Conerly held that record . . . it's kind of a special honor."

Conerly, who wore No. 42 for the New York Giants, grew up in Clarksdale, Miss., 30 miles from Archie's hometown of Drew.

He was the first quarterback to play for legendary coach Johnny Vaught at Ole Miss; Archie was the last.

"I'm sorry Charlie's not alive to see this. He'd be real pleased," said Archie. "He was really special."

That legacy has been passed through Archie to Peyton.

This season hasn't been easy on either of them. Archie, in fact, allowed himself just his second trip to the RCA Dome for Sunday's game.

But the growth of the son is reflected in the father.

"There's been a lot of progression," said Archie. "He's calmer. His motor was running pretty fast the first of the year."

So was Dad's.

"I've gotten a lot better," he said. "I've been practicing in front of the TV."

Giants deliver Accorsi's revenge

It was somehow fitting that the New York Giants dashed Denver's dream of a perfect season Sunday. Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi held a similar title with the Baltimore Colts in 1983, when John Elway was drafted No. 1 but bluffed his way into a trade to the Broncos.

Elway claimed that he would play minor-league baseball rather than sign with the Colts, but Accorsi believed otherwise and went against former owner Bob Irsay's instructions not to draft the Stanford quarterback.

"Morally, I couldn't sell the franchise out," Accorsi said. "I just had too much respect for the Baltimore Colts. I know it sounds corny, but I wouldn't do it. I figured if it was good enough for Johnny Unitas, it was good enough for John."

Stat of the week

Thanks in large part to an offensive line that has not allowed a sack in seven of the 14 games, Manning has taken all 865 offensive snaps for the Colts this season.

He is trying to become the eighth quarterback since 1970, and the first since Jacksonville's Mark Brunell in 1996, to take every snap for his team during a regular season.

The Mind-Eraser

Reports continue to circulate that the Pacers remain interested in acquiring Latrell Sprewell from Golden State, with Dale Davis and Travis Best (a free agent who would have to be re-signed first) heading to the Warriors.

If it happens, it would be Donnie Walsh's worst decision since the hiring of Dick Versace, and potentially more damaging to the franchise.

The Pacers' biggest problem all season long, and through the postseason, was rebounding.

Trading away the team's best rebounder would exponentially magnify the deficiency.

Their biggest strength was chemistry.

Throwing a live grenade like Sprewell into the mix would be asking for disaster.

It's almost enough to make you root for the season to be canceled.