Bootless Brady Off to Arizona

But in Super Bowl XLVI, Manning made a hero of himself

(NEWSER) - Last night's big game was intensely fought, undeniably exciting—and a little mystifying, thanks to Eli Manning's unusual brand of heroism. Analysts weigh in on the game's place in football history:

• Last night brought us "the most Eli Manning moment of Eli Manning’s career." During the game-winning touchdown, we saw "a hero shot in which the conqueror looks totally confused by his conquest," with "arms half-raised in quasi-triumph." His quiet humility was the polar opposite of Tom Brady's "aggro posture," but it remains "difficult to understand," writes Josh Levin at Slate .

Bundchen defends Tom Brady after Patriots' Super Bowl loss

(NEWSER) - Gisele Bundchen made headlines last week when she asked friends and family to pray for her husband's team to win the Super Bowl, but as we all know, those prayers went unheard. Bundchen was decidedly less sappy in her post-game comments last night, caught on tape as she left the VIP suites on her way to comfort Tom Brady. "My husband can not f****ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time," she said as she was heckled by Giants fans. "I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times." The Insider has the video. More»

How the younger Manning turned his vices into virtues with one improbable drive

(NEWSER) - It took a while for New Yorkers to warm to Eli Manning and his quiet intensity, Kevin Conley writes in a profile of the Giants quarterback in Men’s Vogue, but he turned the town around with one miraculous drive—and a Super Bowl win. Manning, who lives in Hoboken, is press shy, but among his team, he’s known as a prankster. More»

Patriots Nation equates Gisele with Jessica after Brady folds like Romo

(NEWSER) - How can Patriots fans avoid blaming golden boy Tom Brady for his lackluster Super Bowl performance? Point at the woman, of course. Online posters have begun calling Gisele Bundchen a bad-luck charm à la Jessica Simpson, and even the Boston Herald has suggested that Brady's lady somehow contributed to New England's 17-14 Super Bowl loss, ABC News reports. More»

Manning leads last-minute comeback to shock the world, mar perfection for the Pats

(NEWSER) - Tom Brady had one of his trademark brilliant fourth-quarter comebacks—but three minutes later, Eli Manning did, too, and the Giants shocked the formerly perfect Patriots, 17-14. Manning hit Plaxico Burress, who had guaranteed a Giants win several days before, on a 13-yard fade with 35 seconds left, and the Patriots were unable to answer. More»