Reggie Wayne's time in Indianapolis is up

Colts:

The Indianapolis Colts announced today the team will not re-sign wide receiver Reggie Wayne, one of their all-time greatest players. Wayne is the franchise leader in regular season games played (211) and wins (143) and ranks second in receptions (1,070), receiving yards (14,345), receiving touchdowns (80), 100-yard games (43) and consecutive games with a reception (134). He ranks seventh in NFL history in career receptions and eighth in receiving yards.

Reggie Wayne may have spent 14 years with the Colts, but his best year by far was in 2012. This was the season where head coach, Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Interim coach, Bruce Arians filled in for 12 games while Pagano underwent three months of treatment at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. The youthful Colts looked to the veteran wide receiver for leadership. They came to the right place.

Colts' Head Coach Chuck Pagano said, “My relationship with Reggie goes back to my coaching days at the University of Miami. With Chuck in the hospital, Reggie stepped up and had his most productive campaign. 106 catches, 1,355 yards receiving, six TD's and no fumbles from Reggie Wayne helped the Colts to a 11-5 record which included a playoff berth. The 24-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round did not mar a stellar season for Indianapolis. The previous season had produced a 2-14 record, and the top pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

Colts Owner and CEO Jim Irsay summed up his feelings by saying, “Reggie is one of the greatest men to ever wear the horseshoe, and we have been blessed to watch him play for the past 14 years."

The Indianapolis Colts face a near impossible task in replacing Reggie Wayne, both on and off the field. I would agree with Jim Irsay that in the near future, Reggie Wayne is headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.


Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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