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INDIANAPOLIS - Forget the comparisons, the predecessor and the hype. Andrew Luck can't wait to start playing football in Indianapolis.

Less than 90 minutes after officially becoming Peyton Manning's successor, Luck promised to do everything he could to turn around a storied franchise that started last year with Super Bowl aspirations and wound up with the No. 1 pick, largely because Manning couldn't play.

At least Indy was lucky enough to get what many expect to be the next big thing.

"I realize you could go crazy trying to measure yourself to Peyton Manning every day. That would be an insane way to live," Luck told local reporters during a conference call. "I know his legendary status, really. He was my hero growing up. Huge shoes to try and fill if you're trying to do that. I'll just put my best foot forward and work hard every day. If one day I can be mentioned alongside Peyton as one of the football greats, that would be a football dream come true."

Indy believes he can make it happen.

Fourteen years after taking Manning with the top overall selection and 29 years after using the draft's No. 1 pick on another Stanford quarterback, John Elway, the Colts chose a player scouts have touted as the most NFL-ready quarterback to come out of college since those two.

A week ago, Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said the Colts had made up their minds about whether to take Heisman winner Robert Griffin III or Luck, the Heisman runner-up. The next day, The Associated Press learned Luck would be the selection and new general manager Ryan Grigson confirmed it Tuesday.

The Colts were so prepared they had NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hand Luck a No. 12 jersey with his name stitched on the back -- a number that had been worn by receiver Quan Cosby as recently as Thursday morning's mini-camp workout.

"It's a new era, it's a new beginning," Grigson said. "Really, it's exciting and we got our guy. He's the one we feel is going to take us where we want to go with this thing. He shares the same vision that we all do, so we're excited."

What the Colts are actually getting is a younger, cheaper version of Manning.

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He's No. 1: Indianapolis follows through on word by taking Andrew Luck with top draft choice