By Mike Kahn
CBS SportsLine Executive Editor
Dec. 20, 1998

SEATTLE -- The choppy footwork, with high-tops shuffling backward away from center, and overhand delivery of the football are all too familiar. Add the traditional horseshoe on the side of his helmet and soft southern edge to his voice, and there's more to Peyton Manning than being the No. 1 pick of the 1998 draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

All the rookie records he

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has set for the struggling, but encouraged, Colts aside, this strange coincidence of appearance and exceptional aptitude can't help but bring to mind the greatest Colts quarterback of all -- Johnny Unitas.

There is, however, one enormous difference.

"You're not an NFL quarterback until you can tell your coach to go to hell," said Unitas in one of the classic quotes of all time.

You'll never hear that come out of Manning's mouth. Despite the inevitable comparisons to Unitas, he does not have the same blood and guts -- assassin -- mentality. A graduate of Tennessee, his maturity comes from his father Archie, who never had the benefit of a good team around him in the NFL despite a superstar collegiate career.

Instead, the younger Manning suffered the consequences of being the gentleman quarterback and son of a superstar. His record-breaking career at Tennessee couldn't shake losses to Florida all four years, and created enough negative connotation that cost him the 1997 Heisman. It became fashionable to degrade Manning and some were surprised he was taken by the Colts No. 1 overall instead of Ryan Leaf, who very much mirrors the crusty, no-nonsense approach of a Unitas.

But the intelligent tactic is paying dividends for Manning, and young weapons Marshall Faulk and Marvin Harrison. Manning now holds NFL rookie records in passing for completions (309), attempts (541), yards (3,509), touchdowns (25), and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (12). All -- with the exception of touchdown passes -- are team records, too.

And despite the 27-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday afternoon, Manning completed 23 of 39 passes for 335 yards to exceed Unitas' franchise record of 3,481 yards in a season. And that will serve Unitas just fine. He was furious when the Colts moved to Indianapolis after the 1983 season and wants his name removed from all the record books.

MANNING, WHO IS THE COLTS 17TH STARTING

The Colts are looking to build around Peyton Manning. (AP)

quarterback since they traded the rights to John Elway after the 1983 draft, is a willing accomplice. After a sluggish start, Manning has become one of the more effective quarterbacks in the NFL on a weekly basis. The Colts are 3-12 primarily because they have a defense laden with free agents incapable of holding leads like the 23-10 advantage they blew Sunday.

"I don't think you ever learn how to lose," said Manning, who had what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown pass dropped in the final minute Sunday. "That would be a really bad habit if you ever did that. It gets harder and harder every time. I think the whole key is how you react to it. We are going to learn from it and I think we have done a good job each week of trying not to make the same mistake twice. But something new keeps coming up."

The key is improvement and Manning has done just that. His 25 touchdown passes are as impressive as it gets for a growing young quarterback, however, the red flag comes in the form of 26 interceptions. Some of that is getting rid of passes and just flat out learning to keep up with the speed of an NFL game. Four of the Colts' starting five offensive linemen are rookies or second-year players. Faulk is 25. Harrison is 26. The Colts are second in the NFL when it comes to preventing quarterback sacks.

With proven NFL people like coach Jim Mora and president Bill Polian added to survey the defensive crop in this year's draft -- and with picks in the top four of each round -- count on a new, aggressive defense taking shape in a hurry. Everything over the next decade or so will fortify the rest of the franchise around Manning.

"He is getting more comfortable with our offense and more comfortable playing NFL football," Mora said. "When you start out as a rookie quarterback, everything is so fast and the defenses are so good, it is like things are in a blur. But as you get more experience, things slow down. He understands defenses and what his reads are. You can tell every week he is getting better."

LIP SERVICE IS ONE THING. Mora is not a politician. Manning was his choice as the anchor with which to rebuild the storied franchise into a contender. His talent is obvious, but not as apparent as his leadership qualities.

As Leaf rides the bench in San Diego, victim of a plethora of embarrassments both on and off the field, Manning continues to thrive. Although the Colts tradition and championship teams were developed in Baltimore, the uniforms and the record books still exude Johnny Unitas.

That is changing fast. Nobody is belittling Peyton Manning for being bright and engaging anymore. There is little doubt the hard-boiled Unitas isn't a fan of the gentlemanly approach to football. Then again, it doesn't matter that he and Manning won't become bosom buddies.

Let it be. Even if it's just the outward appearance that is similar, all that really matters is productivity. And if Johnny U wants his name removed from the record books, there is only one way to expect Manning to respond.

Yes sir.