THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: It was not until he was 30 years old that Ryan Ludwick had his breakout season for the Cardinals, posting 37 home runs, 113 RBIs and a .299 batting average in 2008. Do you think Ludwick, who turns 31 in July, will come anywhere near duplicating those numbers in the next few years?

JOE STRAUSS
The key element within Ludwick’s career has always been his health. At whatever level he’s played, he’s been productive and shown power when able to see more than 500 plate appearances in a season. Last year was the first time he had done so in the Major Leagues. It is a fair assumption that enough doubt remains about his health going forward that the Cardinals have shown a willingness to trade him and a reluctance to commit to a multi-year deal with him. This season will go a long way toward confirming last season’s positive impression.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Health will be a prime concern as Ludwick moves forward. With his injury history, what are the chances of another breakdown? He’s a talented guy with a great attitude. Sure, there are holes in his swing and he can be pitched to. Some strikeout plagues are inevitable. But he can still put up good power numbers if his body holds up.

RICK HUMMEL
I think he can rival the power numbers, if he can maintain plate discipline and not swing at everything. He looked as if he hit a wall in early September last year, but he closed strongly. I do not think, however, he is a .300 hitter. He never has been.

JEFF GORDON
Ah, the operative words are “anywhere near.” I believe Tony La Russa can keep him out of major ruts by spotting him with one of the many lefty hitters in his arsenal. That will protect him to a degree. The worst-case scenario has him gravitating into the No. 2 spot ahead of Albert — not a great run production slot, but a good place to see fastballs. Cardinal National would take .275 with 30 homers and 95 RBI, plus his usual strong defense. The best-case scenario has him matching his ’08 numbers and spending more time behind Albert. But that would be a big, big step.

DAN O’NEILL
If Ludwick can stay healthy, there is no reason to believe he can’t come close to the same kind of numbers. After the All-Star Game in 2007, which is when he started playing more frequently, he batted .274 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 179 at-bats. His 2008 season was simply a carryover from that. What’s more, he always has been a good player — when he’s been healthy.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

A WORD OF CAUTION: An internet report surfaced yesterday about Mark McGwire’s brother, Jay, shopping a book where he says he introduced his home-run hitting brother to steroids. We discussed in our office whether or not to include something on the report in our newspaper’s coverage this morning. Two key reasons we did not:

First, do you trust the source reporting the news? If you’ve seen inaccurate reports from a source before, you tend to stay away unless you can confirm it yourself. This is not to say the current report is true or false, just that we won’t report it until we know it’s true.

Second, do you trust the word of someone “shopping” a book … particularly when no one has agreed to publish the book yet? Doesn’t it seem that if a publisher thought he/she had a tell-all book on Mark McGwire, the publishing house would be jumping all over it?

I’m certainly no apologist for McGwire, his testimony before Congress pretty much shaped my opinion. But I also don’t think anyone should be run through the wringer until facts can be confirmed. (After all, if you relied simply on internet reports, the Rams would have about 3 or 4 head coaches right now.)

I was surprised, however, to see that ESPN.com ran with the report this morning … making sure they fully attributed to the original source, of course, to keep their name clean. Read at your own risk, but be wary.

OK, time to climb down from my ivory tower.

BOSOX BUILD IT, FANS WILL COME: As evidenced by Cardinals GM John Mozeliak’s live chat here at STLtoday.com yesterday, Cardinal Nation is restless about the slow pace of movement this offseason. Many folks just aren’t buying that this team has done enough for the 2009 season. I know the Cardinals can’t rival the Red Sox in payroll, but the Boston Globe has put together an excellent series of vignettes on “Building the 2009 Red Sox.” You have to click there a few times as they take you through every move made by the team this offseason, what it cost the team and what they hope the payoff to be.

It’ll make you green with envy, but you’ll also see some relatively good buys among the Bosox’ moves. Check it out.

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SOMETHING TO PONDER

BACKES DOWN, BUT NOT OUT: The pictures from the St. Louis Blues game on the front of the Post-Dispatch Sports cover today tell a great story … if not a complete one. First there’s the main photo of David Backes crumpled on the ice after taking a bone-crunching hit into the boards from the Blackhawks’ Cam Barker. (Barker received a five-minute major penalty for interference.) In the same photo you can see that Backes’ teammates took immediate exception to the hit, sticking up for the guy that’s become the de facto leader of this team by doing everything possible on the ice to help his team win. In the secondary photo, you see Backes doubled over in pain as he’s helped off the ice. Pictures truly can say a thousand words.

