WALTHAM, Mass. -- Bostons Isaiah Thomas is feeling like a new man. A taller man.Im now listed at 6-1, the 5-foot-9 point guard joked when he sat down at Celtics media day on Monday. I grew a couple of inches this summer.While Thomas was speaking in jest, theres nothing at all fake about his excitement entering this season.The Celtics went into this past offseason focused on attracting the kind of star power to their roster that would help them move into the contender ranks of the Eastern Conference.They missed on Kevin Durant, but added veteran All-Star forward Al Horford to a young core that already includes Thomas -- a first time All-Star himself last season -- Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart.Its given coach Brad Stevens a lot to work with entering training camp as he tries to help Boston advance past the first round of the playoffs for first time since 2012.Were not asking Al to be any more than him, Stevens said. Hes a good fit for how we play on offense, hes good fit for how we play on defense...hes a guy that guys can follow by example. Its unfair to ask Al to be anything more than who he is.Who the Celtics have been the past two seasons is one of the surprise teams in the East. They improved from 25 wins in Stevens first season in 2013-14 to 40 and 48 wins the past two seasons, which both ended in playoff berths.Boston pushed the Atlanta Hawks to six games last season despite losing Bradley to a hamstring injury in Game 1 against the Hawks, seeing big man Kelly Olynyk aggravate a shoulder injury in the same game, and watching Crowder struggle throughout the series because of an ankle issue.Having a promising year derailed by that kind of bad luck has stuck with Thomas.All season thats all I thought about, Thomas said. Losing that series left a bad taste in all of our mouths. We want to get past that first round. I do, I know that. I want to win a playoff series. I want to go farther; we have a good enough team to make that happen.Gone are sixth man Evan Turner and Jared Sullinger, who both left in free agency. But the optimism and excitement surrounding Horford was palpable Tuesday. Not only for his ability to defend and be a big man who can stretch the floor, but for his anxiousness to see the Celtics return to a championship contender.His four-year, $113 million deal certainly carries with it some weighty burdens, but he said he isnt feeling any pressure because of it.In his very first trip to the Garden as a rookie in 2007, Horford recalled being mystified by Celtics championship banners hanging from the rafters.Youre very aware, Horford said. I couldnt stop looking at the banners up top. Maybe some guys feel differently, but I couldnt stop looking at them. Its something thats powerful. It leaves an impression on you.Team president Danny Ainge said he thinks Horford is joining a team that already has garnered the attention of other teams around the NBA.Were not going to be able to sneak up on anybody, Ainge said. I think that the team has earned a great deal of respect around the league the way they played last year, and the last couple of years. Thats a good thing. Thats progress. Thats where we want to be. We want our expectations to be higher. And learning to live up to those expectations is part of the grind.This month will be about integrating Horford into that foundation.Its a challenge Horford says hes eager to embrace.I have a good idea of the history of the Celtics, and of the passion of the people here. I know that its special, and thats part of the reason that Im here, he said. I want to be a part of that.Game notes Olynyk, who had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder in May, is due to have his five-month evaluation on Oct. 15. But he has been cleared to do noncontact drills in the interim. Hopefully in the next three or four weeks, I can get out there and make something happen, Olynyk said. I just gotta make sure its strong enough to take the hit. ...Stevens said that he has had discussions with players and other team officials regarding the protest and demonstrations that have taken place during the national anthem in the NFL and other sports. Its been great to engage in those discussions. Its been really fun for me to hear about how excited our guys are about using their platforms to promote good things, Stevens said.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Dillon Brooks Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Solomon Hill Jersey . 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The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1.Peyton Manning won his second Super Bowl ring in what could be his final game before a legendary career comes to an end. Manning set to retire Denver Post expect decision soon Mannings Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers but his earlier last rodeo comments to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick implied that it could be his last chance.Sky Sports Alex Ferguson has remembered 10 great Manning moments. Manning fails to win Heisman TrophyEveryone in college football thought that Manning would win the 1997 Heisman Trophy. Instead, Charles Woodson won it. Manning, however, won the No 1 pick in the NFL Draft, which sent him to Indianapolis to spark off one of the greatest careers the league has ever seen. First NFL winA 17-12 victory for the Colts against Ryan Leaf and the San Diego Chargers… look how those careers fell to pieces. Ironically, Leaf was selected No 2 in the Draft by the San Diego Chargers. I think its fair to say that that pick wasnt the Chargers best…His relationship with Marvin Harrison! Peyton Manning enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Marvin Harrison People love Jerry Rice with Joe Montana or Steve Young but, for touchdowns, Manning and Harrison were the best combination the NFL has ever seen. They combined for 112 touchdowns, a current NFL record between a wide receiver and a quarterback. They also hold the record for the wide receiver/quarterback relationship in passing yards (12,756), and single-season completions (143) in 2002. They created a record for passing yards for a season with 1,722 in 2002. Thats pretty special, folks. 10 top Super Bowls Do you agree with our list? His first MVP award...Manning won his first ever MVP in 2003 after a season where he threw 4,267 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Colts. Funnily enough, he was voted into the Pro Bowl. Two elite quarterbacks.dddddddddddd One unforgettable rivalry ... His second MVP award Manning went crazy in 2004, throwing for 4,557 yards and 49 touchdowns, and had the highest average for a quarterback in history. Once again, he was voted into the Pro Bowl.Finally, Mannings going to the Super BowlThis was great because Manning was beginning to be the Greatest Player Never To Go To A Super Bowl, after the Colts had lost back-to-back-to-back AFC Championship Games. But he lifted the Colts against the Patriots from a 21-3 deficit to win the game and book his spot at the biggest game of them all.The first Super Bowl victory Peyton Mannings Colts beat the Chicago Bears at Super Bowl XLI Manning won his first Super Bowl in 2006, leading the Colts to a win in the rain over the Chicago Bears. He was named Super Bowl MVP as the Colts ran out 29-17.Manning drops seven on the RavensThe defending Super Bowl champions Baltimore Ravens were de-feathered after Manning threw seven touchdowns against them in 2013. Thats an NFL record. That was be the start of a season where Manning passed Tom Bradys single-season record for most touchdowns thrown (50) by throwing 55 himself. The Broncos would be thumped in the Super Bowl by the Seahawks, and Manning was awful. But thats another story. How to watch Super Bowl 50 Sky Sports have got every angle covered Breaks Favres TD pass recordManning threw his 509th touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas against the San Francisco 49ers in 2014. It was the second quarter, and the game didnt stop for fireworks. Manning did, sitting out the final quarter as the Broncos were winning by a mile. Earlier that season, Manning matched Brett Favre in being the only quarterback ever to beat all 32 NFL teams.Second Super Bowl ring Highlights as Denver Broncos beat Carolina Panthers 24-10 to win Super Bowl 50. Manning didnt throw for a single touchdown but neither did his opposite number Cam Newton - instead the Broncos defence were the stars of the show en route to a 24-10 win. Manning, aged 39, became the oldest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the only starting quarterback ever to win two Vince Lombardi Trophies with different teams. Also See: WATCH: Newtons press conference Broncos win Super Bowl WATCH: Broncos brutal defence WATCH: Newtons disappointment ' ' '