Andrew Luck and Indianapolis Colts expectations: Will he be another Peyton Manning?-NFL Feature Part I
Andrew Luck arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indianapolis Colts’ official facility, in excellently presentable style, cool, calm and very confident, on Friday April 27, 2012.
Soon he began his new journey by standing behind the podium, the same podium and place where Colts’ former star, Peyton Manning, had stood for the first time after his arrival, in the similar fashion, in 1998.
No one could guess then that he would be the star of Colts’ show over next 14 years.
Peyton Manning had replaced Jim Harbaugh, the then QB of the team, now the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
He was, no doubt, a player of high calibre but certainly no one could have expected that his legacy would be forgotten completely after Manning shined on the horizon above Indianapolis.
The transition from a regular to draft QB had taken place the way now Luck has replaced Peyton Manning.
Peyton turned out to be the most successful QB of the team, the only four-time most valuable player (MVP) of the league over the course of the next 14 years.
He proved his talent and skills time and again, until he was struck with consecutive neck injuries, which made him sit out the entire 2011 NFL season.
That was the only year when Peyton Manning could not play for the side, and that was the only year when the Indianapolis Colts ended a season miserably.
The team could not win a game until 14th game of the season, when finally a victory came knocking to their doors, unexpectedly.
There was a hope then that the team will bounce back with the return of Peyton Manning next season.
Both, the fans and officials were all confident of his comeback. Little they had known then that Colts’ owner, Jim Irsay, had something else on his mind.
The owner was not convinced throughout that Peyton Manning would be able to play with the same strength and vigour once again.
His cause was supported by the worst season ending of the team. Having finished at the bottom of the league, they qualified for the top draft prize of next season.
So, their dismal record proved to be a blessing in disguise for them. With the opportunity presenting itself to them, Irsay remained on the call of hiring a draft QB to replace Manning once and for all.
It was not just the injury, Peyton Manning had become an old horse, at least for Irsay, and the owner was not willing to bet on him again, especially if he had to do that for a longer period of time in the future.
To be continued...
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