SEEN AND HEARD: Peyton's place not San Diego

By JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Saturday, January 3, 2009 8:28 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- MVP stands for Most Vocal Patrons? Not likely, but it did for Chargers fans parked in the eastern end zone.

When Colts QB Peyton Manning took the field, the newly minted MVP ---- a three-timer, no less ---- was booed with gusto seldom seen in these parts.

At least not in the first series.

But so it goes when you're a Manning trying to eliminate the Chargers ---- especially when having an Archie for a father and Jughead for a brother.

Big, little man

Is there a tougher, pound-for-pound Charger than 5-foot-6 Darren Sproles? The jitter-bug running back took a thunderous hit on a first-quarter return, courtesy of Darrell Reid ---- so much for that Hoosier hospitality.

Sproles reached the sidelines, where he was immediately checked by Dr. David Chao, the longtime team doctor. But what made this visit interesting is Chao looked down on the player.

The 181-pound Sproles later tried picking a fight with 6-3, 240-pound Justin Snow.

Just in time, Sproles' teammates pulled him away.

Green acres

Gotta say the Jack Murphy Field look good after the workout it has received since Dec. 23.

Four games later ---- would have been five if the Lingerie Bowl would have materialized ---- the turf showed well.

It's been a fun stretch of football, before getting started on the Padres. We know that grass might not be greener on the other side of town.

Although the fresh sod placed near midfield likely caused kicker Nate Kaeding to slip on a kickoff.

That or it was the first tackle ever recorded by a kicking tee.

L.T., L.T.

That was the chant early in the second quarter when LaDainian Tomlinson tied the score with a touchdown run.

Obviously going easy because of his groin injury, Tomlinson wasn't as demonstrative as last week when he scored three times against the Broncos.

The shout-out was music to the Chargers, who spent days leading up to the game looking at L.T. and thinking, MRI, MRI, MRI.

But reality hit after his touchdown, when he retreated to the bench and removed his helmet.

Tomlinson's night was done after five rushes for 25 yards. For those keeping track, he did not sit alone on the bench hiding behind his visor.

L.A. Chargers

Now don't go jumping to conclusions but a certain mayor of a big city some 120 miles north of San Diego was at Qualcomm Stadium.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was sitting in owner Alex Spanos' suite, taking in the game.

Will he take away the Chargers, too? Maybe he was just getting a jump on next season, when the team celebrates its 50th season.

We know, we know ---- that first season was as the L.A. Chargers.

Arnold, too

But Hiz Honor of the City of Angels wasn't the highest ranked executive in the house. You know how politicians love a winner, so Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was in attendance, too.

Shouldn't the big enchilada of "Kalifornia," be trying to balance the bloated budget? Yep, but maybe he was asking the Chargers how the heck they erased a four-game deficit to arrive in January at 8-8.

Fill of Phillips

Shaun Phillips likes to do two things: sack quarterbacks and talk ---- maybe not in the order.

The Chargers' linebacker didn't bring down Manning, but he stalked him some 20 yards at the end of the half, trailing him to the Colts' tunnel and yapping the entire way.

Manning didn't acknowledge him, although Manning might have borrowed a line from his MasterCard commercial where the San Diego hotel maid says, "take a hike.''

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.