Tom James
INDIANAPOLIS -- Matt Stover will be the oldest kicker to ever play in a Super Bowl game when he takes the field at Sun Life Stadium this Sunday.
But Stover, who turned 42 last week, admits that he hasn't been around too many players like Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
In fact, as Stover sees it, only one other NFL player fits into Manning's category.
"I compare him to Ray Lewis [Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker]," The Colts kicker said recently. "Ray Lewis of defense is Peyton Manning of the offense. Ray knows how to turn a team around. He leads the team. He creates an environment that brings everybody's level around him to something. I mean
you can see it. It's like seeing the 4-star general going into all the troops and all of a sudden it just changes the whole attitude of the team. I have seen Ray do that and also I have seen Peyton Manning do it. His work ethic is tremendous. He is a student of the game."
Stover said Manning's presence is like having an offensive coordinator on the field leading the offense.
"That, to me, is an unbelievable situation for any team to have. That's why I believe we were able to do what we did to the Ravens and the Jets because he can adjust right there on the field," Stover said. "During the halftime, because as a kicker I don't meet with anybody, I am sitting there listening
to Peyton and it�s pretty cool to see him do those things at halftime."
As for kicking in his second Super Bowl game (Stover was with the Ravens for Super Bowl XXXV in 2001), he can't wait for the opportunity.
"As an athlete you want the ball. If you don't want the ball, don't go play. That's always been my motto," he said. "As long as we win, I don't care how we do it. If they call my number to go out there and kick the game winner, then I see that as another opportunity to give God all the glory." he said.
Tom James writes for The Tribune Star in Terre Haute, Ind.
