Peyton Manning told owner Jim Irsay that the Indianapolis Colts should draft Andrew Luck with the first overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft.

"Circumstances created this decision," Irsay said. "You have to understand there's no way this occurs if [Peyton's] in Indy. It's just impossible, where our salary cap was. Having him stay at the type of number that he expected and deserved to earn and all those things."

Manning was coming off multiple neck surgeries and his future was short at best and could be over.

"He said, 'You've got to take Andrew,'" Irsay recounted. "'You have to. You're crazy if you don't.'"

The decision benefitted both players as Manning went to a playoff team in need of a quarterback in the Denver Broncos and Luck could grow with a rebuilt Colts' roster.

"I think it's perfect," Irsay said. "What's happened is what Peyton and I hoped would happen. The desire was for him to get well and get to a team that has a chance to win another Super Bowl before his career ended. And our desire was to be able to transition to Andrew. To be so good so soon is stunning."