Apparently, acquiring Andrew Luck with the NFL's No. 1 draft pick was more impressive than recruiting Peyton Manning from free agency.

John Elway was not named the NFL's executive of the year in a Sporting News poll of league executives. He finished second — by one vote — to Indianapolis Colts' general manager Ryan Grigson.

The voting totals from NFL executives:

Ryan Grigson, Colts, 9

John Elway, Broncos, 8

John Schneider, Seahawks, 3

Bruce Allen, Redskins, 2

Rick Smith, Texans, 2

Elway took charge of a Broncos' team that was 4-12 in 2010 and built them into an AFC West champion in his first season of 2011, albeit with an 8-8 record.

When Manning, a superstar quarterback coming off four neck surgeries, was released to free agency by the Colts, Elway and the Broncos went to work.