Colts offense was masterfully built with Polian's pluck, Manning's poise

January 18, 2004|Globe Staff

INDIANAPOLIS -- All of this became possible on a coincidental day in 1998. Would you believe it was, of all numbers, the 18th of April? That was the day the president of the Indianapolis Colts officially said two of the most significant words of his career.

Peyton Manning.

That day, which should be a regional holiday in the Midwest, is when offensive records and conference championships could be imagined. It is when Manning became linked to No. 18 and knew he was going to be wearing the same logo -- the blue horseshoe -- as Johnny Unitas. It is when the Colts offense became his personal project, his old house to gut and update and then show off to the neighbors.

Without Bill Polian's two words on April 18, 1998, there would be no AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Colts on Jan. 18, 2004. Without those words, maybe Polian is described here as the former president of the Colts.

Long before there was an Indianapolis offense that crushed the Broncos in one half and played pitch-and-catch against the Chiefs for an entire game; long before the offense became an orchestra directed by Manning and accompanied by Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James; and long before 447 points were dropped on the rest of the NFL in the '03 season, there was a decision to make.

Manning or Ryan Leaf?

It sounds absurd now. Manning is the co-MVP of the league. He may have entered the NFL as "Archie Manning's son," but in six seasons Manning has already moved past his father in career passing yardage, touchdowns, and Pro Bowl appearances.

Leaf, who finished his career with 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions, is now every executive's model for what you shouldn't do with the No. 1 pick.

Everyone knows that now. They didn't in '98.

Polian, whose Colts held the No. 1 pick in the '98 draft, remembers watching every pass Manning and Leaf threw in college. He interviewed friends and coaches of both players. He talked with both of them himself.

And then he analyzed everything he gathered. Toward the end of his analysis, he received a phone call.

It was Archie Manning.

"This process is kind of wearing on everyone," Polian remembers Archie saying. "Do you know which guy you're going to pick?"

Polian said he didn't know. The elder Manning was not satisfied.

"So when do you think you're going to have an answer?"

Polian said he would have an answer on the 16th. A Thursday.

"I'll let you know then," the decision-maker said, "but you'll have to promise not to tell anyone. You're going to have to keep a secret for a while."

Looking back on it now, maybe Polian was doing his research so his conscience could be clear. He probably knew he had the perfect quarterback when he sat down with Peyton Manning and the kid, just 22, wound up leading the interview.