Peyton Manning & Tony Dungy Blow Lid Off NFL’s ‘Biggest Myth’ Of Halftime Adjustments
According to Tony Dungy, he had intended to deliver a stirring halftime speech to the Indianapolis Colts and disclose the changes that would help them defeat the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game in early 2007.
The message was never delivered to him.
Peyton Manning & Tony Dungy Blow Lid Off NFL’s ‘Biggest Myth’ Of Halftime Adjustments
Here’s the speech!
Peyton’s longtime coach Tony Dungy, who called Chargers vs. Jaguars for NBC Saturday, told a story Wednesday confirming Manning’s take.
“We’re 15 down, everybody’s hyped up, and assistant coaches want to talk,” Dungy said Wednesday on the “Dan Patrick Show.” “You get that all done, and I’m about ready to talk and give them all the adjustments and give them a great speech, and there’s a knock on the door and (someone says) we’ve got 30 seconds ’till you come out for kickoff.”
"I don't know if I ever made a halftime adjustment in my entire 18-year career. I think that's the biggest myth in football- the halftime adjustments. You go in, you use the restroom, you eat a couple of oranges, and then the head coach says, 'Alright, let's go!'"- Peyton Manning pic.twitter.com/j17FWpXChq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 17, 2023
Dungy did get to deliver some remarks to his team.
“So I said, ‘Hey, we’re playing terrible. If we don’t start playing better, we’re gonna lose.'”
Before entering the locker room during halftime, one of the most frequently asked questions of NFL coaches is, “What adjustments are you going to make?” Usually, an evasive explanation concerning fouls, turnovers, or some other problem that plagued that coach’s team in the first half follows that.
Peyton Manning myth-busting halftime adjustments. 😅 pic.twitter.com/f9AQrxvsXR
— theScore (@theScore) January 17, 2023
But in reality, according to Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy, absolutely no alterations are being made. Halftime barely lasts 12 minutes, so it’s essentially simply a chance to take a little breather in between halves.
During the ManningCast of Buccaneers vs. Cowboys, an exasperated Manning said coming out of the first half the Buccaneers, who were being dominated, weren’t going to be helped by a quick break.
.@JoshAllenQB's thoughts on Peyton Manning saying that "halftime adjustments" aren't a real thing… and whether NFL players actually eat orange slices in the locker room.
🔗: https://t.co/K0c6udNwyv pic.twitter.com/2ywf0DgFJC
— Kyle Brandt’s Basement (@KBBasement) January 17, 2023
“Yeah, all those halftime adjustments, it really paid off right there,” he said following a Buccaneers dropped pass. “I don’t know about you; I don’t think I ever made a halftime adjustment in my entire 18-year career, I think that’s the biggest myth in football. The ‘halftime adjustments,’ right? You go in, you use the restroom, you eat a couple oranges, and then the head coach says ‘all right, let’s go.'”
Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) shares a story that proves making "halftime adjustments" can be sometimes overrated.
For Tony's full appearance: https://t.co/PzLfG3W2Cm pic.twitter.com/k1Zchecw3E
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) January 18, 2023
Eli Manning confirmed, saying “yeah, no que — you’re in there for like three minutes.”
The next time a coach announces the team’s modifications, keep in mind that it’s more probable that he’s just telling his players to “play better” in the locker room as they try to take a break.
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