On Wednesday, ESPN writers assembled an NFL All-Quarter Century team, crafting a 53-man roster, including coaches and coordinators, showcasing the best talent since 2000. Two Indianapolis Colts earned spots on this prestigious list.
Peyton Manning, an obvious choice, headlines the selections. As a 24-year-old fan, my football memories are shaped by Manning and Tom Brady trading blows in primetime epics. The Sheriff retired with five NFL MVPs, leading Indy to their first Super Bowl and later winning another in Denver.
“Three of the top five seasons for total passing value belong to him — 2013, 2004, and 2006,” Aaron Schatz noted. “His 2004 season boasts the highest passing DVOA since 1978. Picture Manning audibling at the line, masterfully reading defenses.”
The second Colt is Marvin Harrison, who spent all 12 of his NFL seasons in Indianapolis. He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 14,580 across 190 games.
“Harrison earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors every year from 1999 to 2006,” Schatz wrote. “In 2002, he had 205 targets, the third-highest in NFL history, catching 70%. His peak performance edged out other contenders.”
### Snubs: Reggie Wayne and Adam Vinatieri
Reggie Wayne’s exclusion stings as a glaring oversight. With 14,345 receiving yards—tenth in NFL history, just 235 behind Harrison—Wayne’s 13-year career in Indy included six Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl. He played in Harrison’s shadow early on, then carried the load post-2008.
Instead, 26-year-old Justin Jefferson took Wayne’s spot, with Antonio Brown and Andre Johnson relegated to the “practice squad,” adding insult to injury for one of the NFL’s greats.
Then there’s Adam Vinatieri, the NFL’s all-time leading scorer. His four Super Bowl rings and clutch performances—7/10 field goals and 13/13 extra points in five Super Bowls, including two game-winners that sparked the Patriots’ dynasty—make his omission baffling. Justin Tucker got the nod instead.
### Quenton Nelson: Too Soon?
Quenton Nelson, the sixth overall pick in 2018, has been Indy’s best player since arriving. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first three seasons—a rare feat—and second-team honors twice, with Pro Bowl nods every year.
Despite this stellar start, ESPN overlooked him. “We chose Steve Hutchinson over Joel Bitonio, Logan Mankins, and Quenton Nelson,” Schatz explained. “Hutchinson’s impact extended beyond the field, influencing a rule change after a ‘poison pill’ contract with Minnesota in 2006.”
Nelson’s first seven seasons are nearly unmatched, yet ESPN’s pick suggests his resume isn’t quite quarter-century caliber—yet.
c8sqpx