Hunter S. Thompson told Colts owner Jim Irsay to draft Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning

ByMIKE WELLS
July 5, 2018, 8:26 PM

What if Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay had taken the advice of journalist Hunter S. Thompson, received a $30 million loan from him and selected Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning with No. 1 overall pick in 1998?

There likely wouldn't have been the playoff appearances, the Super Bowl appearances or Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis had Irsay listened to Thompson 20 years ago.

Leaf, an NFL bust who was taken by San Diego at No. 2, added another twist in the Manning or Leaf 1998 draft debate at the time. Leaf tweeted Thursday a picture of the letter he recently received where the late Thompson sent Irsay saying he wouldn't give the Colts owner a $30 million loan for Manning, but he would do it if Indianapolis selected Leaf and made him its franchise quarterback.

"(Leaf) looks strong & Manning doesn't -- or at least not strong enough to handle that 'Welcome to the NFL' business for two years without a world-class offensive line," Thompson wrote in the letter to Irsay a month before the 1998 draft. 

Irsay and Thompson, author of noted works such as "Hell's Angels" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," developed a relationship when he insisted that the owner buy a $2.43 million scroll of "On the Road" done by Jack Kerouac in 2001.

It's a good thing that Thompson wasn't able to sway Irsay when it came to choosing between Leaf and Manning. Manning led the Colts to a 141-67 record, the playoffs 11 times, eight seasons of at least 12 victories, the Super Bowl twice, winning one of those appearances. A statue of Manning was unveiled outside of Lucas Oil Stadium in 2017 and is expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible in 2020.

Leaf? He flamed out, lasting just three seasons in the NFL while throwing a total of 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.