Andrew Luck’s Name Most Fitting of Any Player in History
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck’s name could not possibly be more fitting. In April, he’ll be selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Why is he so ‘luck’y? He’s not like typical first overall picks. No; he’s not going to be selected by an awful team that is years away from playoff contention. Andrew Luck is possibly the luckiest player in NFL Draft history.
Since the NFL Draft was implemented in 1936, 41 of the 75 first overall picks went on to become Pro Bowlers. Not bad. Of those 41, 12 were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So NFL teams know what they’re getting in a first overall pick more often than not. So what?
Of the 75 first overall picks in NFL Draft history, 28 were quarterbacks. In fact, 11 of last 14 were quarterbacks. It’s a trend that is ever-growing and will continue to do so this year.
Now to what really matters. The first Super Bowl was played at the end of the 1966 NFL season, so many first overall picks played their entire careers before the big game even existed. However, no pre-Super Bowl era quarterbacks taken with the first overall pick led their team to a title.
Only six quarterbacks selected first overall took the team that drafted them to a Super Bowl. Those players include: Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Drew Bledsoe, Peyton and Eli Manning. (Elway was technically drafted by the Colts, but was traded and played his entire career for the Broncos; Eli Manning was traded to the Giants on draft day).
None of these players were drafted by teams that were anywhere close to .500 the season before. Only Elway and Bledsoe were drafted by teams that had been to a Super Bowl in the previous decade. I know; the Colts went 2-14 this season without Peyton Manning, but this is a team that went to the Super Bowl two years before with 13 of the same 22 starters, including all skill positions besides Manning.
To put it briefly, Andrew Luck has got it made. He’s taking over a Super Bowl-caliber team where he’s basically just replacing Peyton Manning. Obviously, that’s a huge task, but Luck should be up for it if he’s anywhere close to as talented as he’s hyped to be.
Even if he’s not a future Hall of Famer, Andrew Luck doesn’t have to take over an untalented team in turmoil like most first overall picks do. The Colts had hit rock bottom when they drafted Peyton Manning in 1998 and then became the winningest team in the 2000-2010 decade with #18 at the helm. Andrew Luck will take over a team that’s talented enough to immediately compete for a Super Bowl if he’s as good as NFL scouts say he is.
Guys like Vinny Testaverde, Jeff George and Carson Palmer would have killed to be in Andrew Luck’s shoes, just like every other quarterback that was ever selected first overall in the NFL draft. The Colts are not a 2-14 team. They know that, Andrew Luck knows that and Peyton Manning knows that.
This situation won’t end well for Peyton Manning; if he can play again, it will be for a different team. Andrew Luck will be drafted first overall, get a four-year rookie contract worth around $22 million and most likely take the Colts to the playoffs in 2012. That’s a given if he’s halfway decent. If he’s the “next Peyton Manning” as he’s been called, the Colts will win the AFC South. (Yes, I saw the Houston Texans play this year).
To put it simply, Andrew Luck’s name fits him to a degree that’s almost comical it’s so ridiculous. The Colts’ defense needs work, but they can use their six other draft picks on defensive players and then work free agency for more defensive help after Peyton Manning’s monster contract is unloaded. That means Andrew Luck will have a very explosive offense to work with right out of the gate and he’ll run with it.
The Indianapolis Colts are set, Andrew Luck is set and Peyton Manning is already plotting revenge. In 1998, he told the Colts he would kick their butts for the next 10 years if they passed on him for Ryan Leaf. They made the right decision then, but now the message from Peyton Manning is similar. It will be very interesting to watch when Peyton Manning’s new team plays the Colts. Regardless, Andrew Luck is possibly the luckiest rascal in NFL history.
Follow Jeric Griffin on Twitter @JericGriffin
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