Over the past three years only Warren Buffett may have a stronger claim to “Omaha” than Peyton Manning. The line of scrimmage call – was it an audible, a coverage identifier, just part of the cadence? – was the talk of Super Bowl XLVIII (until the blowout commenced) and the subject of much speculation as to its ultimate meaning.
Finally, though, we have a definitive answer from about as reliable source as there is: Eli Manning.
The Manning brothers have used the call for years, and in January 2014, Peyton very sardonically offered his explanation.
“I know a lot of people ask what Omaha means…” Manning said. “Omaha is a run play, but it could be a pass play or a play-action pass, depending on a couple things: which way we’re going, the quarter, and the jerseys that we’re wearing. It varies, really, from play to play.”
However, during a Giants’ Town Hall event this week, the two-time Super Bowl-winning Manning spilled the beans about what “Omaha” really means.
The audio is below, courtesy of Giants.com.
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“So Omaha was in the playbook,” Eli explained, “There was actually a sheet that said ‘Omaha’ at the top, and basically ‘Omaha’ was maybe we change the play, or maybe when I was changing protection, or Diehl had to tie his shoe or something and was taking forever and the play clock’s running down. And ‘Omaha’ just told everybody to put their hand in the ground, shut up, and the ball’s about to be snapped.
“So I would say ‘Omaha’ and I would say it again and then say ‘set hut’ and do whatever you think you need to be doing and let’s go play football.”
With one of the great mysteries of recent NFL memory now resolved, Broncos fans can resume putting all of their attention on who’s going to protect Peyton this year as head coach Gary Kubiak works to rebuild the offensive line in front of his All-Pro quarterback. If he can’t do that with some success, Peyton may be saying “Uncle” instead of “Omaha” by season’s end.
