When coming out of college in 1997 from the University of Tennessee, Peyton Manning threw for 11,201 yards and 90 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. But that really is not what makes Peyton Manning so special. When Peyton Manning is on a field, no matter what the score is, he brings his team back in the game, and with his never say die attitude, would somehow pull of a win. This year, Peyton Manning was released by the Indianapolis Colts, and although everyone is worried about Peyton Manning and where he ends up. I am worried about the so-called best Quarterback to come out of college over the past ten years in Andrew Luck.
Andrew Luck has had very good success as well in college at the University of Stanford. Luck threw 9,430 yards in 3 years and was able to get into the end zone 82 times throwing only 22 interceptions. Even though his stats are similar to Peyton’s and could have been better than Peyton’s if he had played for 4 years at Stanford. Luck had a decision to make and I believe he made a right decision to come out, but I think he is being put in a very bad situation if he is taken by the Indianapolis Colts.
Peyton Manning in 1998, had one thing that Andrew Luck will not have in Indianapolis. That is Bill Polian. When Bill Polian came to the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 he already had a reputation in the NFL for making bad teams better. He is the main reason the Buffalo Bills went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls in the late 80’s early 90’s. He is also the guy that took the Carolina Panthers in their second year of existence to the NFC Championship game. In 1997, Polian left to be with the Colts as the General Manager. I am not saying that Bill Polian made Peyton Manning, but Bill Polian’s draft sense and free agent signings did. Over the years Bill Polian put a product on the field that worked around Peyton Manning, by drafting key pieces such as Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. Polian made the Colts what they are today, and with the Colts letting Polian go, they lost more than just Peyton Manning.
The Colts didn’t stop at just letting go Peyton Manning and Bill Polian. They have not done anything to secure the pieces in the Organization to help their future #1 pick. Reggie Wayne is a Free Agent, Pierre Garcon will be a Free Agent if not signed, they released Joseph Addai and Dallas Clark, are trying to trade Dwight Freeney and are on a mission to revamp the entire team. To be honest, I feel really bad for Andrew Luck, because by the sound of it, he is going to have it worse than Peyton Manning coming out in his first year. The Colts record in 1998 was 3-13, and Peyton Manning was abysmal in his first year. He threw 28 interceptions and was sacked 22 times. Even though he threw for 3,739 yards, he threw 26 touchdowns, he looked horrible.
So my question is, what are the Colts going to do? Do you think Andrew Luck will succeed and will he have as good as numbers as Peyton Manning in his first year, or worse?