ALAMEDA -- It was the day after Christmas in Rolando McClain's rookie season of 2010 when he got his first taste of Peyton Manning and his no-huddle ways."And he was amazing," McClain said of Manning on Wednesday.Truth is, Manning was somewhat pedestrian that day, at least by his standards, in throwing for 179 yards on 16 of 30 passing with a pair of interceptions. But Manning threw three touchdown passes and his Indianapolis Colts beat the Raiders at the Coliseum, 31-26, in that season's penultimate game.
Still, Manning did nothing to surprise the then-rookie middle linebacker."Hes just amazing," McClain said. "As a kid I watched always Peyton Manning and the Colts and I never played him. Then you get in the NFL and youre like, 'Does he really make this many checks?' He does. Its crazy. I was amazed. Hes an amazing player."I wasnt star struck, but when you go on the sideline youre like, 'Damn I thought we had him here. We could confuse him.' But he would pick it up and understand what were in. Thats what you see in a great quarterback. You cant really beat him too many times."With Manning now plying his trade in Denver with the Broncos, McClain and the Raiders get another up close and personal look at the future Hall of Fame quarterback on Sunday in the Mile High Stadium.The Broncos, like the Raiders, are 1-2 and, like the Raiders, beat Pittsburgh."They had a rough start to the season but at the end of the day hes still Peyton Manning," McClain said. "He still has all the ability in the world. We have a good game plan. We have to go out there and execute and do some things he hasnt seen and make it kind of hard for him. You just have to execute and play your best."Not even having a seeming ace in the hole in strongside linebacker Philip Wheeler, who was a four-year teammate of Manning with the Colts, would tip the scales."If you know the answer to the test, with Peyton, you still can get it wrong," McClain said. "He has that ability to check out of things. Him and his receivers, theyre still trying to get on the same page. But when they do, they will be pretty dangerous. We just have to go out there and play good."US Presswire image
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