University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, joined the Indianapolis Colts for his first practice with the team on April 24. His presence, for many fans, represented new hope for a downtrodden franchise that had won just three games the previous season.
Manning was immediately penciled in as the team's starting quarterback to replace veteran Jim Harbaugh, who later landed in Baltimore. Harbaugh had a couple decent seasons in Indianapolis prior to Manning's arrival, but he was more of the game-manager type of quarterback than a guy who could carry an offense on his shoulders. Harbaugh passed for just over 2,000 yards, a modest total, with only 10 touchdowns in 1997. So with the opportunity to aquire a potential franchise star with their top pick -- one of the benefits of being a really bad team -- it was hardly a surprise the Colts opted to go in that direction.
Fortunately for Indianapolis, the Colts had Manning higher on their draft board than Washington State's Ryan Leaf.