NEW ORLEANS — Archie Manning, patriarch of the NFL’s best-known quarterbacking clan, says he’s glad the Super Bowl focus is on another family.
Manning has practically been a fixture at the big game in recent years. Sons Peyton and Eli Manning have won three of the last six Super Bowls. The New Orleans Saints, the hometown team Manning toiled for through hard times, won a fourth during that stretch.
Instead of regaling people with stories about raising two of the best quarterbacks of this era, or how he often he got booed and tackled playing for the notoriously bad “Aints,” Manning is getting his house ready for visitors.
“The boys and grandkids will be here later in the week, so I’m definitely looking forward to that,” he said Monday.
Going into Sunday’s game, the Harbaugh family is drawing a lot of attention as the San Francisco 49ers prepare to play the Baltimore Ravens. Jim Harbaugh coaches the 49ers and brother John coaches the Ravens.
Manning said he’s glad this matchup isn’t pulling him apart.
“That’s one of the few nice things about not having either boy in the game,” he said.
“I think a lot of people figured San Francisco might be here,” he said. “The Ravens, they remind me a little of the Giants from last year and even four years ago. They had a stumble, but right now, they’re healthy, hot and in the zone. All I’ll say is it should make for a very interesting game.”
A game that he can sit back and enjoy, too.
“The only other nice thing about not having one of the boys in the game is I got 10 tickets and that’s all I’m going to get. I’m out of the ticket and hotel business this year,” he added, “and glad of it.”
Manning is hardly a forgotten man in his hometown, however.
“Most of the questions I get now are about the boys playing, and not me. And I like it that way,” Manning chuckled. “I don’t bring those days up, either.”
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