Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning appreciates the congratulatory handshakes and pats on the back for winning the Super Bowl.

But some of his Pro Bowl peers are going a little overboard and it's embarrassing the soft-spoken, nine-year veteran.

After all, Manning, in his best Elvis voice, said he's a "Thank you, thank you very much" type guy.

"I truly appreciate the support," Manning said. "You kind of get a little embarrassed and that's when people are loud. I just don't like a lot of noise. Somebody comes up and picks you up, grabs you. I'm like, 'Please.' "

Manning and five Colts teammates participated in their first AFC practice yesterday at Ihilani Resort. The Pro Bowl is Saturday afternoon at Aloha Stadium.

Indianapolis beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17, in Super Bowl XLI in Miami last Sunday in rainy conditions. Manning was named the game's MVP after completing 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown.

A parade was held the following day in frigid downtown Indianapolis. They arrived here Tuesday.

"Just washed the clothes that I had in Miami, put them back in the same suitcase and caught a 7 a.m. flight here," said Colts center Jeff Saturday. "It's been a whirlwind, but one I'm awfully proud to be a part of."

To kill time on the flight over, the Colts relived their Super Bowl victory.

"Watched the game on the way out and got to relive it together and that was kind of special," Manning said. "It was a nice four hours to cut out of the trip."

The other Colts in the Pro Bowl are wide receivers Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, and offensive tackle Tarik Glenn.

Chris Mortensen, an NFL analyst for ESPN, thinks Manning and Co. are in good shape for the future.

"I'm in agreement with (Manning)," Mortensen said. "He's only halfway through his career. The window's not closing. You're talking about a team that has a quarterback with seven to 10 quality years left, a head coach (Tony Dungy) that's outstanding and a general manager, Bill Polian, who has been a five-time executive of the year, who's going to find players."

Manning has completed 3,131 of 4,890 passes for 37,586 yards and 275 touchdowns in his career. He also is a two-time Associated Press NFL Player of the Year, and has started all 144 games the past nine years.

Yet there were many who said he couldn't win the big one.

Those critics can be laid to rest.

"I'm glad because it puts everything else to bed," Mortensen said. "I get tired of the talk; he can't win the big game. Just listening to the chatter all the time; on my own network and everybody else's network or in the paper.

"I never understood why there was a Peyton Manning backlash. This guy has always stood for everything that is right in the league."

Saturday added: "The whole monkey on your back and the legacy thing. That's all outside media hype."

Manning and Minnesota Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson were drinking lemonade and relaxing in the resort's lounge area Tuesday, and Hutchinson decided he needed some amusement.

"I was sitting with him and he just kind of looks at me and goes 'You've changed,' " Manning said. "And I said, 'Steve, seriously, there is nothing more you could say to make me madder."

Manning said he pointed out: "Have I brought it up one time? I haven't brought it up one time."

Even though Hutchinson was joking, Manning said: "My whole goal all week is to prove to him I'm very much the same guy. That's who I am."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.