2012 NFL Scouting Combine: Andrew Luck Speaks, Calls Manning His Football Hero

by Brad Wells on Feb 24, 2012 4:15 PM EST in NFL Draft

Day Three of the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine showcased the big headliners: Quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. The consensus is Luck will be the first overall choice of in 2012, and he will go to the Indianapolis Colts. Luck spoke to the press today, and our own writers Matt Grecco and Stew Blake were on hand to cover it.

Luck: I modeled myself after Manning. He was my football hero.
— Matt Grecco (@mgrex03) February 24, 2012

For highlights after the jump:

From Luck:

He said he didn't talk to Peyton Manning much during the 2011 season.
Called his extra year at Stanford very beneficial.
Said he is OK playing behind Manning next year if Manning stays.
Luck confirmed that he spoke with Colts QB coach Clyde Christensen last night.
Luck said he's talked to John Elway some over the years.
Luck said he is also familiar with the legacy of 'Captain Comeback,' the nickname given to his former coach at Stanford who was also once a quarterback for the Colts, Jim Harbaugh.

The following SB Nation writers are at the Combine covering events today and this weekend:

Matt Grecco - @mgrex03
Stew Blake - @stewblake22

You can listen to the audio of the media presser here.

Tweet Comment 40 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

man, i'm impressed you were able to write that much

about one statment

i don't give autographs

by muncie_in_this on Feb 24, 2012 4:34 PM EST via Android app reply actions

Luck spoke to the press

that one statement above is just a tweet

Believe in Blue.
Marshall Manning, Colts QB, 2032-

by stonewall12345678 on Feb 24, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

He modeled himself after Manning?

Definitely, a smart guy.

by Ayrshire on Feb 24, 2012 4:50 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

let's hope he doesn't use Peyton's playoff model.......ooooooooooooh!!!!

let the head explosions begin……

by 12over18 on Feb 24, 2012 5:23 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Let's hope

He gets a better team then Peyton did

Believe in Blue.
Marshall Manning, Colts QB, 2032-

by stonewall12345678 on Feb 24, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

BAM!!

by Guy LeDouche on Feb 24, 2012 6:05 PM EST up reply actions

Bingo.

by Ayrshire on Feb 24, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

Let's hope

When he signs his second deal for $100 million that he gives back $20 million to sign a NT, since we might still be looking for one by then.

by PeytonTheManning on Feb 24, 2012 7:00 PM EST up reply actions

Nah

The hindrance toward big linemen are gone. We’ll have a real NT or two soon.

by FatDT on Feb 25, 2012 12:39 AM EST up reply actions

That's not how you use that word

Might want to look up hindrance.

by PeytonTheManning on Feb 25, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

haha

how very omahacolt of you

by omahacolt on Feb 25, 2012 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

Most useless comment ever

by PeytonTheManning on Feb 25, 2012 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

its cute

how you are trying to be like me

by omahacolt on Feb 25, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

Gross

Being like you would be considered torture by the U.N.

by PeytonTheManning on Feb 25, 2012 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

then stop it

by omahacolt on Feb 26, 2012 12:45 AM EST up reply actions

Good thing you don't have to pay by the comment

You would have wasted thousands without ever saying anything useful.

by PeytonTheManning on Feb 26, 2012 8:25 PM EST up reply actions

Carrying a less than decent team on his back….. Or neck rather

by Manningonlyfan on Feb 24, 2012 8:33 PM EST up reply actions

Playoffs!

are you kidding me? Playoffs!

by shoospa on Feb 25, 2012 12:18 AM EST up reply actions

I think Peyton has been

Everyones football hero for the past decade and a half. I was a kid when he was drafted and his play on the field certainly inspired me to play in high school. And even though I didn’t continue to play after that, I’m sure my desire to learn more about game strategy came from watching him be so surgical at the LOS. What is sad is that now that I am a man, I can’t think of a new Colts QB as a hero because Peyton will always be my last sports hero.

