INDIANAPOLIS – The sports landscape in Indiana had a different look before the Colts selected quarterback Peyton Manning with the No. 1 overall pick in 1998.
It was basketball (NBA, college and high school), auto racing and then every other sport.
Manning changed how the NFL was looked at during his 13-year career in Indianapolis. His talent, desire to become the face of the franchise and ability to make the Colts playoff regulars made Indiana a football, basketball and auto racing state.
“I recall watching an interview from back when he got drafted and he said the Colts, he felt like, were a team that everybody circled on their scheduled as an automatic win,” Colts punter Pat McAfee said.