Reggie Wayne: A Fan's Remembrance
Reggie Wayne
There are players that you root for, and players that you will never forget, Reggie Wayne will be both to me. I remember the day he became a Colt, April 21st, 2001, thats when Indianapolis chose him in the first round, 30th overall out of the U. He made just nine starts his rookie season, and missed three games due to a high ankle sprain, so his final numbers of 27 receptions for 345 yards and no touchdowns, didn't exactly live-up to first round expectations. In his second season, it all began to change. He doubled his production in almost every way as he finished with 49 receptions for 716 yards and four touchdowns. His third year, Wayne began to make his imprint as a starter for the blue horseshoe, as he caught 68 balls for 838 yards and seven touchdowns. The next season, Wayne caught 77 passes for 1,210 yards and 12 touchdowns, he increased his reception total to 83 in 2005.
After a signing a new contract in 2006, he went on to catch 86 receptions for 1,310 yards with nine touchdowns, getting him a Pro-Bowl invite. The Colts would also go to the Super Bowl that season knocking off the Chicago Bears, but not before Wayne had a 53-yard touchdown. In 2007, he was counted on even more as Marvin Harrison and Dallas Clark both went down with injuries, and Wayne took it upon his shoulders, as he finished with 104 catches for 1,510 yards (both career highs) and 10 touchdowns, he was also named to the Pro-Bowl for the second consecutive season. In 2008, he saw a dip in his production as he had 82 receptions for 1,145 yards and six touchdowns. With the 2009 season, Reggie Wayne was selected to the Pro-Bowl, but couldn't attend due to being in Super Bowl XLIV and catching five passes for 46 yards, in a loss to the Saints. In the 2010, Wayne caught 111 passes and third in receiving yards with 1,355 yards and six touchdowns. Another return to the Pro-Bowl was also in order. When 2011 rolled around Wayne had to be the lone gun as Peyton Manning missed the entire season due to injury. Reggie Wayne remained strong and led the team in receptions with 75 and receiving yards at 960 to go along with four touchdowns. Wayne also recorded his 800th reception against the Steelers.
Reggie Wayne
On March 13, 2012, the Colts re-signed Wayne to a three-year contract, and also marked the first season with Andrew Luck. Wayne took a major chance in staying with the Colts, he knew that Indianapolis was basically in a rebuilding of sorts, and did he want to play-out the remaining years he had left in the dull-drums in the league. His former college coach, Chuck Pagano. became the Colts head coach, and asked Wayne to "take a chance," and Wayne believed. In week five, Wayne went all-out and caught 13 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown, leading him to his first ever AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. In week 12, he broke Cris Carter's record in consecutive games with three or more receptions (59 games), and also passed Art Monk for 12th on the NFL all-time list in receptions with his 941 career reception. The Colts returned to the playoffs in the 2013 season, where he caught nine passes for 114 yards to become second all-time in career playoff receptions, 59 behind Jerry Rice. Indianapolis would end up losing to the Ravens 24-9.
There are two things that stand-out for Reggie Wayne in 2013. First, Wayne reached 1,000 career receptions, the other was a torn ACL, which ended his consecutive game streak at 189, the third longest streak in NFL history. In the 2014 season, Wayne became the ninth receiver in NFL history to record 14,000 receiving yards, and this leads us to today, as the Indianapolis Colts announced that Reggie Wayne has been released. Wayne ended his run with the Colts with 1,070 receptions (7th all-time) for 14,345 yards (8th all-time) and 82 touchdowns. Jim Irsay made announcement about Reggie Wayne's release:
Luck and Wayne
“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,” owner Jim Irsay said. “When he first took the field with us in 2001, we knew this day would eventually arrive. That reality is one of the things that makes pro football such a tough business. We feel this decision is in the best interests of the team and for Reggie as it will allow him to seek a better opportunity for playing time elsewhere if he so chooses. Reggie is beloved by the Colts organization and our fans and he will always be a part of the Colts family. I look forward to the day in the near future when our great number 87 enters the Colts Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Career Statements
Super Bowl champion (XLI)
2× AFC Champion (2006, 2009)
6× Pro Bowl (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012)
3× All-Pro (2007, 2009, 2010)
NFL Receiving Yards leader (2007)
10,000 Receiving Yards Club
All-Big East
Miami Hurricanes career receptions record (173)
University of Miami Hall of Fame (2011)
Career NFL statistics as of 2014
Receptions 1,070
Receiving yards 14,345
Receiving average 13.4
Receiving TDs 82
Wayne
