Arriving on the University of Tennessee campus in 1995 after a year of junior college, defensive end Leonard Little was dazzled by the lanky, drawling quarterback that the Vols' defenders simply couldn't contain in practice.

During their sophomore season, Peyton Manning "kept putting up big numbers," recalled Little, in his 12th year with the Rams. "I knew he was going to be a really great quarterback."

Some 15 years later, Manning is steadily closing in on some of the NFL's most revered records. At his current pace, Manning, 33, would own virtually all the major passing marks if he plays just five more years — assuming that at some point Brett Favre retires and means it.

But is Manning, the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback since 1998, building a portfolio that will earn him the designation of the greatest quarterback ever?

Records or not, there's really no way to quantify such an accolade. Too many variables — level of talent around them, era in which they played, number of championships achieved, postseason performance, etc. — cloud the issue and foster wide-ranging opinions.

"You look at the quarterback position and you say, 'Man, how do you pick one?'" said Dan Dierdorf, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and current CBS analyst. "You could make a legitimate argument that Otto Graham (1946-55) was the best quarterback that ever played. Or Johnny Unitas (1956-73). ...

"But I will say this about Peyton Manning: He's just perfect. I don't know what else to say about the guy."

MANNING OR LEAF?

It was widely expected that Manning would go to Mississippi, where his father had been a popular quarterback. But Peyton, the middle of Archie and Olivia Manning's three sons, chose Tennessee. He set 33 school, eight Southeastern Conference and two NCAA records; the Vols were 39-6 with Manning.

As the 1998 NFL draft approached, the Colts were coming off a 3-13 season and already had traded incumbent quarterback Jim Harbaugh. It was a virtual certainty that they would take a QB with their first overall pick.

But would it be Manning or Ryan Leaf of Washington State? Leaf was bigger and had a stronger arm, but the Colts determined that Manning's maturity outweighed those assets.

Leaf, taken second overall by San Diego, washed out after four unproductive seasons. Manning will start his 182nd consecutive game — spanning his entire NFL career — when the Colts visit the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday.

Like Indy in '98, the Rams could be looking for a franchise quarterback in next April's draft, as Marc Bulger's time here appears to dwindling. The team hasn't used its first-round pick for a quarterback since taking Utah State's Bill Munson seventh overall in 1964.

REVERSING COURSE

The Colts went 3-13 during Manning's rookie season. They reversed that the next year, going 13-3 and winning a division title. In the nine subsequent seasons, Indy has failed to record double-digit wins only once.

With Manning, the Colts are 122-59 and six-time division champs. They won the Super Bowl in 2007, Manning earning MVP honors after the 29-17 triumph over Chicago.

Indy is 5-0 this year, and Manning is better than ever. He's completing 73.5 percent of his passes (the NFL single-season record is 70.6, by Ken Anderson, 1982), and he's on pace to throw for 5,264 yards (the record is 5,084, by Dan Marino, 1984).

His passer rating is 114.1; for his 11-plus seasons, it's 95.3. The NFL career record is 96.8, by Steve Young.

At 6 feet 5 and 230 pounds, Manning has good size. Combine that with excellent athleticism, a strong arm, uncanny accuracy, intelligence and a devotion to preparation, and you have "a great combination," Bulger said.

The thoroughness of Manning's study for an upcoming opponent might be unequaled.

"I think the cerebral part of the game is equally as important as the physical part of the game," Manning told the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald. "The more ideas you have about ... what the defense is trying to do, the better chance you have."

Former Colts coach Tony Dungy said Manning is "very driven. He's not satisfied with being just good or just OK. He enjoys the whole process — the game-planning, training camp, learning opponents, watching tape. ... There's no doubt in my mind that it's how he approaches it that makes him special."

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said he's most impressed with Manning "from the chin to the hairline; the guy's so smart. ... It's a chess game with him, and he gets the last move because he's got the ball."

Manning's moves — the gyrations and gesticulations he makes before the ball is snapped — have become legendary.

The Colts don't huddle; instead, Manning surveys the field, often using much of the play clock to try to decipher what the defense is doing and how best to combat it. He'll point, fake, shout, line up, back off, pump-fake with his leg, trying anything to gain clues.

"It's a very simple offense," said Dick Vermeil, former Rams, Chiefs and Eagles coach. "He just does it a lot better than anybody."

THE BEST?

Still, is Manning better than anybody who ever played quarterback? Vermeil thinks so.

"If he isn't, who is?" Vermeil said. "As soon as you start talking about the best ever, you're going to have to start the conversation with him."

Gil Brandt, the Dallas Cowboys' personnel chief from 1960-89, is in the Manning camp, too.

"I marvel at the guy,"' Brandt said. "I just enjoy talking to him, because he has such a great knowledge of the game."

Dierdorf demurred.

"Peyton Manning doesn't have anyone who admires him more than I do," he said. "But it's too early to crown him as the greatest quarterback who ever walked on a field."

No matter how he's ultimately judged, Manning certainly has fulfilled the burgeoning potential that was so evident to Little 15 years ago at Tennessee.

"He's been that way ever since," Little said. "He's one of the best quarterbacks, and I can always tell my kids I played with him."


PLAYOFF PAYOFF

Quarterbacks are often judged by their ability to successfully lead their teams into the playoffs. Following is a look at the top 10 in the game today (minimum three years of experience):

Player	Drafted	Years*	Made	Pct.
		as starter	playoffs
1. Eli Manning	2004	4	4	100%
2. Philip Rivers	2004	3	3	100%
3. Tom Brady	2000	7	6	86%
4. Peyton Manning	1998	11	9	82%
5. Ben Roethlisberger	2004	5	4	80%
6. Matt Hasselbeck	1999	7	5	71%
7. Donovan McNabb	1999	9	6	67%
7. Chad Pennington	2000	6	4	67%
7. Tony Romo	2004	3	2	67%
10. Brett Favre	1991	17	11	65%

* Player must have started at least half of team's games that season.