CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- If the Carolina Panthers had their way, maybe Peyton Manning would be playing for them - not against them - in the Super Bowl.
When Manning was coming out for the 1998 draft, the Panthers approached Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian with a megadeal offer.
It included trading fourth-year quarterback Kerry Collins and multiple draft picks, including their first-round selection that year, for the right to take Manning with the No. 1 overall selection.
Carolina was hoping Polian, who had drafted Collins just three years before while working as the GM for the Panthers, would pull the trigger on the deal.