NOTEBOOK Super Bowl XXXVIII

Mum's the word: The poise that makes Peyton Manning an award-winning quarterback might have saved him a few greenbacks in Houston. After accepting a trophy based on Internet fan voting, Manning was asked about the officials not calling defensive holding on Patriots linebacker Roman Phifer when the Colts offense stalled on the final drive of their 21-14 AFC championship game loss. "Can you get fined like three weeks after the game?" Manning asked. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, who helped moderate the event, replied affirmatively from offstage. So Manning bit his tongue. "I have no excuses for that game," he said. "You can't blame anybody, except the team and me in particular. In every game you're going to have calls you wish went your way." Manning beat out Steve McNair of the Titans and Daunte Culpepper of the Vikings for the quarterbacking award, sponsored by a shipping company.
-- Associated Press