INDIANAPOLIS – Did Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay privately prefer quarterback Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning with the top pick in the 1998 NFL draft?
Leaf, the eventual No. 2 selection, believes Irsay did. Irsay, however, has a different recollection.
“That is a complete untruth and a complete lie,” Irsay told ESPN in reaction to Leaf’s comments on The Dan Patrick Show on Monday. “I was behind Peyton for two or three months before the draft ... I don't know who created that, but I wanted to unequivocally make sure the record is straight, because that's not true.