But here’s what the pictures don’t say: Backes put himself in the precarious position to take that hit because he was busting his tail to get to the puck just to avoid an icing call … in the first period. How many guys will expose their bodies like that early in a game just to avoid an icing call? But it’s exactly those sort of plays that often lead to a puck getting poked loose in the offensive zone and a team getting an unexpected goal. But again, it sometimes takes a player to sacrifice his body to get something like that started.

Now the second part of the untold story: When Backes was helped off the ice and immediately headed to the locker room, given the Blues luck with injuries this season, I thought, “There goes the team’s best player for the next month or so.” If you saw the hit you could envision a fractured shoulder, broken ribs, any number of maladies.

But before I could crack open another cold beverage, there he was, back on the ice … barely missing a shift. And for the rest of the game he continued to play the same aggressive, physical style of hockey Blues fans have come to appreciate from him.

I tell you, folks, this is one David that is becoming a Goliath for this Blues team. Hardly a veteran in just his third NHL season, the 24-year-old Backes embodies “Whatever It Takes” and leads by example for every player on this team.

Note to J.D. and Coach Murray: With the Blues team captain likely out the rest of the season with an injury, give this kid the “C” for the rest of this season and see where he leads them. He’s earned it.

OK, enough man-love for Backes. I’ve just been extremely impressed with his play in the last couple of months and the toughness he showed last night took it to another level.

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STAT OF THE DAY

419 – Receiving yards by Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald in three postseason games this year. Fitzgerald, the game’s best WR today, has numbers that rank with some of the best in history. Check out this short chart on nfl.com.

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

KNOWING A BARGAIN WHEN YOU SEE ONE: “Good stuff cheap” read’s the Boston Globe’s online headline this morning. This after the announcement that the Red Sox have reached a preliminary agreement with future Hall of Fame starter/closer John Smoltz on a one-year, $5 million deal. According to the report, Smoltz, 41, will finalize the deal later today and can earn another $5 million in performance incentives.

Oh, and the Red Sox also picked up former first-round pick Rocco Baldelli in a one-year, performance-laden deal.

You think of the big, bad Red Sox as a free-wheeling, free-spending organization, but after missing out in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes the Bosox have acted with financial prudence, taking shots on guys who have exceeded at the highest level, and doing so at discount prices that only escalate based on actual performance.

You may recall the Red Sox already have signed former Dodgers ace Brad Penny to a one-year, $5 million deal. That escalates to the neighborhood of $8 million with performance incentives.

Both Smoltz and Penny had some injury issues last season, but both also have shown the ability to perform at an extemely high level when healthy, Smoltz in a Cooperstown-sort-of-way. The Sox have invested $10 million guaranteed that the two can help them push toward another World Series. And if they don’t perform, Boston can walk away after one year and not be bogged down by long-term contracts.

Both examples, to me, seem exactly the kind of deal the Cardinals have indicated they are looking for. Smoltz, in particular, meets the characteristics of the kind of player described by manager Tony La Russa just last week that he’d like to have — someone with starting and closing experience. Alas, the Cardinals remain on the sidelines.

Perhaps the Cards are doing the right thing by remaining patient as the market for pitchers sets itself. Then again, you don’t want patience to turn into paralysis.

IN OTHER BASEBALL NEWS: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is reporting today that the Brewers have signed all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman to a one-year, $6 million deal. Hoffman can earn an addition $1.5 million in incentives, based on games finished, according to the report. So scratch Hoffman off the list. You can read what the Journal-Sentinel and Milwaukee fans have to say at the blog site highlighted above.

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THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Who will win tonight’s BCS Championship game between Florida and Oklahoma and what will be the final score?

