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INDIANAPOLIS (Sat, Apr 18, 1998) -- Following are quotes from Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Mora, president Bill Polian and first draft choice Peyton Manning. JIM MORA, Colts head coach "This is a very exciting day for the Indianapolis Colts. We feel extremely good about this selection. We know we have selected a tremendous young football player, an outstanding young man, a person we feel will help this organization achieve a great deal of success in the future. On choosing Manning over Leaf "It was a tough decision. We had two fine, young football players at a key position that were available to us. We studied long and hard. We covered every detail you can possibly cover. Up until the last couple of days we were deciding who to take. "We felt Peyton was the best player for this team and this organziation. We are really excited about having him with us." What did it come down to? That's a difficult question to answer. Neither of these young men are supermen. They have their strengths, but there also are some negatives. I've never been around a player you drafted that didn't have a negative or two. But sometimes it's just a gut feeling . . . 'This guy just fits best with our football team.' Either one of them would have fit, but we just felt like -- when you consider everything -- (Manning) is the guy we wanted. On friendship with the Mannings "I know there have been a lot of things said that I've known Peyton for a long time and I have. I have known him since he was in high school. Archie and I are friends, but it's not like we're close buddies. He was the color analyst with the Saints when I was there and we certainly got acquainted. And I know (his wife) Olivia. Being in New Orleans, you follow Peyton's career in high school and college. Occasionally Peyton would come over to the Saints facility as a senior during our offseason program. Maybe twice as a senior. Archie would call and say Peyton would like to come over and watch us throw. Not any kind of an organized practice . . just throwing the ball around. (Peyton) would and I'd say 'Hey, Peyton, jump in there and throw our recievers a couple of balls' and he did. "Archie would also call and say Peyton was home from Tennessee and see if Peyton could come over and use the weight room. I said 'Hey, have him come on over'. I was always very impressed with him, not only as a person but as a player. How soon will he play? "Our plans are to put him right . . . in. . . there. Just stick him right in. We've got a minicamp starting Friday afternoon and -- I'm not saying this is totally etched in stone -- but right now my plan is to say, 'Hey, Peyton, you're the guy. Get in there and call that play the first time the No. 1 offense lines up.' "He's going to struggle. It's difficult for anyone to come in as a rookie, but esepcially at that position because there is so much to know. We have talked about this as a staff the four months we've been here. We knew we were going to have a rookie quarterback in there and we're going to do everything we can to help him out. But you can't make it so simple that you can't move the ball. It's not a simple game anymore. "I know one thing: We're going to do everything we can as a staff to help our quarterback. I know Peyton will do everything he can to prepare himself to do the best job possible. "I believe in sticking him in there and saying, 'Let's go, you're the guy.' He's going to make mistakes, but he's going to do a lot of good things, too. BILL POLLIAN, Colts president After the announcement "The question you've all been asking for the last six months has been answered and we're very happy to have Peyton Manning with the Colts. "Both (Manning and Leaf) are good players, as I've said repeatedly, but we felt Peyton was the best choice for us based on his maturity in the game, the experience he has had and clearly the gifts -- physical, mental and psychological -- that he brings to us. "We're going to throw him in there from the get-go. He's going to struggle, as all rookies do. We have every confidence he's going to go on and become a very good player, as I think will Ryan. For both, the early going will be a bit rocky. I would ask our fans to share the emotions we feel today, which is great joy that we can have a player and a person like Peyton Manning wearing the horseshoe . . . tempered with a large dose of patience. This is a young man with a big burden on his shoulders and it's going to take him a little while to get to where we want him to go. We have every confidence that he and we will get there. "Jim (Mora) and I got together (Friday) and we analyzed and covered every base there was to cover. We did every study there was to do. In the end, it came down to a very close call. If you put a grade-point average on these players with 8 being the top, you're talking about a 7.3 and a 7.4 How do you choose between those two? You do with what's in your gut at that time. "In