Andrew Luck faces major pressure

Andrew Luck has been put in an unenviable position.

He has to follow an icon. He has to pick up the pieces and put the Indianapolis Colts’ puzzle together quickly. Everyone will be watching him. All the pressure is on him now.

During Peyton Manning’s awkward farewell press conference, Colts owner Jim Irsay said “there will be no other Peyton Manning.”

Except that Andrew Luck’s job, assuming that he is the #1 pick in April, is to replace Peyton Manning. His job is to continue the success that Manning established in Indianapolis over the last 14 years. irsay will never admit it, but he’s secretly praying that Luck is the next Peyton Manning.

Scouting reports written about Luck call him one of the best quarterback’s in the draft since Manning. ESPN deemed Manning, John Elway and Matt Ryan as the three best quarterback prospects of the last 30 years, and compared every aspect of Luck’s game to their pre-draft evaluations. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay rated Luck as good, if not better, than Manning, Elway and Ryan in most measurable categories.

If there is any college quarterback with the talent and mental makeup to replace one of the all-time great quarterbacks, it’s Andrew Luck. But he has the pressure of an entire franchise on his shoulders. And he has the eyes of every football fan locked in on him.

Good luck, Andrew.