Just Talking About Omaha

Peyton Manning has been barking out signals since he first approached a center's butt. His shouts and theatrics are really nothing new. So, I'm a little confused over the great interest in his shouts of "Omaha" during the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the San Diego Chargers. It wasn't even the first game in which he's used the word "Omaha." Other quarterbacks have shouted "Omaha." Tom Brady shouts "Omaha." Even non-Canton bound quarterbacks shout "Omaha." Even non-quarterbacks shout "Omaha." "Omaha" was shouted by a lineman during a football action sequence in "Remember the Titans." Rev got hurt on the play. Now that Manning shouts "Omaha" a few hundred (44!) times in a single game everyone wants to know the meaning of "Omaha." When asked about the meaning of "Omaha," Manning had this to say:

"I'm not sure how to answer that, but I've had a lot of people ask what 'Omaha' means," Manning told reporters. "'Omaha' is a run play, but it could be a pass play or a play-action pass depending on a couple of things-the wind, which way we're going, the quarter and the jerseys that we're wearing. It varies really play to play. There's your answer to that one."

On and off the football field, Peyton Manning is a beauty. The gathered reporters probably think that Manning is messing with them. Well, he might be messing with then a little but everything that he said can be true. "Omaha" can mean anything. "Omaha" can even mean nothing. "Omaha" might have a different meaning in the first quarter than it does in the third quarter. All that really matters is that Manning's ten Broncos teammates on the field know the meaning, or non-meaning, of "Omaha." As important is that the eleven opponents on the other side of the line of scrimmage don't know the meaning, or non-meaning, of "Omaha." Using "Omaha" to mean a variety of adjustments can be more confusing to a defense than using different words. It certainly confuses the media but that's not too difficult to do. The most confusing part, for me, of "Omaha-gate" is the idea that Manning will actually explain the meaning of "Omaha" to the media. The reporters might as well ask Manning for the Broncos gameplan against the New England Patriots.

Some good has come from this "Omaha" business. According to the Associated Press, five Nebraska businesses have combined to donate $500 to Manning's foundation for at-risk youth every time he says "Omaha" during Sunday's AFC Championship game against the Patriots. Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce president and CEO David Brown announced the donation to Manning's Peyback Foundation, in conjunction with ConAgra Foods, First National Bank of Omaha, Mutual of Omaha, Omaha Steaks, and Union Pacific Railroad. Nice Work.