But I do like Andrew Luck’s hard working yet modest personality and if he modeled his game after Peyton because Peyton was his hero too, then there is nobody else I would rather take over for him. Best of Luck, Andrew.

by ATX Colts Fan on Feb 24, 2012 7:02 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Luck is saying the right things

He is not stupid and will not stick his foot in his mouth like some at the combine and after the combine will do

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Feb 24, 2012 7:23 PM EST reply actions

I am sure he has been well prepped by his agent what to say

I met my girlfriend through 800LoanMart but had to return her with interest.

by PV Mike on Feb 24, 2012 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe that same agent will teach him

to use a razor on his neck. He reminds me of the kid at school who has lost touch with social responsibilities regarding hygiene because he spends too much time studying and watching anime.

by ferm on Feb 24, 2012 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

Old picture

The picture in the post above is a year old. Luck was clean shaven at the presser today. Hope the loss of the neck beard doesn’t mean the loss of his football mojo – isn’t there a famous story about cutting hair and losing strength? ;-)

by JoeSmithers on Feb 24, 2012 10:37 PM EST up reply actions

beard is gone !!!

and he went to a smart college and had to take real courses he is smart and has peyton’s work ethic

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Feb 25, 2012 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

there is a report that Garcon has declined a 5 year deal from the colts...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=sportsxchange-000580661_report-garcon-rejects-colts-5year-contract

ITS A VVVVVVVVVVVVVVCCCCCCCCCCCCCC THREEEEEEEEEE

by Keysta101 on Feb 24, 2012 8:55 PM EST reply actions

Unfortunate but unsurprising. Garcon probably wants to be paid like a #1 but the Colts don’t have the money to do it. Between Garcon and Mathis, I’d take Mathis

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 24, 2012 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

He'll end up like Terrence Wilkins.

I like Garcon; would like to see him stay, but I don’t like him so much that I think he cannot be replaced.

by ActionOxford on Feb 24, 2012 9:25 PM EST up reply actions

Here Is What Robert Griffin III Said About Peyton Manning ...

“5. On possibly playing for the Colts: "I’ve talked to Peyton a few times. It’d be amazing for him to play out his career here — and to play behind him. . . . It would be an honor to sit back and learn. I’d hold that clipboard with pride."”

Here’s the deal: both guys are either ill-informed or lying. You no longer get those $78 million, 6 or 7 year deals as rookie QBs. You get a $22 million 4 year deal as basically an “audition time.” After year 3, the NFL team that drafted you will want to have seen enough to give you a long term deal to keep you off the free agent market. After year 4, YOU will want to have shown NFL teams – including but not limited to the one that drafted you – enough to merit a long term deal. But if you are “holding a clipboard with pride” behind Manning or anybody else for 3 or 4 seasons, when your rookie deal is up, you don’t get that big contract extension. At most, you will get a 2 year extension of your rookie deal – for about the same amount of money, $5 or $6 million a year – before you get your $100 million deal.

Both guys are lobbying the fans and the Colts brass for the #1 pick, but the truth is that both guys would rather go somewhere else where they can play right away (or at least within 1 season) rather than risk their financial interests by holding a clipboard behind Manning – or anybody else – for an indeterminate number of years. And no, neither guy wants to be the one that the Colts cut Manning for in order to get him on the field either.

by an_auburn_fan on Feb 24, 2012 9:06 PM EST reply actions

You do not speak for either Luck or RG3

What makes you think you know more about their prospects in the NFL than they do? what makes you think that they don’t understand the gravity of their potential situation? They may be only 21 or 22 years old, but they aren’t stupid and they’ve done nothing to be labeled liars, as you’re so quick to say. Get a job dude.

by TheWeasley on Feb 24, 2012 9:44 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

I fail to see your point...

We get it…

You understand the cap and contracts. That doesn’t mean you know what these guys want to do until it’s said. We don’t know if PM will play more than 1-2 years or at all…

What else are they supposed to say?! Lol!

by (206)NightRidah on Feb 25, 2012 2:02 AM EST via mobile up reply actions