Cleveland, September 7 - Mike Vanderjagt kicked and made up with theIndianapolis Colts.
Vanderjagt, whose off season comments in an interview irked his coach, quarterback and teammates, booted a 45-yard field goal with 1 second left Sunday, leading the Colts to a sloppy 9-6 win over the Cleveland Browns.
"I'm one of the boys on the team, not some idiot kicker," Vanderjagt said.
Shortly after the Colts lost in the playoffs last season, Vanderjagt said Colts coach Tony Dungy was too nice, quarterback Peyton Manning needed to show more emotion and other Colts players
lacked passion.
The normally reserved Manning responded at the Pro Bowl by calling Vanderjagt, "an idiot."
And although he had been publicly forgiven, Vanderjagt's game-winning kick probably didn't hurt his popularity with Manning or the other Colts.
"Everything is fine and dandy between me and Mike in Coltsville," Manning said.
Manning, who threw two interceptions in the first half and wasn't sharp for most of the afternoon, drove the Colts 65 yards in the final 2:39 to set up Vanderjagt's third field goal.
"Mike and I did that on purpose to win it like that," Manning joked. "Seriously, and we haven't been lying to you, it has been a closed book on the topic since February."
Vanderjagt's winning kick ended what many figured to be a shoot out between two of the AFC's best offenses. Instead, it was an error-filled match up of penalties, turnovers and blown chances.
Manning, who finished 27-of-43 for 211 yards, threw two interceptions - one in the end zone - in the first half. But on Colts' game-winning drive, he went 8-for-10 while using five receivers. A year ago, Manning rallied the Colts from a 16-0 halftime deficit to beat the Browns 28-23.
"Look at that last drive," running back Edgerrin James said. "No mistakes. No penalties. That's the key. It came together at the right time."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
