The Trickery That Kicked Off Peyton Manning's Career

DENVER (CBS4) - In honor of the NFL Draft beginning today, we throw it back to 1998 when our good ole boy Peyton Manning was eligible for professional football.

Listed as the No. 1 greatest NFL Draft pick of modern football, quarterback Peyton Manning was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998. He edged out Hall of Famers Bruce Smith, Earl Campbell, and John Elway for the position. But it was his scuffle with Ryan Leaf that caused a stir that year.

Leaf did not want to play for Indianapolis, who had the first pick that year, and was a bit too focused on his desired destination of San Diego. He was seen as a better prospect than Manning at the time, so Leaf purposely missed a meeting with the Indianapolis coach to sway his pick and deter him from choosing Leaf. It worked, and the Colts chose Manning, making him the first pick of the NFL draft that year. I think it's safe to say they regret nothing.