MANN AT THE TOP

There isn’t a player off our team that I have any more respect for than Peyton Manning, so his preparation, his consistency, his skills, I would never, ever, ever underestimate him under any circumstances.

BILL BELICHICK

NOODLE ARM be damned, Bill Belichick is still wary of Peyton Manning.

The Patriots coach was effusive in his praise of the veteran quarterback his team is facing in the AFC Championship Game Sunday, even though Manning hasn’t looked like his old self this season.

“T here i sn’t a player off our team that I have any more respect for than Peyton Manning, so his preparation, his consistency, his skills, I would never, ever, ever underestimate him under any circumstances,” Belichick said.

Manning was injured with torn plantar fascia for much of the regular season, and when he returned to health, he was Brock Osweiler’s backup. The Broncos got the win over t he Steeler s last weekend, but their quarterback wasn’t particularly impressive in the victory. So it’s easy to see why many believe the Patriots are going against a shell of the old Manning. But obviously, Belichick is trying to prepare his team for Manning’s A-game.

“Peyton is a great player,” Belichick said. “We’ve had tremendous battles against him through the years.”

And veteran safety Devin McCourty said he hasn’t seen a ton of difference between what Manning has done this season compared to the past.

“No, I mean it’s much of the same,” McCourty said. “We know what he likes to do; getting the offense out there and being able to survey the defense and look over everything and try to get them in the right place. Obviously this year he missed a couple of games there, but even watching him last week against Pittsburgh, same thing, trying to get guys in the right spot.”

Obviously, Manning is a familiar foe for the Patriots. Much has been and will be made of the Manning-Brady rivalry, which is about to have its 17th chapter written, but there also is the long battle of Manning against Belichick, which has happened a s ma ny times. And just as the Patriots coach dished compliments on Manning, the QB didn’t hold back in his praise of the Patriots.

“They’re there for a reason,” Manning said. “They’re an excel lent football team. They’re playing in their 10th AFC championship for a reason. They’ve had excellent continuity from Coach Belichick to Tom Brady. There’s a reason their head coach and quarterback have been there for as long as they have because they’ve both been outstanding at their respective jobs.”