Nice Guy, Not-So-Nice Situation

INDIANAPOLIS (April 18, 1998) -- Peyton Manning seems too modest, too respectful and too nice to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League. But I was assured late Saturday afternoon that's not an accurate read.

"I heard some expert say they were afraid Peyton is too nice," said Archie Manning. "I can assure you he's not that nice.

He can be ornery; he'll hold a grudge and he's not Mr. Perfect.

"He's a tough kid and he hates to lose."

But, said the proud father a few hours after the Colts had made his son the top pick in the 1998 NFL draft, Peyton also was "a pleasure to raise."

All those traits will be necessary for Archie's son to survive and thrive in Indianapolis. Trying to lead a 3-13 squad back to respectability, learning the pro game and adjusting to its accelerated intensity should bring out the best, if not the beast, in this poised 22-year-old.

"Peyton's had a lot of things thrown at him and he's always dealt with them," continued the senior Manning, who brought his wife, Olivia, and oldest son, Cooper, to the Colts complex to share in Peyton's first official news conference.

"The danger, at this level, is if you don't think it's a challenge. But I think Peyton has a good understanding of how tough this game is."

It can't get any tougher than being a rookie starter at a position that keeps the injury list full. The NFL chews up quarterbacks at an alarming rate, and the Colts gave up a club-record 62 sacks in 1997.

Jim Harbaugh's elusiveness complemented his effectiveness the past four years, yet he still took a terrible pounding.

Archie Manning spent most of his 14-year NFL career running for his life and was good at it. His 6-5, 225-pound son doesn't have that kind of escapability.

"Peyton is not a runner or a scrambler," said Manning, whose New Orleans Saints teams were usually laughably awful. "But he does throw the ball pretty well on the run. June Jones (San Diego's quarterbacks coach) said he thought Peyton threw on the run better than anyone he'd ever seen.

"He's good at reading defenses and gets rid of the ball real quick. He knows it's going to be a lot faster game and a lot more physical."

Archie prepared all three of his sons for sports but didn't push any of them. He wasn't a "football father."

"I didn't get involved when Peyton got into high school and I was equally invisible at Tennessee. I was more of a father to him than a coach.

"He had an aspiration to play (quarterback) early on and I threw the ball around with him. But I probably played more basketball with him than football."

Colts coach Jim Mora and president Bill Polian said Manning would be thrown right into the fire come September. With three of his five offensive linemen in new positions, it promises to be an interesting fall.

"It would probably be best for him to sit back and learn," continued Archie. "They're making a big investment and you want to do it right.

"But things have changed. You want them in there, even if they're halfway ready, and if he stays healthy he'll be expected to play."

But Manning thinks four years competing in the Southeastern Conference was a good education for Peyton.

"It's a huge adjustment, the pros, but Peyton played in a big-time program and went against the best competition. College defensive coaches try to copy the NFL, using complex systems and specialization. It's not as good, but at least he's seen pieces of it."

You could see the pride in pop's eyes when Peyton was addressing the local media, wearing his Colts hat, carrying the playbook and holding up a jersey that sported Archie's old number (18).

"He's been through a lot and he's worked real hard," said Archie, who quit his job as analyst for the Saints' radio broadcasts so he could follow Peyton's progress.

"I know it's corny, but it's kind of the American way. If you work real hard, you deserve something."