our eyes it was close. But in the end we felt Peyton Manning was the best choice for us. Comparing him with other quarterbacks "I think he's a compilation. I can't think of one person he might remind me of. He's got (Buffalo QB Jim) Kelly's toughness and will to win. He brings his team back from 20 points down against Auburn in the SEC championship game. His defense is falling apart against Florida and they go down 23 points and he's getting hammered around like he's a rag doll back there with people coming free on jail breaks. He brings his team back to make it close at the end. It's that kind of courage, playing on a bad leg against Nebraska. That really shines through when you measure all of the physical gifts. You have to have a base. You take into consideration not only (Manning), but the entire team. The offense isn't for him, it's for everybody. This offense will be new for everybody. Everybody can grow together. On expectations "One of the things about Peyton Manning is he has been through this throughout his career. Expectations of him always have been high. He's done a tremendous job of handling that. My expectations are always high. Not putting too much weight on Manning -- Are we going to run the football? Certainly. Take a look at the running backs we have. You've got to run the football to win. When you establish the run, everything takes care of itself. PEYTON MANNING On what he expects "I had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen, but it was nice ot hear the words come out of (Paul Tagliabue's) mouth. I'm ready to go work now. On starting right away "Obviously the coaches have a plan for, but I'm looking forward to getting to minicamp next weekend and learning everything I can. I just want to make the adjustment to the game. "I've always thought the sooner you take your bumps and bruises the better off you are going to be in the long run. I have a lot to learn. I have a lot of work to do before I'm ready to play. I'm looking forward to working with Bill Musgrave, Kelly Holcomb and Jim Kubiak. Are you ready? "I want to compete to be the starter. But I want to be ready. I want to earn my starter's position. There is a lot of work to be done. On staying the extra year at Tennessee "I certainly hope it (prepared) me. I feel like I'm a better player both physically and mentally because of the past year. I gained valuable experience. I know you're going to struggle your rookie year no matter what, but hopefully I'll struggle less because of this past year. On Marshall Faulk "I have met Marshall and I have followed his career, being from New Orleans. I've followed his career throughout college and I know what Marshall is capable of. I'm looking forward to working with him and Marvin Harrison and getting to know the offensive line. On being the No. 1 pick "It's a real honor. But the first pick is still drafted on potential. I have to prove to the Colts they made the right decision. I appreciate them putting their faith in me, but I'm looking forward to going to work. I wish I could start right away, but my appeal (to report early) has been denied. His family's reaction "Both of my parents are excited. I'm glad they could be here with me, along with my brother, Cooper. They are looking forward to what's ahead as well. "This is a very exciting time. I'm looking forward to getting to Indianapolis. I think the city really wants a winner and the Colts are committed to winning. So am I. All I want is to be part of a winner. "In the meetings I had with the Colts, we discussed personnel and talked about what they planned on doing in the draft, and how they had helped themselves in free agency. On the pressure of being the No. 1 pick and starter "I want to come in and compete. Obviously the coaches have a plan for me. There's a lot of hard work to be done -- a lot to learn -- between now and then (opening of training camp). I'm going to try to learn everything from them (Colts coaches) I can. I think it's exciting to be part of the challenge. I'm just ready to go to work." About being given the starting job "I'm not going to be given anything. Whatever I get I plan to earn. I'm coming in very humbled, last on the depth chart. I've got my play book right here, I've got to know it all by Saturday, coach Mora said ('Friday,' Mora interjected to laughter). I'm going to start going to work. I have to learn a new system, plus I have to make an adjustment to the NFL game. I have a lot of work to do. I'm going to be as patient as I can, but I plan to learn fast." On choosing No. 18, after wearing No. 16 in college "It's time to make a move, time to do something different. Eighteen's kind of been a number in our family. Obviously it's the number my dad (Archie Manning) wore at Ole Miss and my brother Cooper wore in high school when he was injured and he's always been an inspiration to me. It looks good in blue, too." Why he didn't wear No. 18 in college "It wasn't available. And I don't think you should choose a college based