2012 NFL Draft Order: Colts Enjoy Franchise-Altering Moment with Week 17 Loss

In what really should be a meaningless loss in what has been a forgettable season, the Indianapolis Colts ensured things will change forever as they locked up Andrew Luck. 

For good or bad, Andrew Luck is headed to Indianapolis as the Colts lock up the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Despite some passionate play late in the season and two wins in the last three weeks, early season doldrums could not be overcome. 

It might be far more appropriate to say the Colts were lucky enough to be just bad enough in Week 17. Their loss to the Jaguars ensured that the highly-coveted Stanford standout will be theirs. 

Now comes the time for caveats and possibilities. First and foremost is that it is far too early to place Luck as the No. 1 pick. A lot can happen between the combine, pro days and the minutiae that is brought forth during an intensive draft process. 

Also, there is always the chance that the Colts put together what would be a blunder in trading down, sticking to the confidence they have in Peyton Manning's health. 

Both of those things are laughable when you consider that Luck is as close to a sure thing as you can get at this time of year. With that, we consider the good and bad that comes from Luck entering the fold.

Bad News

Always take the bad news first. In this case, the bad news isn't all that bad. Luck comes in and will ride the pine for as long as Peyton Manning sees fit. 

The obvious note is that this puts the Manning era in Indy on a much quicker pace than it would have. The neck injury kept Manning out the entire season, and there is no guarantee that he will come back as strong as he was before. 

From a strictly business decision, the Colts have to have another arm in the bullpen immediately. Luck has never struck as a player that would whine from receiving expert tutelage while he sits the sidelines for a couple of seasons.

Good News

It's all upside for a 6-foot-4 quarterback with a cannon for an arm. There is no shortage of intangibles either. Luck is a solid leader that Colts fans will soon fall in love with.

Manning's eventual departure in retirement or trade will be hard to deal with, but it is going to happen with or without Luck.

It is better to have a potential star in wait then not. The Colts are primed to pull off something unthinkable. They will lose one legend at some point and have a star in the making for a seamless transition.

Someone up there likes this Colts team.

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