Stampede Blue - Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the PastAn Indianapolis Colts bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/29818/stampedeblue_fave.png2020-03-14T19:42:39-04:00http://www.stampedeblue.com/rss/stream/209257772020-03-14T19:42:39-04:002020-03-14T19:42:39-04:00Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the Past: TE Dallas Clark
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<figcaption>Photo by Aaron Josefczuk /Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="UliKLk"><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> GM Chris Ballard has regularly stated that his philosophy is that you build teams through the draft. That makes this time of year critical to the Colts’ long term success. So in the lead up to this year’s draft, I wanted to do something to honor some of the meaningful draft picks that the Colts have made in their time in Indianapolis. These players have helped to tell the story of the Colts franchise we love. Every day leading up to the draft, we’ll drop a story about a different player from Indianapolis Colts draft history.</p>
<p id="LwoSDZ">Today we’re talking about the Colts’ most prolific all around tight end, <span>Dallas Clark</span>. Drafted 24th overall in the 2003 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, Clark was the unsung hero of a star-studded offense. His nine seasons in Indianapolis saw him rack up 46 receiving touchdowns, the most of any Colts tight end.</p>
<p id="8VdtnD">What’s more, Clark really turned it on in the postseason. He ranks 2nd behind only <span>Reggie Wayne</span> in both postseason receiving yards and touchdowns for the Colts with 847 yards and 4 touchdowns. In the most important games of the year, Clark was a major factor. </p>
<p id="U0sEPa">Despite making just one <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> and one First-Team All-Pro, Clark was a legitimate threat and a well-rounded player who added a dynamic to the offense that was needed to both take pressure off of Manning and help eliminate the need for Reggie Wayne and <span>Marvin Harrison</span> to carry the passing game.</p>
<p id="s3P5Ne">While we think of the tight end position now as being a clear part of the passing game, Clark was among an age of evolution at the position and helped to redefine how it could be used. In his best season, he had 1,106 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, but even when his time in Indy ended, he remained a productive player for two more seasons. </p>
<p id="YshGzX">His short stints in Tampa Bay and Baltimore yielded similar production, and he retired ahead of the 2014 season, signing a one-day contract with the Colts so that he could retire wearing the horseshoe. </p>
<p id="0yViLF">Clark helped the Colts to a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> win, and became a fan favorite along the way. </p>
<p id="HCgeeE">What’s your favorite Dallas Clark memory?</p>
https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/3/14/21179893/counting-down-colts-draft-picks-of-the-past-te-dallas-clarkChris Blystone2020-03-13T13:46:03-04:002020-03-13T13:46:03-04:00Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the Past: DE Dwight Freeney
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<p id="dRs8gr"><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> GM Chris Ballard has regularly stated that his philosophy is that you build teams through the draft. That makes this time of year critical to the Colts’ long term success. So in the lead up to this year’s draft, I wanted to do something to honor some of the meaningful draft picks that the Colts have made in their time in Indianapolis. These players have helped to tell the story of the Colts franchise we love. Every day leading up to the draft, we’ll drop a story about a different player from Indianapolis Colts draft history.</p>
<p id="CBGA4C">Today we are talking about legendary Colts pass rusher, Dwight Freeney. Selected 11th overall out of Syracuse in the 2002 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, Freeney hit the NFL and made his presence known right away. He amassed 9 sacks and set a rookie record for forced fumbles with 9, on his way to finishing second in the race for Defensive Rookie of the Year. </p>
<p id="p4xSpV">That was hardly the end of his reign of terror over opposing quarterbacks. Over his 11 year career in a Colts uniform, Freeney had 10 or more sacks in 7 of his seasons, and forced at least one fumble in every season. </p>
<p id="kTC4mB">He was a freak athlete, whose speed and burst were a thing of beauty. His bend around the edge had left tackles terrified of giving him the outside edge. However, what made Freeney so special was his trademark spin move. When he would speed rush a tackle to the outside and they would make the mistake of sliding too quickly out with him, he would hit them with the inside spin and be right in the quarterback’s lap. </p>
<p id="gDMnhi">When Robert Mathis joined the team the next year, the Colts set in place their formula for such a dominant team. They could score points with ease on the back of an offense composed of multiple future hall of famers, and with a lead in hand, they would turn loose their pass rush to close out games.</p>
<p id="gV3IHH">Like Reggie Wayne, Freeney attempted to stick with the Colts through their transition into the <span>Andrew Luck</span> era, providing invaluable veteran leadership during a tough time in team history. Unfortunately, while Reggie had one of his best years, the transition into Chuck Pagano’s 3-4 defense and the conversion from defensive end to outside linebacker did not go smoothly for Freeney who struggled with the position change as well as with injury. </p>
