Ryan Naylor: Andrew Luck can’t avoid comparisons to Manning at camp
By RYAN NAYLOR
ISL Correspondent
Note: Naylor will be an occasional contributor to ISL, offering a fan’s perspective in his writing.
ANDERSON, Ind. — It’s difficult entering training camp as the successor to a legend. All eyes at Anderson University have been on Andrew Luck this week, but the excitement level was certainly different than one would expect watching the number one pick in the draft taking his first snaps as an Indianapolis Colt.
While there is a great deal of excitement surrounding Luck, the comparisons to Manning were being thrown around by many of the Colts
faithful. It seems that after 14 years of watching #18 lead the team, it’s pretty difficult for many to let go.
There’s no doubt Luck was the main attraction, but the new man under center wasn’t the only adjustment for the Blue Nation. Many of the faces Colts fans have grown accustomed to seeing throughout the Bill Polian era are also noticeably absent from camp. Gone are fan favorites Jeff Saturday, Joseph Addai, Gary Brackett and Melvin Bullitt. Lots of changes for a fan base accustomed to a relatively stable roster throughout the last decade.
This seems to be a big question mark for fans. Indianapolis still seems to be getting over the shock of losing the face of the franchise. A few W’s from Luck and Co. will certainly soften the blow.
I miss the Manning, and am disappointed that the hand-off to his successor wasn’t more fitting, but the day was bound to come. I’m a Colts fan, which makes me a Luck fan-in-the-making.