In Peyton We Trust

INDIANAPOLIS (April 18, 1998) -- One hundred and eighteen days. That's how long it's been since the Indianapolis Colts played their last professional football game.

One hundred and seventeen days. That's how long it's been since the rumors started flying about whom the Colts would take with the first pick in the college draft this April. Would it be Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, who wowed everyone with his nose for the football and flair for the dramatic? Would it be Florida State's Andre Wadsworth, a player whom some scouts were already comparing to Bruce Smith before he'd even played a down of pro football?

Or would it be, as most experts predicted, one of the top two quarterbacks in this year's draft -- Washington State's Ryan Leaf, or Tennessee's Peyton Manning? Each player was considered a can't-miss prospect, a quarterback on whose shoulders would rest the fate of a franchise for the next decade. Each player had his own strengths and weaknesses as well. Leaf, the more physically gifted of the two, hiding a gunslinger's swagger inside the body of a linebacker, a cannon of an arm and an ego matched only by his ample girth; or Manning, the more cerebral player, possessing a knowledge of the game usually seen only by a 10-year veteran and a level-headedness viewed by some as robotic, perhaps even unfeeling.

So who would the Colts take? Jim Irsay wouldn't say, despite flying Manning into Indianapolis on his personal jet earlier this month. Bill Polian wouldn't say, despite the occasional hint or gesture favoring one or the other. And Jim Mora was so tight-lipped about the situation, it was as if someone had poured a cupful of alum into his daily iced tea.

Finally, after more than three months of hemming and hawing, of trading away veteran quarterbacks and dismissing oddball rumors, of playing his cards so close to the vest the numbers were imprinted on his clothing, Irsay and Polian let the world in on their little secret five minutes into the team's 15-minute allotment. By personally walking to the podium and handing the selection card to commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Irsay exorcised the ghosts of drafts past that have haunted this franchise by taking Manning with the first pick overall, thus ushering in a new era for Colts fans.

Amid more than a smattering of boos at the draft in New York, Manning exuded the class and character that has been the trademark of his collegiate career. Asked about being the first player taken in the draft, Manning said, "It's an honor. There's no question about it. I'm really excited about what's ahead, and just proud that the Colts put their faith in me. I'm looking forward to the challenge of getting the program going, and it's a really exciting time right now."

Manning was then asked if he was concerned about not being the Colts' first selection in the draft. "I had a pretty good idea, but ... I can keep a secret, too, there's no question about that," Manning said. "I'm really excited. I'm going to Indianapolis today. I'm looking forward to visiting Mr. Polian and coach Mora, and I'm excited to go to work. I'm ready to get started right now."

For weeks, Polian and Irsay had maintained a smokescreen as to who the Colts would take, but apparently it wasn't such a secret with Manning. It appeared he had known that he would be picked first for some time prior to the draft. When ESPN's Mike Tirico asked the young quarterback how long he had been keeping that secret, Manning flashed a wry grin and said, "I can't tell you that either, Mike."

As for Bill Polian, it appeared he really didn't have his mind made up until the day before the draft. "I think some time around mid-day yesterday (Friday), Jim Mora and I sat down and we said, 'What's in our hearts?' We've done all the research, we've done all the measurements that you can do, and in the end, it comes down to making a very tough pick.

"These are two very, very fine football players, and we just felt that Peyton, because of his experience and his maturity level in the game of football -- not personal maturity, but in the game of football -- fit best for us in this particular situation."

According to Polian, all signs point to Manning being the starting quarterback for the Colts in the immediate future, possibly as soon as the season opener against the Miami Dolphins on September 6. "We're going to start him out there (at the top of the team's depth chart) and then we'll see where it goes," said the general manager. "We're going to throw him in. Whether it's game one or game four, I think that's immaterial, but he's going to learn on the job, that's for sure."

Added head coach Jim Mora, "We're going to stick him into the mix right away. We're not going to sugar feed him or go slow with him; we're going to say 'Peyton, you're the guy.' We've got a minicamp next weekend. We're going to stick him right in there in that spot, and let him learn as he goes along."

