Colts to keep 49th TD ball

[Digital_Damage]

Colts to keep Manning's record-breaking ball
NFL.com wire reports

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 27, 2004) -- The Indianapolis Colts will hold onto the football with which Peyton Manning threw his record-breaking 49th touchdown pass unless he tosses another one against Denver.

Manning fired the 21-yard pass to wide receiver Brandon Stokley with 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter Dec. 26. The pass broke Dan Marino's 20-year NFL record for scoring passes in a season.

After the game, both Manning and Stokley said they didn't know what happened to the ball.

Some reports said representatives from the Pro Football Hall of Fame took control of it after Stokley's catch.

Stokley said he handed the ball to injured wide receiver Aaron Moorehead. Moorehead told him later that sideline officials placed it in a box for safekeeping.

It turns out that the ball was still in the hands of Colts' officials.

The Colts said that if Manning doesn't throw another touchdown pass this season, the franchise will keep the ball and display it in the team's Hall of Fame.

If Manning throws another one, the ball will be sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Colts will keep the final touchdown ball. The ball with which Manning threw his 48th touchdown pass will be sent to the Hall of Fame.

Why would the team keep the ball... That ball should go to the HOF, instead of some stupid owners office.

[MARINE_V]

Originally Posted by Digital_Damage

Why would the team keep the ball... That ball should go to the HOF, instead of some stupid owners office.

Maybe because he owns the team and he paid for the ball? What would you do if you where a team owner? I would keep it or have the player keep it. To hell with the HOF

[GiantBucs]

So it's ok to give rookie's and other players the ball on their first TD or interception but not the team for a landmark record? The HOF is for people, not pigskin. Manning will get placed in there with his accomplishments for all to see eventually.

If Vick has to give up his shoes, the Colts should have to give away that football

Manning should get to keep the ball. Players routinely have footballs of significance saved in a team bin on the sidelines. If I'm not mistaken, Emmit Smith has kept every TD football he ever got, and some DBs keep their INTs. Of course, a cancer like Irsay would demand the ball for his own purposes. He stole all the Baltimore Colts memorabilia when he skipped out of town in the Mayflower Raid, one would expect nothing classy from him.