VAHE GREGORIAN
Florida “holds” Oklahoma four touchdowns below what it’s been scoring in the second half of the season but can’t quite stop the Sooners.
Oklahoma 35, Florida 28

STU DURANDO
The SEC doesn’t lose in the championship game. I’m sick of the SEC but until it loses I can’t pick against any of its teams. However, this game is completely anti-climactic to me. The BCS folks have made this an afterthought by playing on a Thursday night, a week after New Year’s Day. I feel more like I’m about to watch a great season opener for 2009.
Florida 37, Oklahoma 30

JOE STRAUSS
If money grew on trees, this is what handicappers would refer to as “low-hanging money.” As the bowl season has screamed: The SEC is big league, the Big 12 is 4-A. Teams that don’t play defense don’t hang against SEC big boys. Ask Texas Tech. Oklahoma has an underrated defense — within the Big 12. A late score makes this one deceptively close.
Florida 38, Oklahoma 32. (Give the points.)

TOM TIMMERMANN
I saw a lot more of Oklahoma this year than I did Florida, which has probably colored my thinking that the Sooners are better. I’m counting on Oklahoma’s defense to make the plays needed for the win.
Oklahoma 28, Florida 27

CAMERON HOLLWAY
Tonight’s game is no more a “championship” than Utah-Alabama, USC-Penn State or Texas-Ohio State. Utah is the national champion, and USC, Texas and tonight’s winner belong in the conversation. I picked Oklahoma to be crowned in the preseason, so I’ll have to stick with that pick. The Sooners offensive line might be the best in NCAA history, which gives Sam Bradford the time to pick any defense apart.
Oklahoma 34, Florida 31.

REID LAYMANCE
The Sooners’ only loss this season came against Texas, a team with a gritty QB (Colt McCoy) and a good kick returner (Jordan Shipley). Florida has that and maybe a bit more in Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin.
Florida 35, Oklahoma 33

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS: Everyone’s got a 50-50 chance at getting the above question right. How hard is that? The really challenge was picking the national champion before the season began. Take a look at who our college football writers, columnists and college editor said would win it all in our preseason preview.

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QUESTION TO THE READERS

MACLIN A MIZZOU GREAT? On the eve of Jeremy Maclin announcing his decision between the NFL and staying in school, I got to wondering about where he would rank with all-time Mizzou football greats. I didn’t grow up here so I don’t have a great historical perspective as far as seeing guys play. I know what my eyes tell me about Maclin: He’s an incredibly talented athlete who glides so smoothly while juking opponents it often seems he’s doing it effortlessly. If he goes pro now, does he hurt his legacy among Mizzou greats, or perhaps not even be considered one? Or has he already put himself in the upper-tier in the schools annals? Educate me on this one.

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STAT OF THE DAY

7,354.2 — Career innings pitched by Cy Young, the most in Major League history. That averages out to about 334 innings pitched per season in his 22-year career. Pretty amazing, huh?

THE WATERCOOLER

Question: Are the 2008 Detroit Lions the worst team in the history of the NFL? If not, who is?

JIM THOMAS
Humbly speaking, I’m probably the area’s foremost expert on bad football. I covered the “Woody’s Wagon” Missouri Tigers in the mid ’80s. (I was on press row for the Norman Conquest, the 77-0 loss at Oklahoma. Yes, the Sooners did send a note to the Mizzou locker room at halftime saying: “You’re in the wrong defense.” And yes, Brian Bosworth was eating a hot dog on the sidelines near the end of the game.) And of course, I now chronicle the weekly pratfalls of the St. Louis Rams. But in this age of NFL parity, with the salary cap, free agency, the ability to draft high after bad seasons, to be able to navigate an entire NFL season without a single victory is an incredible feat. If the Lions manage to finish 0-16, I’d rate them as the worst team in NFL history. Hands down.

BILL COATS
I think that “honor” goes to the 1980 New Orleans Saints, who became known as the “Aints” and whose fans showed up with paper bags on their heads. Only a one-point win over a so-so Jets team avoided 0-16.

BRYAN BURWELL
The Lions are the worst ever. Their only competition for “worst ever” would be the winless 0-14 Tampa Bay Bucs. Those Bucs were dreadful with their ugly orange uniforms and a 12-game streak the following season that extended their futility to an NFL record 26 games. But they had an excuse. They were an expansion team in 1976 with a roster full of NFL rejects. The Lions’ only excuse is lengthy managerial incompetence.