<p id="sm5bcA">Despite the team moving on from Freeney after the 2012 season, Freeney went on to be a valuable team member and contributor in 5 more seasons, spending time with the <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Chargers</a>, <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a>, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a>, <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a>, and <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> before finally retiring at a Colt on April 19, 2018. </p>
<p id="VxJUwU">A class act, and a dominant defender in an era where the Colts didn’t really focus on that side of the ball much, Freeney was truly enjoyable to watch. His 7 Pro Bowls and 4 All-Pros are a testament to the kind of player he was, and Colts fans are lucky to have gotten to watch him go to work. </p>
<p id="Ebdz4D">What is your greatest Freeney memory?</p>
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https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/3/13/21178816/counting-down-colts-draft-picks-of-the-past-de-dwight-freeneyChris Blystone2020-03-12T09:00:00-04:002020-03-12T09:00:00-04:00Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the Past: RT Ryan Diem
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<figcaption>Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="geQ7DF"><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> GM Chris Ballard has regularly stated that his philosophy is that you build teams through the draft. That makes this time of year critical to the Colts’ long term success. So in the lead up to this year’s draft, I wanted to do something to honor some of the meaningful draft picks that the Colts have made in their time in Indianapolis. These players have helped to tell the story of the Colts franchise we love. Every day leading up to the draft, we’ll drop a story about a different player from Indianapolis Colts draft history.</p>
<p id="U0GKMa">Today we’re talking about the Colts’ long time right tackle, <span>Ryan Diem</span>. In a time where NFL teams struggle to find quality tackles, it is hard to wrap our heads around the fact that the Colts had a pretty great run with two tackles during the Manning Era. Tarik Glenn played at left tackle for 10 years, and Ryan Diem played 11 years on the Colts line. </p>
<p id="euFNzp">Drafted 118th overall in the 4th round of the 2001 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, Diem saw the field as a rookie in 8 starts, largely playing at guard. His sophomore season saw him as the starter there, but in his 3rd year as a pro he moved to the right tackle spot, where he would stick. </p>
<p id="1xQ8Hs">Diem would make up the last of the three constants on the Colts line during their heyday in the 2000’s. With Glenn and Diem book-ending the line and Jeff Saturday holding down the middle, they held together a group that kept Manning upright and let their offense strike at will. </p>
<p id="2zXhaw">Of those three men, Diem is the least decorated and understandably the least appreciated. However, going from a small school kid to a starting right tackle spot on a dominant offense and playing out an 11 year NFL career is nothing to scoff at, and Diem’s reliable and consistent presence helped provide the necessary continuity to a group that needed it. Diem announced his retirement on March 23, 2012, after the Colts franchise had begun the process of moving on to the Andrew Luck Era. </p>
<p id="9GmUL5">Perhaps most notable by his absence, the Colts spent the next six years with a revolving door at the right tackle position, never finding a solid replacement for Diem until drafting current right tackle Braden Smith. Funny enough, Smith is an underappreciated player as well. Perhaps it is the lot of a player on the right side of the offensive line to be overlooked. However, for 11 years Diem was a core member on a championship offense. The Colts were lucky to find such a talent in the 4th round.</p>
https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/3/12/21176150/counting-down-colts-draft-picks-of-the-past-rt-ryan-diemChris Blystone2020-03-11T09:00:00-04:002020-03-11T09:00:00-04:00Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the Past: WR Reggie Wayne
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<figcaption>Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="8UmNos"><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> GM Chris Ballard has regularly stated that his philosophy is that you build teams through the draft. That makes this time of year critical to the Colts’ long term success. So in the lead up to this year’s draft, I wanted to do something to honor some of the meaningful draft picks that the Colts have made in their time in Indianapolis. These players have helped to tell the story of the Colts franchise we love. Every day leading up to the draft, we’ll drop a story about a different player from Indianapolis Colts draft history.</p>
<p id="ko3nL0">Today we’re talking about Colts legend <span>Reggie Wayne</span>. Few Colts are as beloved as Reggie, or have made their mark so strongly upon two different eras of Colts football. Selected 30th overall in the 2001 draft, Reggie Wayne played all 14 of his NFL seasons as a Colt*, and finished behind only <span>Marvin Harrison</span> in receiving yards for the franchise. </p>
