...Manning's backup with the Indianapolis Colts, threw nine mop-up passes in a 44-13 loss at the New England Patriots on Sept. 30, 2001. That was the game some skinny kid quarterback made his first career start in place of an injured Drew Bledsoe. "I had been looking forward to seeing Drew, being a former Washington State Cougar, and instead, I got to see this scrawny-looking kid from Michigan take the field and perform admirably under the circumstances," "Here's this young kid in Tom Brady taking over, starting his first game. And lo and behold, look what happens? Tom goes on to become one of the premier quarterbacks in the league. ... How surreal and fortunate was I to have had the opportunity to see Tom's first start and be there to watch him orchestrate the first of many, many wins? "Pretty cool." - Mark Rypien told USA TODAY Sports. | By: Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports Jan 17, 2014 |