TOM TIMMERMANN
While Detroit may lose more games, I don’t think anyone can match the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers for being flat out bad. They were outscored 412-125, shut out five times, averaged 214 yards of total offense. Other than Lee Roy Selmon, they had nobody. I’d make Detroit a 6-point favorite if the teams met. Then I’d plan to be doing something else during the game.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOSTON AND ST. LOUIS: Boston owner John Henry shocked Red Sox Nation last night when he issued a statement saying the Bosox we’re out of the running for prized free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. “We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him,” Henry said in an e-mail, according to the Boston Globe. “After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”

Although the other teams pursuing Teixeira include the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Nationals, many in Boston believe Henry’s statement is purely a negotiating ploy. Who knows, perhaps Henry just doesn’t want to bid against himself … the same tactic apparently being applied by the Cardinals right now with Brian Fuentes.

Did I just compare an 8-year, $180 million deal to a 2-year, $16-18 million deal? Kind of puts it into perspective though, doesn’t it … the kind of money that causes hand-wringing in Boston and the kind that causes it in St. Louis? Oh, to have such problems.

THE PRIDE OF POPLAR BLUFF: Missouri native Tyler Hansbrough broke the all-time scoring record at the University of North Carolina last night when he fought through two defenders to score his 2,291st point, passing all-time leader Phil Ford. It’s an impressive feat at an elite basketball institution like North Carolina. One columnist from the Raleigh News & Observer points out that a key factor in Hansbrough breaking the record is that he decided to stick around for his senior season, as Ford had done. The Observer column says that, “Conservatively estimated, Antawn Jamison, Joseph Forte, Michael Jordan and Rashad McCants were all on pace to break Ford’s record had they stayed for a fourth year (or in Forte’s case, third and fourth years).”

I say it’s too bad more “college” athletes don’t make the decision to finish up their four years of schooling, but that’s an argument for another day.

Hansbrough needs to make no apologies for the hard-working style and determination that now has him at the top of Carolina’s scoring list. Congrats to Hansbrough on the record and to all the folks of Poplar Bluff who must be celebrating the achievement of their native son.

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THINGS TO PONDER

THANK YOU, RAMS: No sellout for the Rams game Sunday means a TV blackout. But the Rams are still delivering a holiday gift to us all: By virtue of the blackout, the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) vs. Tennessee Titans (12-2) game will be aired at noon instead. This is a huge game with homefield advantage for the entire AFC playoffs on the line. And now all those fans not attending Sunday’s game at The Ed can stay home and watch football as it’s meant to be played. In the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us, everyone.”

LOOSEN UP, IT’S THE HOLIDAYS: It’s Friday and many of us will be taking a few days off in the coming weeks. I thought I’d end today on a lighter note, so I went searching online for some funny Rickey Henderson quotes and anecdotes. Who doesn’t love Rickey? I know Rickey loves Rickey. I found what I was looking for at chiefsplanet.com. Here are five of my favorites, but you can check out Chiefs Planet’s Top 25 by clicking on the link above. Well, onto Rickey:

1. In 1996, Henderson’s first season with San Diego, he boarded the team bus and was looking for a seat. Steve Finley said, “You have tenure, sit wherever you want.” Henderson looked at Finley and said, “Ten years? Ricky’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.”

2. Trying to get back into baseball, Henderson reportedly called San Diego GM Kevin Towers and left the following message on his answering machine: “This is Rickey calling on behalf of Rickey. Rickey wants to play baseball.”

3. A reporter asked Henderson if Ken Caminiti’s estimate that 50 percent of Major League players were taking steroids was accurate. His response was, “Well, Rickey’s not one of them, so that’s 49 percent right there.”

4. Rickey was asked if he had the Garth Brooks album with Friends in Low Places and Henderson said, “Rickey doesn’t have albums. Rickey has CDs.”

5. When he was on the Yankees in the mid-1980s, Henderson told teammates that his condo had such a great view that he could see, “The Entire State Building.”

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STAT OF THE DAY

6 — Number of NBA coaches fired in the season’s first seven weeks. The teams with new coaches: Kings, 76ers, Thunder, Timberwolves, Raptors and Wizards. On one hand you feel bad for the guys losing their jobs. On the other hand, you wish we could all be guaranteed the kind of severence packages they probably received.