<p id="Ltp5q7">The combo of Marvin and Reggie was deadly pretty quickly. In his first season, Reggie struggled to be a major impact, but doubled his production in year two and topped 1,000 yards every season from 2004 to 2010. With Manning under center, Reggie stepped easily into a huge role as a support for Marvin Harrison and then into the top spot when Harrison retired in 2009. </p>
<p id="df5CLU">He was named to 6 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro teams, and his 53-yard touchdown catch in <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> XLI helped settle a Colts team that had given up a kickoff return for a touchdown and seen Manning throw a pick. It is not a stretch to say that without Wayne’s contributions, the Colts don’t have a Super Bowl win.</p>
<p id="cKczc7">Perhaps the best thing about Wayne is that he acted as a veteran bridge between two rosters. When the Colts made their fateful decision to move on from <span>Peyton Manning</span> and start the Andrew Luck Era, Wayne was one of the few veteran holdovers. He held down the role as the top guy at the receiver position, and put up one of his best seasons, while mentoring a young and talented rookie in <span>T.Y. Hilton</span>.</p>
<p id="v4TMVX">While Luck rightly gets a lot of credit for carrying a poor roster, Wayne’s leadership and relationship with coach Chuck Pagano was a major factor in taking a team that had gone 2-14 the prior year and getting them to 11-5 and a playoff berth. After that first season, he slid into a very effective number two role as Robin to <span>Hilton</span>’s Batman, and kept the team rolling until 2014. </p>
<p id="azEl3Q">In his time with Indy, Wayne brought a bit more swagger to the wide receiver position, but never came across as a diva. He was notable for his wild training camp arrivals, some of which included driving up in a dump truck, arriving in full fatigues in a military Humvee, showing up in a helicopter, and even in an IndyCar. </p>
<p id="8en8DN">If you were to put a fan list together of all-time favorite Colts players, there is no doubt that Reggie would be in serious contention for the top spot. </p>
<p id="3OxOgm">What’s your best Reggie story?</p>
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<p id="k9h6Uh"><em>*Wayne technically signed with the </em><a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/"><em>Patriots</em></a><em>, but when he arrived at Patriot Place, he reacted like Superman exposed to Kryptonite and promptly asked for his release before retiring.</em></p>
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https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/3/11/21174658/counting-down-colts-draft-picks-of-the-past-wr-reggie-wayneChris Blystone2020-03-10T09:00:00-04:002020-03-10T09:00:00-04:00Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the Past: RB Edgerrin James
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<figcaption>Photo by John Kavouris/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="pA27Dm"><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> GM Chris Ballard has regularly stated that his philosophy is that you build teams through the draft. That makes this time of year critical to the Colts’ long term success. So in the lead up to this year’s draft, I wanted to do something to honor some of the meaningful draft picks that the Colts have made in their time in Indianapolis. These players have helped to tell the story of the Colts franchise we love. Every day leading up to the draft, we’ll drop a story about a different player from Indianapolis Colts draft history.</p>
<p id="BmRmqA">Today we’re talking about the Colts all-time great running back, <span>Edgerrin James</span>. Selected 4th overall in the 1999 draft, Edgerrin James was an explosive player who, when added to the duo of <span>Peyton Manning</span> and <span>Marvin Harrison</span>, helped provide a prolific rushing attack immediately. While many initially thought that his selection over heisman winner <span>Ricky Williams</span> was a mistake, his rookie campaign stopped that criticism dead. </p>
<p id="zAzCIK">As a rookie, he rushed for 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding another 586 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns through the air. He was a dangerous weapon and was given the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. </p>
<p id="uQXntW">While many rookie running backs find early success, it is somewhat unusual to surpass a season like the one James had as a rookie, but that is exactly what he did in his second season. As a Colt, James topped 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 3 separate seasons and had 11 or more all-purpose touchdowns in 4 different seasons. </p>
<p id="jJqlX7">He was named to four Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pros, and was the the NFL rushing leader twice in his time with Indianapolis. Additionally, James remains the Colts’ all-time rushing leader and rushing touchdown leader. </p>
<p id="kFtA6n">The combined forces of the “Triplets” wrought an era of offensive dominance to the Colts that has rarely been seen in the NFL. James was an electrifying player whose abilities in the running game have not been seen in Indy ever since. He was a key part of what is thought by most to be the best Colts team as a whole, the 2005 squad. </p>
