Andrew Luck: Fans Must Exercise Patience with Top Pick in NFL Draft

Here's a shocker for you: With the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts will select Andrew Luck.

I know. I've been blindsided by the news, too—and the draft hasn't even started yet!

OK, so maybe that's not a total guarantee just yet, though it's close enough that I'd be tempted to bet my measly life's savings on it. 

More importantly, fans in Indy had better not be surprised when the Stanford star's arrival doesn't precipitate an instant reversal of the team's fortunes on the football field.  

I don't need to remind you that the Colts were awful last season, winning just twice in 16 games to "earn" the No. 1 pick in the draft.

However, their failure extended far beyond just the season-long absence of Peyton Manning. He was merely the super glue holding together the pile of trash of a roster that paraded around Lucas Oil Stadium disguised as a football team.

The defense was atrocious, as the dynamic pass-rushing duo of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis was largely neutralized by the offense's inability to capture or keep a lead.

An offense, by the way, that won't be any better without the likes of long-time center Jeff Saturday, wide receiver Pierre Garcon, tight end Dallas Clark and fullback Jacob Tamme hangin' around.

None of which bodes particularly well for Luck in his rookie season.

Often lost among all of the glowing comparisons that Luck's garnered to Manning and John Elway is the fact that both of those Hall of Famers (one future, one current) struggled mightily out of the gate. Manning threw a rookie-record 28 interceptions in 1998, while Elway completed just 47.5 percent of his passes 15 years earlier.

The expectations placed on the shoulders of rookie quarterbacks have changed since then, thanks in no small part to the recent efforts of Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton and Andy Dalton. As such, Luck is likely to be judged more harshly out of the gate, even if any and every rookie quarterback thrust into starting duty should realistically be granted a hefty helping of leniency during his transition into the pro game.

Although, all indications are that the Colts and their fans are prepared for a long, slow rebuilding process.

Or should be, anyway, after team owner Jim Irsay practically wiped the slate clean by stocking the sidelines and the front office with fresh minds and parting ways with Peyton.

With time and patience, Luck could turn out to be as good as the man whose gigantic shoes he's expected to fill. The only question is, will folks in the Circle City tolerate Luck's growing pains long enough to see him deliver on his considerable promise?

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