The AP has a good article on Bill Polian, Colts president, has been instrumental to the Colts’ success over the last dozen years or so. I’d probably put him as reason #2 behind Manning, but, clearly Manning wouldn’t be as good as he is without the talent Polian has put around him.
Polian has an eye for talent. In particular, he has an eye for talent that can be drafted in the later rounds or simply recruited outside the draft. Consider that center Jeff Saturday, second to only Manning in longevity on the team, wasn’t even drafted but has gone on to play in three Pro Bowls and has anchored the offensive line. Collie came in round 4, Mathis came in round 5, Garcon in round 6.
Of the 53 players on Indy’s active roster, 31 were originally drafted by Polian. Seventeen of those draft picks were in the fourth round or later. Only four Colts players, including kickers Adam Vinatieri and Matt Stover, have played in a game with another NFL team. Twelve players, including defensive captain Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt, cornerback Jacob Lacey, right guard Kyle DeVan and three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, weren’t drafted all.
I think I would put Polian #1, simply because in 1998, NFL “experts” were far from unanimous that Manning was a better pro prospect than Ryan Leaf. If a different GM had been in place, the Colts might have taken Ryan Leaf and might be the Los Angeles Colts right now.
It’s hard to overlook what an a$$ he was last year during the CIB negotiations. But he’s a brilliant GM with an unmatched eye (eyes?) for talent.