With Peyton Manning missing his first game in decades with a neck injury, we wanted to take a look back at the beginning of his career. This article originally appeared in Athlon's 1995 college football annual.

High Expectations
Archie's boy became a big Manning quickly at Tennessee

by David Climer, The Tennessean

Like it or not, Peyton Manning and the high-octane Indy 500 offense has been replaced by Kerry Collins and the horseshoes.

The question now becomes: When will Manning return to the Colts? Late in the 2011 season? Week 1 of 2012? Or, God forbid, never again?

We take a look at some of the top storylines from Week One of the NFL's 2011 season.

By RALPH VACCHIANO

A quick look at every game on the NFL schedule for Week 1, along with the consensus pick of Athlon Sports editors Mitchell Light, Rob Doster, Nathan Rush, Patrick Snow and Steven Lassan:

Peyton Manning’s second neck surgery won’t impact his time-of-possession on television this weekend.

Today marks the 16th anniversary of when Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak to become baseball's all-time "Iron Man." In the NFL, the longest current consecutive games played streak belongs to Peyton Manning, who has never missed a start in his 13-year career.

We make five out-on-a-limb predictions for the upcoming NFL season.

In the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, they’re probably already constructing a Peyton Manning Wing, its many shelves built to support the enormous weight of Manning’s collection of personal hardware. One day, the lights of the wing will turn on, and fans will gather to reflect on his career. But what will they say? Will fathers tell their sons about the greatest quarterback ever to play the game, a man engineered to be the best at his profession? Or will they share stories of great achievement followed by even greater disappointment?