Sports DBWI: What if the Colts took Manning?

We all know about the Colts and the horrible blunder that they made when they chose an immature Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning. The team struggled through several losing seasons and couldn't get a new stadium, prompting Jim Irsay to work out a special deal with the Ravens and the NFL in 2006. Instead of moving the Colts to LA, Irsay moves them to Baltimore, exchanges franchises with the Raven ownership, and then moves the Ravens to LA, where they were renamed the Aztecs.

But, what would have happened if they took Manning instead of Leaf?
 
I'm just amazed that Irsay still is in charge of an NFL team after all of the major errors in judgement that he makes. I guess his logic was that he didn't want another situation like the one with John Elway back in '83.

Well, Indianapolis' loss was San Diego's gain. I'm sure the Chargers were just as surprised as anyone that the Dolts didn't pick Manning but at least SD took advantage of the opportunity. He may end up surpassing Dan Fouts as the greatest Charger QB ever, AND with a Super Bowl ring to back it up when they won against the Bears in '07.

As for that LA Aztec fiasco, that was a total disaster. Not only did the NFL have to restructure the Divisions since an AFC North team in LA makes no sense, but they could never get funding for their own stadium so of course, they still have to play at the Coliseum with the USC Trojans who still get more people show up to their games than the Aztecs.

Why can't the NFL take a hint that the city of Los Angeles does NOT care about professional football?
 
The problem is the TV networks want LA because it is a huge market(what #2 or #1 market). The NFL probably dosent care about LA.The only thing the NFL cares about is the money from the networks.
docfl
 
Polian

If the Colts would have taken Manning, I don't think that GM Bill Polian wouldn't have been fired in 2000, only to go to the expansion Houston Texans. Polian made the team a winner with astute picks. For example, in the 02 draft, his philosophy was to build up the offensive and defensive lines first. So, he took Julius Peppers over David Carr. Then, in 03, he brings in the franchise QB when he took Byron Leftwich, who has been good but not great. By 2006, with his drafts and FA acquisitions, the Texans became a Super Bowl contender.
 
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