MetalSeadramons Gemach » that happened and youre numb to the feeling

DENVER - The greatest quarterback rivalry in NFL history began quietly with plenty of empty seats on a cloudy, cool and windy afternoon at Foxboro Stadium on Sept. 30, 2001.Baby-faced backup Tom Brady, a sixth-round draft pick from Michigan the year before, made his first career NFL start in place of Drew Bledsoe, who had suffered a sheared blood vessel in his chest one week earlier.On the other side was QB blue blood Peyton Manning, the top overall pick in the 1998 draft out of Tennessee, and the heavily favoured Indianapolis Colts.As expected, it was a mismatch, but not the way anyone anticipated.Patriots 44, Colts 13.Brady 1, Manning 0.Never did I think it would be the runaway victory that it was, Brady said that afternoon.And no one realized at the time that this was the beginning of a beautiful rivalry — except maybe Brady himself.I always see so much more in me than a lot of other people do, Brady said at the time. Thats prepared me because, whatever expectations people put on me, I have higher expectations for myself.The Associated Press story from that first meeting between Manning and Brady didnt even mention Brady until the 11th paragraph, 319 words in.Everybody but Brady himself considered him a temporary fill-in until Bledsoe got healthy. But Brady never gave up the gig, parlaying that first career win into a Super Bowl season, his first of three titles in four years.Mannings Colts finished 6-10, the only losing season he endured as a starter since his rookie year. He bounced back to win three AFC championships and a Super Bowl title, twice beating Brady for the right to play in the big game, once for Indy and once for Denver.Brady and Manning meet again Sunday when the Broncos (6-1) visit New England (6-2) in a matchup of two AFC powerhouses jockeying for playoff position.This is the 16th time they have squared off, a full seasons worth of matchups between the two quarterback giants whose careers are so intertwined on their respective routes to Canton that a conversation about one almost has to include the other — like Bird vs. Magic or Ali vs. Frazier.I dont know that therell ever be another rivalry — or has been a rivalry — like it in football, said John Elway, who got to face fellow Hall of Famer Dan Marino just twice in his playing career.Manning vs. Brady XVI hasnt lost any lustre, either: This game marks the first in NFL history in which two starting QBs with at least 150 career regular-season wins will face off.Brady and Manning remain at the top of their respective games at an age — 38 for Manning, 37 for Brady — when time had already delivered knockout blows to so many of their fellow quarterbacking royalty.Both threw for 14 touchdowns while revving through October at 4-0. And Manning topped Brett Favres record for most career touchdown passes (513 to 508).Theyre both the best in the game right now and Im obviously very fortunate to get to play with both, said Broncos slot receiver Wes Welker, who played six seasons in New England.Brady has won 10 of the 15 meetings. But theyre 2-2 in the playoffs, including Denvers 26-16 win in the conference championship last season.Always a good matchup with these two guys, said cornerback Aqib Talib, another Bronco who has been on both sides. You definitely get your moneys worth.Although the two are never on the field together, save for the pregame warmups and post-game handshakes, each is acutely aware of the others presence.Hes a great player, and I think that you just know youre going to get one of the best offences in the league, Brady said. What that means for me is our offence has to be at our best. You cant think youre going to go out and score 10 points and win the game.Said Manning: You know youd better not be going three-and-out, turning the ball over, trying to figure out what theyre doing on defence. Because you know Brady & Co. are capable of putting up a lot of points and youre going to find yourselves behind, especially up there.This game marks the 10th time Manning will face Brady on the road.I always look forward to this matchup and every one of them is a classic, said NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci. I hope football fans enjoy this because who knows how many more times these great quarterbacks will face off against each other?___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Magic Johnson Lakers Jersey .2 million deal for the upcoming season with right-hander Garrett Richards.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the announcement hadnt been made. Tyson Chandler Jersey .com) - Rick Nash scored twice and Derek Stepan chipped in a goal with one assist as the New York Rangers claimed a 5-2 decision over Calgary at the Saddledome. http://www.lakersteamofficial.com/Javale-Mcgee-Lakers-Jersey/ .J. -- Tom Coughlin doesnt have many options at halfback for the winless New York Giants. Anthony Davis Lakers Jersey . Ashton scored a hat trick -- giving him 13 goals in 16 AHL games this season -- to power the Toronto Marlies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Lake Erie Monsters in AHL action on Sunday. Kurt Rambis Lakers Jersey . JOHNS, N.SEATTLE -- Not that it should come as a surprise, but Seattle is still crazy about its Super Bowl champion Seahawks. The latest example came Sunday when an announced crowd of 22,000 turned out at Safeco Field for Richard Shermans charity softball game. After being played in a minor league baseball park in Tacoma last season, Shermans event filled the entire lower bowl of the Seattle Mariners home stadium from one foul pole to the other. Shermans event featured a litany of Seahawks teammates, including quarterback Russell Wilson, defensive end Michael Bennett, wide receiver Doug Baldwin and safety Earl Thomas. Also playing was Kobe Bryant, who said he hadnt swung a bat in 20 years. It certainly didnt look that way in his first at-bat, with Bryant hitting a solo homer over the temporary fence in the outfield. "I respect these guys tremendously and its humbling, its not something you can put into words," Sherman said before the game started. "You dont wake up one day and be like Im going to have Kobe Bryant, Nate Robinson, Lawyer Milloy playing in my softball gamee, and Macklemore.dddddddddddd Its something that happened and youre numb to the feeling until like years later when you realize that was a pretty incredible event." Sherman was able to draw from a wide cross section of Seattle sports stars to participate in the event to benefit his foundation. Along with current NBA players Bryant, Robinson and Jamal Crawford, former Seattle SuperSonics stars Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton took part, as did Chris Hansen, the investor hoping to bring the NBA back to Seattle. "Hes a psycho like me," Bryant said of Sherman. "I think its just mutual respect and I have a great amount of respect for people who work at their craft. When him and I met, we just talked and hit it off." Bryant said it was his first time back in Seattle since the departure of the SuperSonics for Oklahoma City after the 2008 season. After earlier saying the Eagles were his favourite NFL team, Bryant admitted he needed to make up for that statement. "Ive always enjoyed coming here. Id much rather come here in the post-season than Oklahoma," Bryant said. ' ' '