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Manning Hold Up Injured Thumb

Peyton Manning doesn`t miss a game. That is a point he has made in his entire career, during which he started all 156 regular season and playoff games over nine seasons. Only Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has a longer streak going. Will a bad thumb keep him out of Superbowl XLI on February 4?

Manning hurt his right hand thumb in the AFC Chamionship victory against the New England Patriots when it hit the helmet of left tackle Tarik Glenn. He has gone through x-rays, which have returned negative, but has continued to keep information about the injury discreet. When reporters got a glimpse of the injured thumb in the team`s practice, it did not seem swollen or discolored.

Colts coach Tony Dungy has used a different strategy when addressing the big question mark surrounding his quarterback. "I didn`t even know about it until the next day. He threw on the sideline and he was OK. He looked OK in the game," said Dungy. The thumb certainly was not an issue during the final minutes of the Conference championship game, during which the two-time MVP led his team on an 80-yard touchdown scoring drive to come from behind and beat the Patriots 38-34. Manning, who is paid $98 million by his team, ahs finally carried it to the Superbowl. It is quite clear that he will not miss the opportunity to lift the trophy, injured thumb or not.