Colts lose, lock up No. 1 draft pick
Quarterback Peyton Manning and offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen of the Indianapolis Colts look on during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Jan. 1, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Indianapolis Colts locked up the No. 1 pick in April's draft Sunday, setting the stage to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. They fell to 2-14 when Maurice Jones-Drew ran for a season-high 169 yards -- clinching the NFL rushing title -- and led the host Jaguars to a 19-13 victory.
"Like I said all along, the Colts are going to do what they have to do," injured Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said. "The draft is something the personnel department will address. They'll deal with that as they see fit. As far as can I coexist with anybody? I think I can coexist with any player I've ever played with. I think I've always been a good teammate in that way. To speculate on how we're going to draft, that's more for other people to do, not the players."
Colts owner Jim Irsay must decide whether to pay Manning a $28-million bonus, let him become a free agent or work out a new deal with the franchise quarterback. Irsay has said that if Manning recovers from neck issues, he will be back in Indy.
The Jaguars (5-11) gave outgoing owner Wayne Weaver a victory in his final game. Weaver sold the team to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan last month for $770 million.
Jones-Drew finished with 1,606 rushing yards, which also broke Fred Taylor's franchise mark of 1,572 yards.
-- AP
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