Hoot&HoLLer
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The Colts front office and coaching staff make it clear they got their next superstar franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck.
Bruce Arians was present when Peyton Manning was drafted in 1998 and he gets another opportunity to groom the heir to the throne.
Excitement Abounds at Indy Front Office For New Star QB
NFL Draft 2012: Andrew Luck era begins for Indianapolis Colts
Just like 14 years ago, the Colts choose a quarterback first in the hope that he can lead them to extended success
Apr. 27, 2012
Chap's take on Luck: Colts beat writer Mike Chappell discusses the selection of QB Andrew Luck Thursday night. (Phillip B. Wilson / The Star)
Written by
Mike Chappell
Bruce Arians one-upped the most powerful man in the NFL.
Hours before Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Indianapolis Colts had selected former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in Thursday night's draft, Arians already had elevated Luck to No. 1.
"Day one, he's going to walk in and he's going to be in the first group," Arians said.
As starting quarterback next Friday when the Colts open their three-day rookie minicamp?
"Ain't no doubt," Arians said.
None at all.
The succession process seemingly was cemented March 7 when the Colts declined to pick up the $28 million option bonus of quarterback Peyton Manning. That made the NFL's only four-time MVP, whose future was uncertain following four procedures on his neck in 19 months, an unrestricted free agent and cleared the deck for Luck.
Fourteen years after making Manning the first pick and the face of the franchise, history repeated itself.
On so many levels, the Colts are Luck's team. He insisted he's up to the challenge.
"I absolutely am,'' Luck said. "The most exciting part is being a part of a new locker room, new guys. That's really what I'm stoked about."
The decision to go with Luck ultimately was made by owner Jim Irsay with input from Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano, Irsay's first-year general manager and coach, respectively.
"Tremendously blessed that I have this opportunity," Grigson said. "I know Mr. Irsay and coach Pagano feel the same way. (Luck is) a once-in-a-decade or so player."
"It's a new era. It's a new beginning. It's exciting. We got our guy. He's the one we feel is going to take us where we want to go in this thing."
Added Pagano: "I feel like the luckiest man in the world right now. It's obviously a great time, an exciting time. We've got our man in the fold. We did get the very best football player, the very best quarterback in this year's draft."
The backdrop was reminiscent of 1998. The Colts were coming off a league-worst 3-13 season that resulted in a new general manager (Bill Polian), coach (Jim Mora) and quarterback (Manning).
In 1998, Arians was the Colts quarterbacks coach and in charge of helping develop an All-America QB out of Tennessee.
Now, Arians has returned as offensive coordinator and in charge of helping nurture an All-America QB out of Stanford.
"It's scary to think how close it (is) to 1998,'' he said. "The family, the style of person, the style of player and what he brings to your organization is extremely comparable."
Whatever pressure Manning felt in '98 to be the catalyst of transforming the Colts from afterthoughts to relevancy, arguably it's exponentially greater for Luck. He's replacing an iconic figure, on and off the field.
Manning's involvement in the community is well-documented. And let's not forget what he and the Colts were able to achieve on the field: 11 playoff appearances, two trips to the Super Bowl, one world championship.
While the Colts are asking Luck to succeed Manning, they want him to be himself.
"He's going to be eager to come in here and think that he's got to carry this whole thing on his shoulders," Pagano said. "And that's the first thing we're going to tell him. He doesn't have to do that.
"He's just got to do what he does, and that's play quarterback. And he plays it really well."
No one in the Colts organization, Grigson added, has "to hold him by the hand. He is ready. He is mature beyond his years."
Perhaps, but the comparisons to Manning undoubtedly await. Manning took every snap in his first season and set numerous league rookie records, including yards (3,739) and touchdown passes (26). Luck might even be compared with how Manning fares in his first season with the Denver Broncos.
That could add to the pressure Luck feels as he embarks on his professional career.
"He's got to go through the fires just like everybody else did,'' veteran linebacker Robert Mathis said of Luck. "But he's our leader. He's the man, so let's go."
Mathis has yet to meet the team's new QB, but was ready to offer advice.
"Yeah, tell him don't listen to y'all,'' Mathis said, referring to the media. "Just come in, get your playbook, keep your head down and get out on the field.
"Just do what got you here."
That's precisely Luck's plan.
"I realize you could go crazy trying to measure yourself to Peyton Manning every day,'' he said. "I don't think that would be a sane way to live. I know his legendary status.
"He was my hero growing up. They are huge shoes to fill if you are trying to do that. I'll just try and put my best foot forward and work hard every day. If one day I can be mentioned alongside Peyton as one of the quarterback greats (and) yada, yada, yada . . . that would be a football dream come true."
Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830.
Bruce Arians was present when Peyton Manning was drafted in 1998 and he gets another opportunity to groom the heir to the throne.
Excitement Abounds at Indy Front Office For New Star QB
NFL Draft 2012: Andrew Luck era begins for Indianapolis Colts
Just like 14 years ago, the Colts choose a quarterback first in the hope that he can lead them to extended success
Apr. 27, 2012
Chap's take on Luck: Colts beat writer Mike Chappell discusses the selection of QB Andrew Luck Thursday night. (Phillip B. Wilson / The Star)
Written by
Mike Chappell
Bruce Arians one-upped the most powerful man in the NFL.
Hours before Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Indianapolis Colts had selected former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in Thursday night's draft, Arians already had elevated Luck to No. 1.
"Day one, he's going to walk in and he's going to be in the first group," Arians said.
As starting quarterback next Friday when the Colts open their three-day rookie minicamp?
"Ain't no doubt," Arians said.
None at all.
The succession process seemingly was cemented March 7 when the Colts declined to pick up the $28 million option bonus of quarterback Peyton Manning. That made the NFL's only four-time MVP, whose future was uncertain following four procedures on his neck in 19 months, an unrestricted free agent and cleared the deck for Luck.
Fourteen years after making Manning the first pick and the face of the franchise, history repeated itself.
On so many levels, the Colts are Luck's team. He insisted he's up to the challenge.
"I absolutely am,'' Luck said. "The most exciting part is being a part of a new locker room, new guys. That's really what I'm stoked about."
The decision to go with Luck ultimately was made by owner Jim Irsay with input from Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano, Irsay's first-year general manager and coach, respectively.
"Tremendously blessed that I have this opportunity," Grigson said. "I know Mr. Irsay and coach Pagano feel the same way. (Luck is) a once-in-a-decade or so player."
"It's a new era. It's a new beginning. It's exciting. We got our guy. He's the one we feel is going to take us where we want to go in this thing."
Added Pagano: "I feel like the luckiest man in the world right now. It's obviously a great time, an exciting time. We've got our man in the fold. We did get the very best football player, the very best quarterback in this year's draft."
The backdrop was reminiscent of 1998. The Colts were coming off a league-worst 3-13 season that resulted in a new general manager (Bill Polian), coach (Jim Mora) and quarterback (Manning).
In 1998, Arians was the Colts quarterbacks coach and in charge of helping develop an All-America QB out of Tennessee.
Now, Arians has returned as offensive coordinator and in charge of helping nurture an All-America QB out of Stanford.
"It's scary to think how close it (is) to 1998,'' he said. "The family, the style of person, the style of player and what he brings to your organization is extremely comparable."
Whatever pressure Manning felt in '98 to be the catalyst of transforming the Colts from afterthoughts to relevancy, arguably it's exponentially greater for Luck. He's replacing an iconic figure, on and off the field.
Manning's involvement in the community is well-documented. And let's not forget what he and the Colts were able to achieve on the field: 11 playoff appearances, two trips to the Super Bowl, one world championship.
While the Colts are asking Luck to succeed Manning, they want him to be himself.
"He's going to be eager to come in here and think that he's got to carry this whole thing on his shoulders," Pagano said. "And that's the first thing we're going to tell him. He doesn't have to do that.
"He's just got to do what he does, and that's play quarterback. And he plays it really well."
No one in the Colts organization, Grigson added, has "to hold him by the hand. He is ready. He is mature beyond his years."
Perhaps, but the comparisons to Manning undoubtedly await. Manning took every snap in his first season and set numerous league rookie records, including yards (3,739) and touchdown passes (26). Luck might even be compared with how Manning fares in his first season with the Denver Broncos.
That could add to the pressure Luck feels as he embarks on his professional career.
"He's got to go through the fires just like everybody else did,'' veteran linebacker Robert Mathis said of Luck. "But he's our leader. He's the man, so let's go."
Mathis has yet to meet the team's new QB, but was ready to offer advice.
"Yeah, tell him don't listen to y'all,'' Mathis said, referring to the media. "Just come in, get your playbook, keep your head down and get out on the field.
"Just do what got you here."
That's precisely Luck's plan.
"I realize you could go crazy trying to measure yourself to Peyton Manning every day,'' he said. "I don't think that would be a sane way to live. I know his legendary status.
"He was my hero growing up. They are huge shoes to fill if you are trying to do that. I'll just try and put my best foot forward and work hard every day. If one day I can be mentioned alongside Peyton as one of the quarterback greats (and) yada, yada, yada . . . that would be a football dream come true."
Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830.
