Peyton Manning could’ve been with Jets had he not returned for another year at Tennessee
By Mike Dyce
Quarterback Peyton Manning has set numerous records, more than one can count, led the Indianapolis Colts to two Super Bowls winning one, and is now playing in his third with the Denver Broncos. Had he decided to enter the draft in 1997, he might have wound up with the New York Jets and then head coach Bill Parcells. Instead he stayed at Tennessee for one more season and went to the Indianapolis Colts the following year.
From Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com:
"“I kind of laugh when people say I should’ve talked him into it,” Parcells said. “I wasn’t capable of doing that.”Why didn’t he attempt to recruit Manning through his father, Archie? Parcells paused.“I think they have a pretty good idea of what would’ve happened if they came out,” Parcells said.The Hall of Fame coach hasn’t revealed too much over the years about that chapter — some believe he would’ve traded the pick to accumulate extra draft choices — but he strongly hinted he would’ve selected Manning.“Obviously, we had an interest in a quarterback, so, had he been available, I’m certain he would’ve been very, very strongly in the mix,” said Parcells, claiming he always had a “gut feeling” that Manning would stay at Tennessee."
The real interesting part of this story is that Manning and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady would’ve wound up in the same division as one another, assuming everything still panned out the way it did. It also means that the two New York football teams could’ve been quarterbacked by Mannings, imagine that for a minute.