Former BYU receiver Austin Collie appears to have melded brains with Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Peyton Manning.

That's part of a storyline in an in-depth feature by Sports Illustrated writer Peter King on Manning and his remarkable season in which he's had no running game, had to use a rookie like BYU's Collie, yet he is passing as effective as at any time in his NFL career.

In Collie, the Colts found a player who fits their profile for a receiver, according to the article: Speed, but not a burner, good hands, an instinctive feel, size, work ethic and maturity.

The challenge of getting a rookie like Collie ready to play in the NFL hasn't been easy. Manning has thrown a lot of mental bombs to Collie but he's responded.

Writes King about the process:

"(It is) So overwhelming that Manning speeds the learning process for Collie by spending 75 to 90 minutes every Thursday after practice watching tape alone with the rookie. "You can't be a robot," Manning says. "That's what's good about Austin, he's not a robot."

On the Net: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1162442/index.htm