NFL opener showcases QBs

INDIANAPOLIS – Peyton Manning grew up in New Orleans, the favorite son in a city where his father, Archie, was considered royalty.

Drew Brees grew up in Texas, an overlooked high school recruit who eventually resurrected Purdue’s image as Quarterback U.

Now the New Orleans native and the Purdue favorite have changed places. When the NFL season kicks off tonight, Manning will be Indiana’s reigning king while Brees returns to his former college state as the bright hope for a resurgent New Orleans franchise – and the despised opponent.

“I’m sure there will be some Boilers fans there, but they’ll probably all be wearing Colts jerseys,” Brees said.

For Manning and Brees, the NFL’s marquee opening matchup will be more reunion than rivalry.

The two became friends when Brees was a Heisman Trophy candidate at Purdue, about an hour northwest of Indianapolis. Since then, their paths have crossed several times.

Both have been major players in supporting the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Manning and his brother, Eli, shipped a plane full of supplies to their hometown just days after the storm struck.

Brees has taken the commitment even further. He’s renovating a house in New Orleans rather than living in a suburb, and in June, Brees announced he would raise $2.5 million for rebuilding projects.

But on the field, Manning and Brees have been ferocious competitors.

In December 2004, their first pro meeting, Brees had better numbers, but Manning broke the single-season touchdown record and wound up a 34-31 winner over San Diego.

The rematch, in December 2005, went to Brees’ Chargers in a 26-17 upset that ended Indy’s perfect start at 13-0.

This time, the game will come with more hype and all the trimmings of a Super Bowl winner.

Indy plans to unfurl its championship banner during a pregame ceremony and the whole nation is eagerly anticipating the NFL’s first meaningful game in seven months, and the people of Indianapolis view tonight as a mini-Super Bowl.

Besides the Super Bowl MVP, the Colts have Pro Bowl receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, and last year’s top rookie rusher, Joseph Addai.

The Saints, coming off their first NFC championship game appearance in franchise history, counter with perennial 1,000-yard rusher Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, one of the league’s most exciting backs and a player the Saints want to feature more this year.

So defense will likely be the decisive factor.

Both teams are looking to improve after the Colts ranked last in the league against the run, while the Saints were in the bottom third of the league against the pass.

One change will take cornerback Jason David (Washington State University) from covering Wayne in practice to competing against him in a game. David, a free agent, left the Colts for New Orleans in April.

Then, of course, there are the main attractions.

Manning and Brees were each selected to start for their respective conferences in the Pro Bowl last season, and are in charge of teams that again have Super Bowl hopes.

For the quarterbacks with roots in Indiana and New Orleans, each is content to forget their pasts and put their friendship on hold for a few hours.

The schedule-makers didn’t give them a choice.