In contrast to the bulk-based, muscular football identified with the Midwest, the Indianapolis Colts began believing in scoring points from a distance and with style since drafting Peyton Manning in 1998. Going! Going! Gosh!, Zoom at the Top and Gee Whi-z-z-z describe the Colts offensive style (OK, they're also the titles of RoadRunner/Coyote cartoons, but even more to my point...). Evolution of rules and style pushed the rest of the NFL toward the Colts style and they chose to rebuild starting with quarterback Andrew Luck, you know they're not changing.
That's why it wasn't shocking they took T.Y. Hilton. They resigned aging Reggie Wayne, drafted a couple of tight ends, so they needed some zoom, baby. They need it on the offense and in the kick return game.
Hilton said on his visit to Indianapolis, "The receivers coach and I grew a bond, the offensive coordinator and I grew a bond as well. He saw where I was coming from and I saw where he was coming from."
He also visited with Philadephia, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Jacksonville, worked out for Baltimore and the Dolphins. As the third round plodded along, "I was just being patient," Hilton said. "What really got me was when Jacksonville chose the punter. I was thinking, what is the world coming to?"
The third round was winding down when he saw the phone call from the Colts. "I was holding my breath. I was thinking, their next pick is in the fourth round. They're calling me to tell me they're taking me in the fourth round iwth the first pick tomorrow. They said, "we just traded up for you." It took my breath away."
