George Bremer CNHI The Washington Times-Herald Mon Nov 28, 2011, 09:00 AM EST
Indianapolis — It was hard to watch Cam Newton on Sunday and not imagine what a top draft pick like Andrew Luck might look like in a Colts uniform next year.
Newton completed 20 of 27 passes for 280 yards and ran nine times for 53 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown. It was a performance that’s quickly become typical, if not slightly under par, for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
“I think the whole idea, drafting Cam and working Cam and developing Cam, really is for the future of this franchise,” Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said. “That young man can be here as long as we can have him if he stays healthy. He’s an explosive football player that makes dynamic plays, and I think that’s important.”
The Colts have been down this road before, of course, with Peyton Manning in 1998.
Now, it appears, Indianapolis is preparing to go down that path again.
Luck, the Stanford star who broke John Elway’s school touchdown pass record in a 28-14 win against Notre Dame on Saturday, is the likely No. 1 pick in April’s draft.
The 0-11 Colts now have a two-game lead, with five to play, in the race to get that pick. Indianapolis is on the road in the next two weeks against AFC powers New England and Baltimore for a pair of games that should further cement its frontrunner status.
Colts owner Jim Irsay has hinted on his Twitter account that he’d prefer to pay Manning’s $28 million bonus in March, select Luck or another top quarterback prospect and keep them both on the roster in the immediate future.
A similar strategy currently is paying huge dividends in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers stood on the sideline for three seasons behind Packers legend Brett Favre. Last year he led the franchise to its fourth Super Bowl title, and this year he’s got the team off to an 11-0 start.
But Newton shows the other way can work, too. Like Manning in 1998, he’s taken every snap of his rookie season.
“Each and every rep that I take is helping me,” Newton said Sunday. “I feel way more comfortable right now rather than the first game of the season. But it’s still a learning curve that I’ve still got to face. I only can do what I can control, and that’s come out each and every day -- whether it’s practice, days off to watch film -- to continuously get better.”
He met Luck last December, briefly, when both quarterbacks were in New York for the Heisman presentation and came away impressed with Luck as a person.
This season, with more Saturdays free to watch college football, he’s developed an appreciation for Luck as a player.
“Stanford is not a powerhouse as far as recruiting, but those guys hit a goldmine now,” Newton said. “They’re winning. They’re in the top 10 for the past two years, and you can’t beat that. (It’s) all due to, in large part, Andrew. So that goes to show you what type of player he is.”
Luck has rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns this season.
While he’s no threat to Newton’s rookie quarterback rushing touchdown record, which increased to 10 on Sunday, Newton said too few observers appreciate Luck’s athleticism.
“He’s just an unbelievable player,” the Carolina star said.
So is Manning.
The Colts franchise quarterback for 13 seasons spoke to the media briefly Sunday. His comments mainly were about former teammate Marvin Harrison, who was added to the team’s Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony.
But he did tell reporters he’s “feeling OK,” and that he’ll likely have an update on his rehabilitation from neck surgery next week.
Manning’s health ultimately will determine whether Luck, or any other rookie, starts next season at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In any case, the former University of Tennessee star remains the standard by which all ensuing No. 1 draft picks are judged.
“I got a chance to talk to him after the game,” Newton said. “ I was paying homage to a legendary player. Everybody’s hoping for his speedy recovery. There’s a lot of things that I put in my playing style that I saw Peyton, growing up, what he was doing. He’s a student of the game, and he has stories about a lot of it. He’s set the platform extremely high as far as No. 1 picks, and I’m hoping to be half of what he is.”
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