Sub-par NFL quarterbacks are often criticized for their "happy feet," their inability to stay composed in the pocket. Payton Manning is one of the two or three top quarterbacks in the game today, undoubtedly headed for Canton if he stays healthy and productive for a few more years. He is also a big part of my fantasy league success over the last three years, so I love the guy. But in the name of all that is holy, could he please take a snap under center, just once, without all the wild gesticulations that seem to accompany every play? I know he is a head coach on the field, I know he is successful at what he does. Is it so wrong of me, then, to be driven to distraction by his chicken dance routine on every snap? Isn't it distracting to his teammates? They have to know that whatever was called in the huddle will be changed at the line. I've heard that the Colts actually call three plays in the huddle, then Payton selects one at the line. I find it remarkable that all 11 men can execute their assignments as demonstrably well as they do when they have no more than a couple of seconds to process the orders Manning shouts at them over the roar of the crowd and taunts of the opposition. It's evidently an effective system, but it certainly isn't elegant. The Colt offense always has the appearance of being threatened by imminent chaos, a system that might or might not hold together in time to run the play. Please, Payton, just once, come to the line of scrimmage, look over the defense, give two quick "huts" and be done with it. Is that too much to ask?
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