NEW YORK – Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III headlined the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday as expected but after that a flurry of wheeling and dealing marked the first-round of the prime-time event.
The Indianapolis Colts kicked off the annual draft party that filled three balconies at the venerable Manhattan theater with fans decked out in their team colors by taking Luck, the celebrated Stanford quarterback, with the No. 1 pick.
After the Washington Redskins followed, as expected, by selecting Griffin, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Baylor, a string of four trades shook up the first half of the proceedings as teams jockeyed into position to nab the players they coveted.
Four more trades, including two made by the New England Patriots to move up, highlighted the second half of the draft, which is the lifeblood by which NFL teams restock their teams and address weaknesses.
The top of the draft offered no suspense as Luck and Griffin went one-two as undisputed top of the 2012 draft class.
Luck, considered one of the most polished quarterback prospects in recent years, will be taking over the reins of the Colts’ offense from four-time NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning.
« Yeah, Peyton Manning, arguably the greatest ever, » Luck said about the 11-time Pro Bowler, who signed a five-year, $96 million deal to play with the Denver Broncos after the Colts decided to embark on a rebuilding plan.
« He was my football hero growing up. I realize you don’t really replace a guy like that. Those shoes to fill are huge.
« If one day I can be mentioned alongside Peyton in quarterback history, it would be a football dream come true. »
Luck was handed a No. 12 Indianapolis jersey, to match the uniform number he wore at Stanford.
« That’s the number I’m wearing this year and hopefully for many years to come, » said Luck, a drop-back passer who completed 67 percent of his passes at Stanford, throwing for 82 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in compiling a 31-7 record as a starter.
RUNNING THREAT
Griffin, popularly known as RG3, is a running threat as well as a strong-armed passer and edged out Luck as winner of the Heisman in December as the top U.S. college player.
