Archie Manning's Super Bowl XL Predictions

This is a partial transcript of "The Big Story With John Gibson," February 1, 2005, that has been edited for clarity.

JOHN GIBSON, HOST: In case you have been out of it lately, the Super Bowl is this Sunday in Detroit. And, as always, the focus will be on quarterbacks.

Joining us now is a man who happens to be an expert on the topic. He was the former New Orleans Saints quarterback. He is Archie Manning, but he's also the father of quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning. He is in Detroit to promote MasterCard PayPass.

So before we talk about football, Archie, what is MasterCard PayPass?

ARCHIE MANNING, FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK: John, it's a new card. It's real easy. You don't swipe it or use cash. You just tap it and go. Very easy and convenient. It's just for your small purchases like movie theaters, convenience stores, fast food.

GIBSON: OK, cool, and that's a picture of you actually using it. Great, I can hardly wait for it.

So, Archie, what do you make of this game and the quarterbacks?

MANNING: Well, I think it's going to be a good ball game. Both teams certainly deserve to be here. And the quarterbacks, it's a good story, each of them. Ben Roethlisberger, John, being such a young player and doing so well, especially the last few weeks in the playoffs, real good Pittsburgh team.

And Matt Hasselbeck is a guy that, you know, he wasn't drafted high, and he went to Green Bay, then he went out to Seattle, and he's kind of paid his dues and he's got a great coach in Mike Holgrem. So I think the matchup is good with the quarterbacks, just like the teams.

GIBSON: Well, what about the teams, are you making a pick here?

MANNING: Well, my wife always says whoever I pick, you ought to go the other way. You know, I've got one son in the NFC and one in the AFC, but I think the AFC was a stronger conference this year. And what Pittsburgh did to get here, you know, they were kind of wounded during the year, a sick seed, but went on the road and won three games to get to Detroit.

And I give Seattle a lot of credit, they're the best team in the NFC and I don't like to pick against a Mike Holgrem team, but I think Pittsburgh's a real good team.

GIBSON: Archie, since you were a quarterback and I may be dating myself, but I actually used to watch you. What is it that you advise your sons about being quarterbacks?

MANNING: Well, I don't give them a lot of advice. I tell them to work hard. I think it's true, just like anything else, the harder you work, the luckier you get. And enjoy the game, have fun, you know, it's a business now. But when they were little boys and going out to play, I always told them just to have fun and I want them to kind of take care of their business and do the right thing and handle things right and we have been proud of them because of that.

GIBSON: Archie Manning, enjoy the Super Bowl. Appreciate it and we'll all be watching on Sunday.

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