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I have heard arguments that Peyton Manning when he rushed off the field having lost Superbowl XLIV was not being unsportsmanlike. I do not tend to agree where this is concerned and I am of course glad to tell you why I think he was.
If you had watched the playoff games and paid particular attention to the end of the last two games before the Superbowl. Peyton had gone out of his way to shake the hand or at least say something to the Head Coaches who were rushing off the field going so far as to run to catch them.
He had gone so far to run and barely catch the Baltimore Ravens Coach John Harbaugh during the January 16th game. Peyton was rushing around the field shaking hands and consoling players from the Ravens as the camera followed him around the field.
During the AFC Championship game at the end, he did a similar thing making a beeline toward the New York Jets Coach Rex Ryan who was on his way off the field as well.
Then we get to the Superbowl and I do understand his disappointment but there comes a point where a player so well known for Sportsmanship to walk off without shaking hands with Drew Brees or Coach Sean Payton is not good for his image.
Clearly, there is an argument made on both sides but there comes a point where either you stand on one side of the discussion or you stand on the other. In addition, I believe that so many kids are watching and learning that poor sportsmanship when they both win and lose is acceptable and that is wrong in my opinion.