INDIANAPOLIS – It was not an illusion.
Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning were indeed both in Colts' uniforms on Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium.
This wasn't some transformation of a potential 2012 plot either.
Luck was doing what he currently does---quarterback the present-day Colts to another divisional victory.
Manning was back for what he did a decade ago---leading the Colts to their first Super Bowl victory in the history of professional football in Indianapolis.
The two will forever be linked and have a history that dates back years before their lives would be interewined in professional football.
Luck's father (Oliver) was the backup quarterback to Peyton's father (Archie) with the Houston Oilers in the 1980s.
Following Sunday's victory for the Colts, Luck shared his thoughts on seeing Manning this weekend:
On talking with Manning Sunday:
"Yeah, I had a chance to talk to him before the game and I admire him very much. I remember being a young kid, my dad would always talk about being Archie's (Manning) backup in Houston and driving Cooper (Manning) and Peyton around and buy hamburgers or whatever the backup quarterbacks did in the 80s. I remember I got to go to their (Manning Passing Academy) camp as a kid and I've always admired Peyton and the whole family very much. Even more so living in Indianapolis, professionally around the city.
"And what a neat deal for the fans and for all those players. As a current player, it's hard to sort of sit back and appreciate what they did but when you see a Lombardi Trophy on the field with the team around it, that's neat and that's what we aspire to be."
On not being the "competitor" against Manning this time inside of Lucas Oil:
"That's an interesting way to put it. Peyton is arguably the greatest quarterback ever, for the horseshoe, for Denver, for whoever. It's Peyton Manning. Growing up, he was my favorite player. He was my sister's favorite player, our favorite players. It's certainly nice to see him."
On if he felt like Manning and him were on the same team Sunday:
"Yeah, sure. You see him wearing a horseshoe jersey. Absolutely. This goes back to when I was in middle school at the Manning Passing Academy camp. That family and him have been nothing but kind and generous to me, the whole family. I'll always appreciate that."
