Looking back to the 1998 draft it seems so foolish now, but Indianapolis owner Robert Irsay says there really was a decision to make between Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf.
Seriously. Manning has never missed a game in his career. Leaf bounced around for a few years, including a fly-by with the Cowboys.
"I think it was something where it was closer than you think in terms of evaluation," Irsay said. "You have to remember it was viewed almost universally that either guy would be a good pick and both were going to be successful in this league.
We gave it a lot of consideration, but we went through the process Bill Polian did a great job and his staff, Jim Mora, analyzing everything."
Manning, supposedly had the weaker arm.
"We had both guys standing there like statues where they would throw the football just to measure arm strength and the difference was about a yard," Irsay said. "That myth was kind of there. But we looked at the work ethic, the pedigree Peyton had, that kind of pushed it over the top in terms of making that selection."