on a number (laughter). I like double digits." Draft day as an ending or a beginning "I think it's just the beginning. Obviously the pre-draft stuff has been an exciting time, it really has been. It never was a nervous situation. I thought it was a win-win situation all along. I'm glad to know where I'm going, I'm glad to be an Indianapolis Colt. I'm looking forward to getting in here next weekend and learning, getting to work, meeting all my teammates and getting to know the coaching staff. Excited is a word I keep using, but it really is an exciting time." On whether he's disappointed by NFL ruling he can't work out with Colts in May "Well a little bit. I'm just eager. Now that it's starting it's going to be frustrating in May to have to kind of sit and wait. But I'll try to do whatever I can, obviously work out to stay in good shape. I'll have plenty of reading to do and plenty of film to watch." On signing a contract with the Colts "I told him (Manning's agent) I want him to get that done as soon as possible. It's going to be between him and the Colts organization, and I'm sure both sides will be fair. I have a lot of confidence (my agent) will get that done. All I'm worried about now is learning and trying to help my team win football games." On his approach to pre-draft discussions with Colts "I tried to ask questions of them. I figured there was enough film available, 45 games of film plus two individual workouts. I figured the film was there and they were making their evaluations. I was trying to ask questions of them as well because if I was going to play here I wanted to know something about the organization and about the team. And I certainly liked what I heard." On being mobile behind a line that gave up 62 sacks last season "I've always been able to throw on the run. My dad taught me the art of that. He had to be pretty good at that playing for the Saints (laughter). I've followed the Colts, and they've helped themselves in free agency, and they've tried to help themselves in the draft. There's no question there's a lot of hard work to be done, but I'm just excited to be part of it." On draft day hoopla "It's a special time. I'm extremely honored to be the No. 1 pick. I'm happy to be with the Indianapolis Colts. I'm glad they've put their faith in me." On adjusting to playing in the NFL "From what I hear, the biggest adjustment is to the speed of the game. I think the SEC gets you ready better than any other conference in the country, but there is an adjustment. The complexity of defenses, the increased pressure, just the overall improved athleticism of the NFL is the biggest adjustment. But it's one I plan to try my best to try to make. Obviously, (there's also) learning a new system, learning new terminology, getting timing down with faster, most athletic receivers." ARCHIE MANNING Has Peyton always been humble? "He's been an easy child to raise. He's got a good mother, and I've been blessed with three wonderful boys. He's always kept his priorities. He's not an angel. He's got tendencies. He's a tough kid. He competes, he gets ornery when he loses, he'll hold a grudge. He's not just Mr. Perfect. I told him and Ryan Leaf two months ago, 'You two guys get ready because they're going to rake you over the coals, they're going to find everything they can,' and they have. And they've both stood up to it real well. But one guy said he thought Peyton might be too nice. I hope that's not someone from here, because I can assure you he's not that nice. Not when it comes to competing. I think if you asked his coaches at Tennessee, they'd say how competitive he is." On Peyton handling pressure "He's had a lot thrown at him in his young life and he's dealt with things, he's stood up to them. He's kept his priorities and taken care of business in school, so we're real proud of him. He's worked hard." Does Peyton understand what he's getting into? "I think Peyton understands how hard this game really is. He understands there's a big transition ... and that it's going to take a certain amount of patience." On his relationship with Peyton "I feel I've been more of a father to Peyton than a coach. I don't like the perception that I've molded Peyton into a college or pro quarterback. I really haven't. He always had an aspiration to play, and he worked hard. I spent time with my children, but no more than the others. We threw the ball around. We probably played more basketball than we did football. I didn't go out when he was 10 years old and say this is how you throw it. Mostly in high school I didn't get involved, and especially when he got to Tennessee. He had great coaching there and they taught him well. And he works hard. You'll all find that out if you're around him here. He'll be the first one in here and the last one to leave." Would it be better for Peyton to ease into a starting role? "That would probably be best. But pro football is just not set up that way these days. And he knows that. They're going to expect him to play." |