<p id="mXfr9w">Perhaps the biggest shame of James’ career is that he left in free agency to join the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> and missed out on the Colts’ <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> win by a year. If you were one of those who got to watch “Edge” do his thing, you know just how special he was, and that the Colts were fortunate to have him for the time that they did. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with the 2020 class ahead of the upcoming season. </p>
<p id="tlbk72">What is your favorite Edge memory?</p>
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https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/3/10/21167028/counting-down-colts-draft-picks-of-the-past-rb-edgerrin-jamesChris Blystone2020-03-09T09:00:00-04:002020-03-09T09:00:00-04:00Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the Past: QB Peyton Manning
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<figcaption>Photo credit should read JOHN RUTHROFF/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="P0QZ1J"><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> GM Chris Ballard has regularly stated that his philosophy is that you build teams through the draft. That makes this time of year critical to the Colts’ long term success. So in the lead up to this year’s draft, I wanted to do something to honor some of the meaningful draft picks that the Colts have made in their time in Indianapolis. These players have helped to tell the story of the Colts franchise we love. Every day leading up to the draft, we’ll drop a story about a different player from Indianapolis Colts draft history.</p>
<p id="Ch29AY">No Colts player has been as influential to the franchise, or to the game of football as a whole, as <span>Peyton Manning</span>. Manning was the first pick that Bill Polian made as the Colts’ new general manager, and was chosen over Ryan Leaf, who had gained traction as a potential first overall pick at quarterback in the 1998 off-season. Manning locked himself in as Polian’s pick after he famously told the GM:</p>
<blockquote><p id="EEZdc8">“If you take me, I promise you we will win a championship. If you don’t, I promise I’ll come back and kick your ass.” </p></blockquote>
<p id="txdAR5">Manning was a relentless preparer. While many have been labeled as the “first guy in, last guy out” or the “hardest worker on the team,” Manning was the epitome of both. His competitive nature pushed him to always be more prepared and more ready than his competition. What is more, he demanded this level of commitment from the team around him, and because of this, pushed the offensive weapons on the team to be the best versions of themselves.</p>
<p id="cqf8aX">A true field general, when Manning took the field he was able to process everything going on at an elite level. He could read defenses and manipulate them with ease, making changes at the line of scrimmage to put the offense in the best place to find success. </p>
<p id="KGa9gB">Despite the fact that he didn’t have the greatest arm in the league, it never mattered. Manning could make every throw he needed to, and led the team to an unmatched era of dominance in the regular season from 2000-2010. The Colts had just one losing season in that time, and from 2003-2009, they never had fewer than 12 wins. </p>
<p id="FAGQbs">As a Colt, Manning went to 11 Pro Bowls, was named First-Team All-Pro 7 times and Second-Team All-Pro twice, and was named the NFL MVP in 4 different seasons. He is one of the most decorated players in NFL history, and will undoubtedly become a first-ballot Hall of Famer next year when he becomes eligible for it. </p>
<p id="lnY8A8">The Colts went to two Super Bowls in Manning’s time in Indianapolis, winning one. The Peyton Manning-Era Colts are credited with taking an Indianapolis fan base that generally preferred basketball to football, and turning them into a football city. </p>
<p id="HFyRXy">No player has ever impacted the Colts organization in the way that Peyton Manning did, and it is very likely that none ever will. Inspiring countless children and pets to be given his namesake, and many a schoolyard kid to pretend to be him in a game of pickup football, Manning changed both the culture and the skyline of Indianapolis for the better. </p>
<p id="zNUYYB">What is your favorite memory of Manning’s time in Indy?</p>
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https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/3/9/21166965/counting-down-colts-draft-picks-of-the-past-qb-peyton-manningChris Blystone2020-03-08T09:00:00-04:002020-03-08T09:00:00-04:00Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the Past: LT Tarik Glenn
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<p id="K2SIgW"><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> GM Chris Ballard has regularly stated that his philosophy is that you build teams through the draft. That makes this time of year critical to the Colts’ long term success. So in the lead up to this year’s draft, I wanted to do something to honor some of the meaningful draft picks that the Colts have made in their time in Indianapolis. These players have helped to tell the story of the Colts franchise we love. Every day leading up to the draft, we’ll drop a story about a different player from Indianapolis Colts draft history.</p>
<p id="bYseM4">Today we’re talking about the Colts stalwart and <span>Peyton Manning</span>’s immovable blindside protector, <span>Tarik Glenn</span>. Drafted 19th overall in the 1997 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, Glenn got to work right away, slotting in at right guard in his rookie season before making the move to tackle in his second season, where he’d stay for the remainder of his career. </p>
