Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday prepare to set a unique record
This Sunday Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, and offensive center, Jeff Saturday will break the record for career starts as a tandem with 158 games. They are on the cusp of eclipsing the old record held by Buffalo Bills tandem Jim Kelly and
Kent Hull.
Interestingly enough, the man responsible for pairing Kelly with Hull back in the nineties, which led to four AFC championships in Buffalo, is Bill Polian
– the same man responsible for putting the partnership of Manning and Saturday together and is now the general manager in Indianapolis.
"I'm not sure how much the general public realizes what leadership roles Kent and Jeff have played, but they've convinced me that you can't have a championship team without a great center," Polian said. "Once it became pretty clear we were going to get Peyton,
we wanted to use the Buffalo experience here."
Polian's formula seems to have worked as the Colts have now become one of the most successful teams over the last decade with six division titles, two AFC championship titles, and one Super Bowl win.
Sunday's record will be just another of many for Peyton Manning. It was another Buffalo Bills tandem, Jim Kelly and receiver Andre Reed, who had held the record for combined yards until Manning and receiver Marvin Harrison shattered that record a few seasons
ago. Now Manning has the opportunity to surpass Kelly and Reed again with another of his favorite targets
– receiver Reggie Wayne. Manning and Wayne sit a mere 31 yards back of Kelly and Reed going into Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Peyton Manning was quick to praise his offensive lineman, and pointed out just how amazing Jeff Saturday's contribution to the record is, "I think he has missed two, three or four games, but you're talking about 40, 50 games he's played where a lot of guys
wouldn't be playing with the injuries and the pain their bodies are going through," Manning said. "I've spoken with Jim Kelly and know the pride he took in that relationship with his center, and I've taken a lot of pride in mine with Jeff. That will be a special
record to break."
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