THE WATERCOOLER
(Post-Dispatch columnists and beat writers share their thoughts on a question of the day.)

Question: Does Mizzou stand any chance against Oklahoma in this Saturday’s Big 12 title game? Why or why not? And how about a final score?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Mizzou is facing a long night at Arrowhead. No chance. OU is highly motivated to advance to the national championship game. And on top of that, coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners will want to shut up critics who insist that Texas should be in this game instead. On the Mizzou side, Gary Pinkel has never beaten a team of Oklahoma’s caliber, and the Tigers are hopeless on defense. At least the parking lots will empty early. Final score: Oklahoma 62, Missouri 28.

BRYAN BURWELL
Of course they have a chance. It’s a slim one because the Sooners are playing as good as any team in the country right now, and Mizzou historically does not do well against OU’s bigger and more physical players. But under Bob Stoops, OU does have a habit of losing at least one big game that they shouldn’t, so maybe this is that one. Final score: Oklahoma 61, Mizzou 35.

JOE STRAUSS
Mizzou has an outstanding chance if Jeremy Maclin’s hip heals, Chase Daniel finds a cure for happy feet against the Sooner defensive front, the Tiger special teams go crazy, Coach P. doesn’t leave timeouts on the clock, Sam Bradford can’t hold the ball and Benny Hinn lays hands on the secondary. Oklahoma is good enough to compete in the SEC, maybe even beat Alabama (but not Florida). It’s going to take more than a few “nifty ball plays” for the Tigers to avoid tumbling from the Top 25. In a closer than expected outcome: Sooners 41, El Tigres 27. Remember the Alamo!!!

JIM THOMAS
When I watch the Mizzou defense, I feel like I’m watching the Rams. Namely, blitzes that don’t get there and lots of blown coverages in the secondary, complete with defensive backs pointing aimlessly into space, wondering what happened. Can’t see Mizzou hanging with this bunch. Final score: Oklahoma 52, Mizzou 24.

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MIDDAY HEADLINES AND QUESTIONS TO PONDER

PLAX SURRENDERS: New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress surrendered to police in Manhattan today to face a charge of handgun possession. Burress turned himself in three days after a gun he was allegedly carrying discharged and wounded him in the leg while he was at a New York nightclub. According to the New York Times Web site, Burress didn’t have a license to carry a gun in New York or New Jersey, where he lives. New York state law carries a sentence of up to 15 years for anyone convicted of carrying a weapon without a permit if it’s determined the person was going to use the weapon to harm someone, and up to seven years if intent to use can’t be proved. (More on Plax below)

MORE MASON TO COME? As reported by Jeremy Rutherford in today’s Post-Dispatch, Blues goalie Chris Mason has allowed just four goals on 134 shots in his past four games, lowering his goals-against average to 2.29 from 3.59 and improving his save percentage to .928 from .878. Against Atlanta on Sunday, he surrendered two goals on 30 shots, perhaps making a case to be the regular starter. Blues management and coaches were not happy with comments regular starter Manny Legace made after Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Edmonton. “I need some help out there,” Legace said. (Now I know the defense hasn’t played great of late, but I’m thinking a goalie needs to be worried more about what’s getting behind him than what’s going on in front of him.)

FAN FOR LIFE, AND DEATH: According to the Associated Press, lifelong Red Sox fans can now take their love of the team to the next level — eternity. A Massachusetts funeral home recently took delivery of the first Red Sox casket, which features the team logo on the exterior as well as the inside. Bob Biggins, co-director of Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home in Rockland, told The Boston Globe that families in mourning often want their loved ones buried with favorite items. In the past that’s included Red Sox paraphernalia; the casket takes it to the next step. (How long until the Yankees offer a similar casket with the words “Boston sucks even here” on it in an effort to continue taunting Bosox fans on the Other Side.)

