Pre-Jags Mag 7

Oehser takes us up to game time

2)Ignoring the bait.Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Head Coach Jim Caldwell each spent a lot of time on conference calls with Jacksonville media dealing with some “interesting” questions. Manning, for his part, was asked if the Jaguars are an up-and-coming team with the Colts being one in decline: “That’s kind of deep for me. I’m just a Tennessee graduate, I can’t analyze that deep. I prepare hard and I play hard, that’s kind of my deal.” The theme for part of Caldwell’s session became comments made by ESPN analyst Ron Jaworksi earlier this season that Manning is showing signs of age. “I don’t agree with it. I worked with him personally for a number of years before I moved into the head coaching position so I feel like I have a pretty good view of him and know him pretty well and I do not agree with that statement. Caldwell also was asked if he thought Manning was on the decline.“I think all you have to do is look at the numbers. For the 13th straight time he’s thrown for 25 touchdowns and over 3,500 yards, over 4,000 yards this year. When you look at those numbers, I think you may want to reconsider that thought.”