Ryan Leaf manipulated the Indianapolis Colts into taking Peyton Manning instead of himself.

[ScreamingMeemie]

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/01/how-ryan-leaf-convinced-the-colts-to-draft-peyton-manning/

snip-

Making his wish come true would not be easy. The Colts leaned toward choosing Ryan. Many scouts also saw him as a better prospect than Peyton Manning. Hard to believe now, isn’t it?
-snip

snip-

“If you go to the combine,” I told Ryan, “but fail to show up for a meeting with Mora, that should do it. Jim is a real prideful person who has a tendency to explode. I am not recommending you do this, but if you are desperate to go to San Diego, this is the way.”

Ryan approved, but I first cleared the idea with Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard, lest San Diego also question my client’s reliability. Beathard went along with the ruse. If he’d had a problem, Ryan would’ve shown up for his meeting with Mora. Some purists argue players should not have the right to dictate where they start their pro career, but aren’t college graduates who don’t play football allowed to choose where they want to work and live? The draft was not handed down by Moses as part of the Ten Commandments. The draft, let’s be honest, is a control mechanism designed to prevent college athletes from exercising the same freedoms everyone else takes for granted and to limit their leverage in contract negotiations.

-snip

[TZ]

1. Best thing

That happened for the Colts, lol.

[joeybee12]

2. Not sure I really buy it...D-bag and D-bag on ESPN2 were

talking about this...not really giving any clarity, just whipping themselves up into a frenzy...just doesn't seem plausible to me...could have happened, but I have my doubts.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. I think it probably happened, but I place it in the "no bigs" drawer of sportsing.

The only interesting part of Mike and Mike's morning devoted to it, was the discussion on Tony Mandarich. That still breaks this Packer fan's heart.

[hughee99]

4. If it weren't for the NFL draft, Green Bay wouldn't still have a team.

The city isn't a big enough draw to young athletes, and the market isn't big enough to pay the ungodly sums needed (where all college athletes become free agents) to make up for that.