IRISH WAKE: Can anyone explain to me what the heck has happened at Notre Dame? How does a school with that much history and tradition finds itself a mediocre-at-best program? Charlie Weis has seven years remaining on a 10-year contract and it’s looking like the ax could fall on him any day. Bob Davie obviously wasn’t the guy to follow Lou Holtz. Ty Willingham did alright but got chased quickly from South Bend. Are there any logical reasons this school can no longer recruit like it once did? And is there a high-profile, successful coach out there that would come to a school where so much is demanded from the football program and so much needs to be done to get them on course? I’m throwing this one to the masses because all the experts I listen to sure don’t seem to have the answers.

ALL HAIL THE CHIEFS: Rams fans should be elated with the Kansas City Chiefs victory on Sunday. That brings the Chiefs record even with the Rams at 2-10 — for those keeping track for 2009 draft purposes. Better yet, the Chiefs are showing signs of improvement, so the Rams may yet move ahead of them in the draft order. Since the Rams still go head-to-head with the 2-10 Seahawks, it’s a toss-up who wins that draft battle. I think it’s safe to say the 0-12 Lions have secured the No. 1 pick (with Matt Millen gone, any chance they still take another WR?). And at 1-10-1 and showing no pulse, the Bengals would have to be the frontrunner for the second pick. So the Rams could be looking at anywhere from picks 3 through 6. If they do as well at next year’s draft as they did with Chris Long at No. 2 last year, perhaps there is a ray of light.

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SOME THINGS I THINK I THINK

ANQUAN’S THE MAN: There are players who want to tell you how good they are (think T.O., Ocho Stinko), and then there are players who just show you how good they are. One that clearly falls into the Show Me category is Arizona WR Anquan Boldin.

Boldin, you may recall, showed up at training camp this year and lashed out at the club for failing to follow through on what he said was a promise for a new deal. (Notice though, that he SHOWED UP at camp.) No new deal was forthcoming. Boldin, one of the league’s most consistent receivers in recent years, didn’t sulk like many of today’s athletes are apt to do, vowing instead that his unhappiness with his contract wouldn’t affect his play.

And you know what? It hasn’t. Through this weekend’s games Boldin leads all WRs in the NFL with 11 touchdown receptions (his more heralded teammate Larry Fitzgerald is tied for second with four other receivers at eight), he ranks fourth in receptions at 78 and ranks seventh in total receiving yards at 942.

Oh, did I forget to mention that Boldin is doing his job weekly with eight plates in his face and wiring in his jaw. Boldin missed two and half weeks after he suffered a fractured sinus and other facial injuries following a fierce hit by the New York Jets’ Eric Smith on Sept. 28 — a hit that cost Smith a $50,000 fine and a one-game suspension. Boldin underwent surgery, with doctors inserting eight plates to repair his face and wiring to align his bite — yet he has still found a way to play.

“I’m still in awe of what he does on a weekly basis, and what he’s done since he’s come back from that injury,” quarterback Kurt Warner said. “Just a special individual.” I couldn’t agree more, Kurt.

Teams can come up with marketing campaigns like “Bring It” all they want — and every club in every league does it — but I contend that if you had more players that “bring it” with the heart and skill that Boldin does week in and week out, perhaps you’d put fannies in the seats without the catchy slogans. Boldin should provide gut-check fodder for every player in the NFL.

If I could have one WR to build a team around, Boldin would be the man. You got somebody better? Make your case.

POOR PLAX: If someone were seriously injured after an incident like this, I wouldn’t touch it. But since Burress apparently walked into court Monday without as much as a limp, according to reports, I can’t help myself. It’s easy to become immune to news about athletes smacking women around or spitting in their faces at nightclubs, or athletes involved in shootings that leave people paralyzed, or even athletes convicted of murder. It’s all happened in recent years, some times repeatedly. So I guess the only thing I can say about the alleged Plax shooting is this: At least he hurt no one but himself … perhaps that kind of self-policing can be the best thing for sports’ bad boys.

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STAT OF THE DAY

GUESS THAT QUARTERBACK: A former Pro Bowler put up these numbers yesterday — 15 of 21 passing for 125 yards, two interceptions, and zero TDs. No, it’s not Marc Bulger. Those are the stats of once-mighty Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning. RB Joseph Addai can’t stay healthy (sound familiar?) and WR Marvin Harrison is getting old (sound familiar?) And in the wake of that, Manning is starting to look rather ordinary.