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Peyton Manning’s definitely going to Canton one day, he just hasn’t been there yet.

But the Broncos quarterback says he’s making a special trip this year, to see his former Colts General Manager Bill Polian inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Manning called into SiriusXM NFL Radio last night to talk with Polian and Alex Marvez, and said he wouldn’t be missing the ceremony for the man who drafted him.

“I’m excited for Bill’s induction and I plan on being there,” Manning said. “I’ve never been to Canton ever, Bill. I remember a couple of years ago when the Colts played in there I had my knee issue so I had to miss the trip to Canton, so coming to Canton to see Bill make his speech will be my first trip, and I couldn’t be more proud and excited for Bill.”

Polian was quick — and correct — to note that Manning would be going. And while Polian’s work building the Buffalo teams that went to four straight Super Bowls was perhaps his best work, drafting Manning and keeping the Colts consistently competitive and winning one Super Bowl was also a big part of his resume. Their 115 regular season wins together in the 2000s were the most for a single decade, and that’s not the result of just drafting one guy.

Manning said it was Polian’s dedication to the grind that made him stand out, and made him successful.

“I always knew that Bill had my back,” Manning said. “We were always trying to do the same things, trying to win, trying to rob the same train if you will. We all had the same goals in mind, but I always knew that Bill had my back and that always meant a lot. You like playing for guys that you know are going to have your back and are kind of right in the middle of it fighting with you.

“Even though Bill wasn’t on the field on Sundays, it felt like he was. He was out there on the practice field every practice. I can’t think of a practice in my 14 years in Indy that Bill wasn’t right there behind the players next to the assistant coaches in his shorts and t-shirt right in the middle of it. He’s an old coach so he’s got coaching in his blood, and then on Sunday’s I’m telling you he was on that field until the last possible minute walking through the stretch lines, shaking everybody’s hand, and so it felt like he was out there with us. And then of course he was the first guy to greet us in the locker room, either to shake our hand and congratulate us after a win or put his arm around us after a loss. It was a special privilege to play for a guy like that and that’s not necessarily normal.”

And that’s why Manning is making his first pilgrimage to Canton, where he’ll doubtless make copious notes and plan meticulously for his own arrival.