WI: Peyton Manning's drafted #2 in 1998?

As anyone that follows American football closely knows, Quarterback Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts is considered one of the best Quaterbacks of all time.
He was drafted in 1998 first overall by the Colts, and the man drafted 2nd by the San Diego Chargers was Ryan Leaf who is considered the biggest bust in NFL history. The POD is in 1998 Jim Irsay orders that the Colts draft Ryan Leaf and the Chargers draft Peyton Manning.
Are the Chargers as good as the OTL Colts, or is Peyton Manning stuck without weapons like Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne?
Will Tony Dungy still go to the Colts after coaching the Bucaneers?
What happens to Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers, after the Chargers probably dont need either of them?
 
Just for giggles

I'm a Charger fan, but I'm bitterly aware of AJ Smith's ability to mess up a wet dream.

Getting Peyton Manning with the Bobby Ross leftovers and coaching of Marty Schottenheimer- you've got an excellent defense and a schizy offense that didn't gel for a bit that tended to get worn out so bad by the end of the season they were dead meat, just like Marty's KC Chiefs.

What screwed Drew Brees in SD OTL was no O-line, and the departure of Natrone Means and Bienemy as rushing threats, so he had to scramble and sidearm it Fouts-style without near the cast Fouts threw to or the chance to develop a rapport with receivers Fouts got to establish. LT was just a gleam on the horizon.
Numbers and wins-wise, Drewe Brees looked like Tony Romo, then got injured with a lousy prognosis for recovery whom AJ Smith dumped like an unwanted sack of kittens.
Would Peyton Manning be able to avoid looking like Brees did?

IDK. TBH, Peyton had some tough years growing into things at Indy himself, and Dungy felt like sticking with him. He knew he'd won the lottery with PM and just needed to be patient.
AJ Smith has delusions of grandeur that would make Jerry Jones blush, and occasionally worse judgment trying to win now at all costs.
 
Peyton

Peyton wouldn't really have had any weapons in San Diego his first few years except for TE Freddie Jones. Natrone Means came back in 98, but he was on his last legs.

If the Chargers didn't sign FA's, they would have had trouble building through the draft in Peyton's first couple years because they didn't have their 1998 second round pick and 99 first round pick because they traded up to put themselves in position to get one of the top two QB's. They also didn't have their 99 second rounder (Jamal Williams's drafting in the 98 Supp Draft) or their 2000 first rounder (traded to Tampa Bay for their 98 second rounder).

So, providing they didn't add FA's, they probably would have been bad enough to get LT and Ocho Cinco in the first two rounds in 01, and maybe they could have gotten Shockey or Javon Walker in 02. That could have spelled a title for Peyton.

As for the Colts, I don't see them staying in Indy today if they took Leaf. They would be in LA because The Luke doesn't get built. That is the House that Peyton Built.
 
The Los Angeles Colts complete the 2011 season with a disappointing 7 - 9 record among rumors head coach Pete Carrol is likely to be fired. In three seasons coach Carrol has led the team to a 22 and 26 record and has failed to make the playoffs. That makes it seven years since the Colts have been to the playoffs. The last time being under previous head man Tony Dungy back in 2004 when the team won the AFC west with an 11 - 5 record and got all the way to the AFC championship game. That of course was the last year with quarterback Rich Gannon.

Along with suffering on the field the team has also struggled to sell out home games in the outdated Los Angeles Coliseum. Promises of a new stadium, which originally prompted the team's move back in 2002, remain unfulfilled due to issues of finance.

Meanwhile the big story in the AFC West is as usual the San Diego Chargers who with a 12 - 4 record claimed their eighth division title in ten years and the number two seed in the playoffs. The question is can Peyton Manning FINALLY win the big one? How many more years does the legendary quarterback have left to at last get a ring? Manning is often compared to Hall of Famer Dan Marino. Both have had great success and have lit up scoreboards and earned every possible honor, but (as of yet) neither has won a Superbowl.

Under coach Norv Turner the Chargers have been an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in passing yards as well as points scored. However they have been labeled a soft team unable to win road playoff games in Foxboro, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore in bitter wintry conditions. Manning has led his Chargers to four AFC championship games but has never made it to a Superbowl. His career playoff record is an uninspiring 10 - 12.

Hopefully this will be the year Peyton and Turner finally reach their ultimate goal.
 
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