<p id="c2xRuG">Glenn started all but 6 games over his 10 seasons in the NFL, missing those games due to a knee injury in the 2003 season. He made the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> the following 3 seasons, before announcing his retirement from football after the Colts’ <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> win, citing a loss of passion for the game as his reason for ending his career early. That consideration somewhat mirrors Castonzo mulling retirement while still very much in his prime.</p>
<p id="aECPpD">Also like <span>Anthony Castonzo</span>, Glenn was a somewhat underappreciated part of the Colts franchise through its golden era. Despite being a constant on the line and playing at a high level, he was not ever named to an All-Pro team. All the same, Colts fans understand how important it was to have a solid player working on the blindside of the team’s legendary quarterback, and Manning benefitted from having such a capable player who was not just talented, but who remained available with such consistency.</p>
<p id="Wb9q7i">Everyone knows how fortunate the Colts have been to have hit on consecutive quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and <span>Andrew Luck</span>, but few realize how lucky they’ve been to have two very good runs at the left tackle position in Tarik Glenn and <span>Anthony Castonzo</span>. At two of the most critical positions in the NFL to make a roster successful, the Colts have had nearly 20 years of excellence. </p>
<p id="FfnIf9">After he retired, Glenn started an Indianapolis non-profit called DREAM Alive which focuses on mentoring at-risk youth who are in 7th to 12th grade and help them to break the cycle of poverty and achieve their potential. He exemplifies the kind of high character player that makes it easy to be a Colts fan, and paired with his on-field ability, he is one of the key Colts of a great period for the team.</p>
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https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/3/8/21166964/counting-down-colts-draft-picks-of-the-past-lt-tarik-glennChris Blystone2020-03-07T09:00:00-05:002020-03-07T09:00:00-05:00Counting Down Colts Draft Picks of the Past: WR Marvin Harrison
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<p id="Tir9s8"><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> GM Chris Ballard has regularly stated that his philosophy is that you build teams through the draft. That makes this time of year critical to the Colts’ long term success. So in the lead up to this year’s draft, I wanted to do something to honor some of the meaningful draft picks that the Colts have made in their time in Indianapolis. These players have helped to tell the story of the Colts franchise we love. Every day leading up to the draft, we’ll drop a story about a different player from Indianapolis Colts draft history.</p>
<p id="dJRjP4">Today, that player is the legendary Colts wide receiver, <span>Marvin Harrison</span>. Few players have had the impact on the Indianapolis Colts franchise that Harrison did. Drafted 19th overall in the 1996 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, Harrison was the 4th receiver taken, and would go on to outshine every one of those players taken ahead of him, making himself one of the best of all time. </p>
<p id="ix1dpQ">During his time with Indianapolis, Harrison was selected to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> eight times, was an eight time All-Pro, and was the receiving yards leader for the league in two different seasons. From 1999 until 2006, Harrison never had fewer than 1,100 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. He finished his career with 14,580 yards receiving which placed him 9th all time. He also played two fewer seasons than anyone else ahead of him, making that total even more impressive. </p>
<p id="Su26QW">In an era of divas and outspoken players at the wide receiver position, Marvin Harrison was a very different kind of player. In spite of his greatness, he showed up on game day and went to work. When he made a big play, he didn’t thump his chest or celebrate, he carried the ball to the official and got back to the huddle. </p>
<p id="nLl2LA">While many offenses use motion and moving players around the field to create match-up advantages, that was never necessary for Harrison. Simply lining him up on the right side of the offense <em>was</em> a match-up advantage for the Colts. Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison had the kind of rhythm and connection that few quarterbacks and receivers share, and they had it for longer than most. </p>
<p id="ATEEZL">Despite his smaller stature, Harrison was an iron man in his career, missing significant time due to injury just once, in his 2007 season at age 35. Harrison had an uncanny ability to avoid big hits, and his hands were excellent. During the height of his career, he and Manning seemed virtually unstoppable. With him out wide, you could believe that any game was within the Colts’ grasp.</p>
<p id="su7KHv">Harrison was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 alongside coach Tony Dungy. With the team picking 13th in the first round in the 2020 NFL Draft, Colts fans should take heart, knowing that they picked one of the franchises’ most impactful players 6 picks later than that back in 1996.</p>
<p id="NKDj41">What is your favorite memory of Harrison?</p>
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https://www.stampedeblue.com/2020/3/7/21161703/counting-down-colts-draft-picks-of-the-past-wr-marvin-harrisonChris Blystone