END OF HISTORIC ERA

While the rest of the world is contemplating where the invaluable HOF quarterback will land, allow me to reflect on 14 great seasons with Peyton Manning. After a tearful goodbye in Indianapolis, everyone and their neighbor is speculating where Manning will land. Personally, I'm hoping for Miami, as I am now only a 2-hour drive away. I'd love to see #18 and #87 dawn the Dolphin aqua-marine! Manning to Wayne for ANOTHER DOLPHIN TOUCHDOWN! But I digress...

This is a retrospective post.

I wasn't even 30 years old when Bill Polian and the Colts organization drafted a rookie out of the University of Tennessee. All I knew about Peyton Manning, other than his pedigree, was that he was never able to overcome his nemesis, and hated rival of my Seminoles, the Florida Gators. They just seemed to have Manning and Tennessee's number year after year. So, I wasn't the most ecstatic fan in Indianapolis the first day of the 1998 NFL Draft.

Once he got into his groove, there was no telling how far he would take the underachieving Colts franchise. I mean, we used to marvel at Captain Comeback, aka Jim Harbaugh, but he was no Peyton Manning. A few years into his career and I was still wondering if he'd ever be capable of winning the "big one." My doubts were never higher than the year we went into the playoffs undefeated, only to be humiliated by the New York Jets.

Then there was always the Colts defense, or lack thereof. I feared that no matter how perfect a game PM put together, our defense would always let us down. And even during our first Super Bowl run, the defense played terribly right up until the playoffs. The porous D who let Maurice Jones-Drew slash them for 200+ yards, suddenly became a brick wall in Kansas City and throughout the 2007 NFL Playoffs. It seemed as though destiny had finally taken over.

In the Miami rain that year, Peyton put all fears to rest and quieted all doubters, even me. He led the Colts to their first Super Bowl win since arriving in Indianapolis my freshman year of high school. He made us forget all about Captain Comeback with flashes of Unitas-like brilliance. His line-of-scrimmage antics have become the stuff of legend, and they pale in comparison to the split-second reads and laser-accurate throws that have wowed us for years!

Yes, Peyton Manning is the REAL DEAL! A solid, first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, the guy is not only a brilliant on-field general, he's a class act all the way around. The namesake for St. Vincent's Childrens Hospital, he's been a great champion for the terminally ill and less fortunate in Indianapolis. A devoted family man and philanthropist, he quickly won the hearts of Hoosiers who respect and admire his character. A humble guy who has every reason to gloat, he is just a stellar human being. I cannot say enough good things about him.

I am very grateful that he became and remained an Indianapolis Colt. And while I am sad to see him go, I wish him well with whichever team is lucky enough to land him. I hope his recovery continues and he regains his throwing strength. No matter to what capacity or where he lands, I'll always be a fan of #18.

Thanks for the great memories, Peyton. Sorry that I ever doubted you. Peace!