Having witnessed the phenomenon that is Peyton Manning from my Hoosier vantage point over the 14 years that Number 18 spent building his legend with the Indianapolis Colts, I grew quite accustomed to the stir that the legendary quarterback could cause on a regular basis. Everyone wanted a piece of Manning in on way or another, from fans to media to the opposition. Who can forget the day in 2009 that then-Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher donned a Manning jersey and openly pined for a signal-caller of the same caliber. I hardly batted an eye, then, when Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs tracked Manning down for an autograph, on the field, on Sunday. After further review, though, I can see why some folks might be a little touchy about the subject, particularly because the Denver Broncos had just trounced the Chiefs in KC. Manning himself says that the incident is completely overblown, but the controversy just won’t seem to blow over, and it begs the question: just what is Manning’s autograph worth?
If you’re Colts owner Jim Irsay, Manning’s scribbles on a contract proved to priceless, as the football renaissance that Manning engendered in Indianapolis brought us a Super Bowl title, a new stadium, a Super Bowl hosting gig and the continued presence of an NFL team. Without Manning’s brilliance, there is a decent chance that the Colts would be playing in another city by now. Interestingly, a guy who once jilted the Colts, Broncos bigwig John Elway probably read the Indy story and decided that Manning’s sig would be worth a pretty penny in Denver, as well. So far so good, as Manning took Elway’s free agent money and has the Broncos poised for a playoff berth. And, as we all know, anything can happen if you can just make it into the post-season, right?
As this season progresses, it seems that that Manning-Broncos signature is becoming more valuable to Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck each week. Thanks to Manning’s departure, Luck landed in Indianapolis just in time to pilot this magic carpet ride of a year that has the Colts poised for the playoffs after one year in pigskin purgatory. In fact, if the trends hold, the wild card Colts will be in line to play their old nemesis, the New England Patriots or (wait for it) Manning’s Broncos.
All of which brings us full circle on the question of players asking other players for autographs after a demoralizing defeat. Would Luck chase Manning for his John Hancock if the Broncos dispatch the Colts in January? Would Manning get all starry-eyed over Luck if the youngster unleashes some winter magic and lifts the Colts over Denver? Either one of those is hard to imagine, and I guess I’d be disappointed if either came to pass.
Adam Hughes was raised, and still lives, in rural Indiana. He has been a Colts fans since the team arrived in Indianapolis on a snowy morning in 1984. The Blue and White eventually replaced the Chicago Bears as his #1 team, and Super Bowl XLI was a dream come true.
