INDIANAPOLIS - Chuck Pagano could blame New England for one of his most bitter football memories. [url=http://www.giantsauthenti

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INDIANAPOLIS - Chuck Pagano could blame New England for one of his most bitter football memories. Wayne Gallman Jersey .On the other hand, that loss also opened a new chapter in Paganos life.Now, three years after that stinging 23-20 championship game loss against the Patriots, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive co-ordinator is getting a second chance to earn a Super Bowl ticket at New England — this time as the Indianapolis Colts head coach.We wouldnt be having this discussion right now had things transpired in a different way, Pagano said as Indianapolis prepares for Sundays AFC championship game.He has often contended that if the Ravens won that day — on Lee Evans near-touchdown catch with 27 seconds left or in overtime, if Billy Cundiff had made a 32-yard field goal with 15 seconds to go — that he never would have landed in Indy (13-5).General manager Ryan Grigson didnt go that far this week, though he did recall watching the game and going through some old notes about Pagano almost immediately after Cundiffs kick sailed wide left. Within 24 hours, Grigson had contacted Ravens coach John Harbaugh for permission to interview Pagano, who was still angry.The bitterness was still emanating from him, even when we brought him in, Grigson said. So that game was his loss, but our gain because when he finally came in, it was evident to all of us in that room that this was the right guy.Three days after the game, Pagano accepted his first head coaching job.At first, the outlook looked bleak.The Colts were in the midst of a salary-cap purge and about embarked on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects. They started by releasing a bevy of fan favourites including the seemingly untouchable Peyton Manning. Pagano now jokes that at one point he looked around his office and asked his wife, Tina, what the heck did we just do?Grigson never asked the same question about a man he viewed as a leader that could pull the best out of his players.Pagano proved to be everything Grigson envisioned and more, on and off the field.He helped convince Reggie Wayne, one of his old college players, to stick around for a hometown discount. He helped recruit defensive tackle Arthur Jones and defensive end Cory Redding, both starters who were in the Ravens locker room that awful day in New England, as free agents. It didnt take much of a push.I know what kind of guy he is, stand-up guy, shoots it straight to you, fun, energetic at practice, expects a lot out of you in the meeting rooms to know your stuff, Redding said, explaining why he left a championship contender to join a team that went 2-14 the year before he came. Knowing the system, knowing him, it was just easy for me to make the decision.It turned out the Colts incredible turnaround was about a lot more than just wins and losses.Three games into Paganos tenure, he was diagnosed with leukemia.Pagano spent 25 days at the IU Health Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis as longtime friends Wayne, Redding and Bruce Arians and new friends such as Robert Mathis, Andrew Luck, Grigson and team owner Jim Irsay rallied the team. After returning home, the treatments continued for two more months.The team responded to Paganos absence by winning nine times, none more electrifying than the second-half comeback against Green Bay when Wayne caught 13 passes for a career high 212 yards and the winning score with 35 seconds left. Irsay and Grigson hand-delivered the game ball to Pagano at the hospital.I cant imagine being anywhere else and having a city and a community embrace somebody they hardly know, Pagano said when he returned to the team complex on Christmas Eve. I just think thats how we roll in this great state, this great city and this great community.And Pagano just kept winning.Indy completed one its nine-game improvement over the 2011 season by winning in Paganos first game back on the sideline. The Colts have won 11 more regular-season games each of the past two seasons, the last two AFC South titles and here playoff games.But those who were with Pagano in Baltimore know thats not good enough yet.That loss lingered the whole off-season, said Jones, who was part of Baltimores 2013 world championship team. It was a tough way to end your year after making it that far. It bothers you.So this week with a second shot, Pagano is taking none at the Patriots.Hes just focused on trying to get the biggest win — and best memory — of his coaching career.Its about the game, its about the team, its about us doing our job, Pagano said Monday. We know how great a team were going to play. Youve got a Hall of Fame coach, a Hall of Fame quarterback and a bunch of great players on both sides of the ball. Its going to be a tall order. Paul Perkins Jersey . - Chelseas 1-0 win at the Etihad, spoiling Manchester Citys perfect home record continues to be the talking point of the week. Geno Smith Jersey . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. http://www.giantsauthenticshop.com/Youth-Jay-Bromley-Giants-Jersey/ . The 33-year-old defender has spent his entire career at Chelsea, scoring 57 goals in 621 appearances. He regained his regular starting place under Jose Mourinho in the season that ended at the weekend without Chelsea winning a trophy.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Both quarterbacks are downplaying Luck vs. Manning III as Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning seek to knock each other out of the playoffs.Theyre 1-1 against each other heading into Sundays tiebreaker that will determine which one gets to play for the AFC championship and which one gets to start thinking about Luck vs. Manning IV next season in Indy.Manning lost his homecoming in 2013 when his emotions and the Colts both got the best of him in Denvers 39-33 defeat that wasnt really that close.He bested his successor in this seasons opener with a trio of TD tosses to Julius Thomas in a 31-24 win that wasnt really that close.If not for Tebowmania, this game might very well have pitted Luck and the Broncos against Manning and the Colts.After a poor start in 2011, the Broncos promoted backup Tim Tebow, and many beleaguered Broncos fans, dreaming of a franchise-changing quarterback, adopted the popular slogan Suck for Luck.The Broncos fell out of the running when Tebow started winning games, guiding Denver to the AFC West title and the playoffs while the Colts wrapped up a 2-14 season with Manning sidelined after neck surgery.The Colts drafted Luck and Manning went to Denver to restart his career. Tebow went to New York for a forgettable season with the Jets and is now a college football analyst for the SEC Network.Since coming to Denver, Manning is 40-12, including 2-2 in the playoffs. Luck is 35-17 and also 2-2 in the playoffs, including a 26-10 win over Cincinnati in the wild-card round last week.Afterward, Luck was asked about facing his predecessor in the playoffs.I think we face the Broncos in a sense. Its not the quarterback versus quarterback thing, he said. Were not on the field at the same time. I have a lot of respect for him, what he does, what he still does is amazing. Hes a stud. Ill worry about the Denver defence, thats what I worry about.Thats pretty much howw Manning sees it, too. Phil Simms Jersey. As hes fond of reminding people, he doesnt really like going down memory lane.He was asked on Wednesday about facing his old team and shrugged it off, noting, Ive been here for three years and this is the third time weve played them.As for the parallels between the passers, Ive never thought much about comparisons, how it affects me, Manning said, and Im sure he doesnt either.However, both quarterbacks realize theyll be linked forever.I guess if youre the first pick of the draft, youre always going to be compared to other first picks. When you play for a team, there are going to be comparisons to other quarterbacks that have played, Manning said.Luck said talking about Manning beats being asked about his beard all the time.Its part of the job I guess, Luck said. I mean honestly, people dont ask me too much about it. Its you guys on the media days, and I would, too. As fans, we love story lines. It seems to be the nature, the sport culture today, so be it.Luck led the league with 40 TD passes, one more than Manning, who threw just three TD passes last month.A year ago, he broke probably every single-season record known to man, Broncos coach John Fox said. It was the style we played and what was best for our team at that point. This year, I think were a little bit different team. Were built different. He was a 12-4 quarterback during the regular season which is I think tied for the best record in football this year.Notes: With S David Bruton and G Orlando Franklin returning from concussions, the Broncos had 100 per cent participation at practice Wednesday for the first time since Oct. 3. LB Brandon Marshall (foot, limited) was the only player who wasnt a full participant.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '