Manning Would Love To Repeat History For Colts

Hot-shot college quarterback from Louisiana becomes a first-round pick of the Colts in the NFL draft. Is named the team's starter and thrown into heat of battle as a rookie. Struggles from the outset. Finally gets his first professional victory at the expense of the team he followed as a youngster, the New Orleans Saints.

It worked for Bert Jones.

Maybe it will work for Peyton Manning.

Twenty-five years ago -- Sept. 30, 1973 -- Jones, the second overall pick in that year's draft, earned his first win as an NFL quarterback by leading the Baltimore Colts to a 14-10 decision over New Orleans. How fitting. Jones was a strong-armed kid from Ruston, La., who went on to star at Louisiana State.

The triumph was a soothing balm for what was a painful start to Jones' pro career. In his first two games, he completed just 18-of-45 passes for 232 yards with five interceptions and a pair of TDs.

This afternoon, Manning will attempt to read from Jones' script. He certainly is ideal for the part: Grew up in New Orleans, a big Saints fan, college star (OK, at the University of Tennessee), first overall pick in the draft by the Colts, immediate NFL starter, immediate NFL struggles.

And now a chance to ease the pain against the Saints.

"It's kind of funny how things turn out," Manning said of preparing for a Saints team he followed as a youngster. "New Orleans people are great football fans and the Saints are doing really well. But I'm very happy to be here with the Colts."

He will be in a much better mood later today if he, like Jones, can take out some early-season frustrations on the Saints.

To add to the irony of today's game, consider who was on the other side of the field when Jones led the Colts past the Saints: Peyton's dad, Archie.

"I remember that game," said Archie Manning, the Saints' starting quarterback. "I remember the quarterback we lost to had one of the worst-looking games I've ever see a rookie have. He was terrible."

Jones completed 7-of-16 passes for 91 yards. He threw one touchdown, but was picked off four times. Archie Manning countered by hitting 18-of-33 for 257 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

If Manninig's criticism of Jones' play sounds harsh, consider the source.

"Bert's a good friend of mine and he's the best pure passer I've ever seen," Manning said. "But he was still terrible that day and I told him so.

"We were just worse."

Wuerffel: He's legit

New Orleans' quarterback Danny Wuerffel doesn't possess a massive NFL resume. Today against the Colts, he will be making just his 10th appearance and fourth start.

For those unaware of Wuerffel's qualities, Colts' rookie wide receiver E.G. Green is able to offer an assessment. Green and Wuerffel were teammates at Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) High School and instrumental in the school capturing a 4A state championship.

"He's tough and a lot better athlete than people give him credit for," said Green. "He's going to make all the right checks, all the right reads and make all the right throws.

"He's legit. He's one of the best I've played with."

Dueling QBs

The Colts' Peyton Manning and New Orleans' Wuerffel will renew a high-profile, high-octane rivalry today. But don't expect either quarterback to light up the scoreboard like he did in college.

"College doesn't have a whole lot to do with this league," said Manning, who lost two meetings to the Wuerffel-led Florida Seminoles during his record-breaking career at Tennessee.

"We put a lot of points on the board," added Wuerffel. "I don't expect either of us to do those kind of things this time."

Florida won both games, 62-37 in Gainsville in 1995 and 35-29 the following year in Knoxville. In those two games, Manning and Wuerffel combined to hit 90 of 142 passes (63.4 percent) for 1,244 yards and 16 touchdowns.