Focus is on Peyton - like it or not

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - "When you compare Peyton Manning and his career vs. Rob Gronkowski's high ankle sprain, I think Peyton kind of takes center stage, in Peyton's Town!"

That’s what ESPN NFL analyst John Clayton had to say Wednesday, and it reflects the general feeling from the bulk of the national media covering the run-up to Super Bowl XLVI. Both ESPN and the NFL Network need to fill plenty of air time, and the Colts’ superstar quarterback Manning has earned the right to push the big game off the stage, for now.

Kurt Warner, former St. Louis Rams quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, now commentator, agrees.

"Obviously, this is a huge story,” he said. “Everyone wants to know how this is going to play out, and when you're in his town, the town that Peyton built, we're going to talk about it. And it’s good television."

ESPN NFL analyst Ed Werder said Manning is a main reason the Super Bowl is here in Indianapolis, because his success paved the way for the building of Lucas Oil Stadium, but he likened this story to another one that took on new life.

"This is not unlike the divorce that Brett Favre endured with the Packers after 16 great years there and a Super Bowl championship, much like Peyton's done here,” Werder said. “I think there is concern about the strong possibility that Peyton has played his last game here."

Is the Manning saga overshadowing the big game this week? Clayton thinks so.

"Of course it is. People care about Peyton Manning - as they should. He's one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the league, he helped build this stadium, he helped make this franchise as great as it is, and he's one of the greatest things in the game. So, yeah, it is overshadowing without any question. But how can it not?"