But Manning won't be doing it alone. "We're going to help him," said Mora. "We've got a good running game ... we're going to run the football; we've got to make sure we do a good job of protecting him; hopefully, we'll play good defense, and I think that will help Peyton, too."

Initially, there were some questions raised as to the jersey that Manning held up when he was announced as the first pick on Saturday, but those questions were answered almost as soon as he stepped down from the podium in New York. Although Manning wore #16 during his college career at Tennessee, he will wear #18 for the Colts in honor of his father, Archie, who wore that number during his college days at Mississippi.

In a followup interview, the younger Manning expanded on the significance of the number. "Eighteen has always been a special number to our family," he said. "My Dad wore it at Ole Miss. That's what he wanted coming out to play for the Saints, but they didn't have it ... I'm not a real picky guy. I'm not going to go to a team just because of a certain number, but the Colts had it available, and I'm looking forward to wearing it."

So are about 60,000 screaming Colts fans.

Speaking of Archie Manning, what did he have to say about his son's achievements? "We're very proud of Peyton. The whole thing is just so exciting ... I know it is for so many parents around the country today, but we feel like Peyton's worked hard and he's been very fortunate. He's had a wonderful time at Tennessee. This is just a great honor for him, and as a family, we're real proud of him."

Welcome to Peyton's Place

So with the Colts' quarterback situation having been rectified seemingly for the next decade, what does the drafting of Manning mean to professional football in Indianapolis? In a word, plenty.

First, it gives the Colts a player who already has a national following and is one of the most recognizable names in football. Ask someone in Seattle or Phoenix if they could name five players from the Colts' roster. Chances are they probably couldn't name another player besides Marshall Faulk. Drafting Manning changes that and immediately gives the Colts a player they can build a new image around.

Drafting a player with that level of recognition could also give a boost to the Colts in terms of marketing and merchandise sales. In southern California, where I live, the odds of coming across any Colts merchandise other than a Faulk jersey (or a Jim Harbaugh jersey, which is usually found on the clearance rack) are less than slim and none.

Manning brings instant attention to one of the smallest franchises, population-wise, in the NFL. Suddenly, Peyton Manning has become a big fish in a little pond, and with it comes a chance that the Colts can compete off the field on the same level as perennial best-sellers like the Raiders, 49ers and Cowboys. It could also improve the chances of the Colts being broadcast on national television, which would bring more exposure to an oft-overlooked franchise.

Having the Colts take Manning also makes the NFL happy, although you'd probably never hear that from anyone in the front office. The league likes having a big star in every city, especially one with Manning's communication skills and natural charm. With his big grin and southern drawl, fans in nearby states like Kentucky, Missouri and West Virginia could respond to, and become fans of, the Colts in the next few years. Even Tennesseeans, who already have a franchise of their own in the Oilers, have an affinity toward Manning that can't be bought. With large cities like Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville less than five hours driving time away, there's a great chance that the Colts could see increased ticket sales as out-of-state fans from the Volunteer State flock to the RCA Dome to watch Manning in action.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the drafting of Peyton Manning may wake up the citizens of Indianapolis and make them realize they have a legitimate, professional football franchise on their hands. For years, the local media has treated the Colts as the redheaded stepchild of the NFL, beaten down and largely ignored by most of the city's newspapers, radio and television stations. Only when the team has done well have they bothered to report on the team's fortunes, and even in those instances it was a half-hearted attempt at best.

All that could change now, if the media is willing to open its eyes and if the sports fans of this city show that they care about this team. Look at what's on the table, Colts fans. We have a young, proactive owner who's done his best to keep the team in Indianapolis well into the next century. We have a general manager whose genius made winning franchises out of Buffalo and Carolina. We have a head coach who took a perennial loser in New Orleans and took them to the playoffs four times in an eight-year span. And now, we have one of the most heralded quarterbacks to come out of the draft in recent memory in our possession.

So please, before you write off the season before the draft's even finished, give Peyton Manning and the Colts a chance. It's the least we can do.