Reggie Wayne wants to play next season

Speaking to reporters for the first time since his employer for 14 seasons, the Indianapolis Colts, elected not to bring him back for another year, Reggie Wayne said Thursday night he intends to play a 15th NFL season next fall.

For which team -- the New England Patriots? Denver Broncos? -- remains to be seen.

Wayne, at Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse to judge Thursday's State Farm College Slam Dunk contest, said his plan is to find a team to contribute to next season.

"I still feel like I got some juice left," Wayne said. "I'm just going to play the cards the way they're dealt and go from there."

Wayne said repeatedly last season he could never imagine himself slipping on a different uniform than his trusty blue and white No. 87, the jersey he's worn since the Colts drafted him in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

Now, it appears, he's come to grips with his new reality: If his NFL career is to continue, it will come in a different city, playing for a different team.

Wayne is the Colts' all-time leader in games played, and ranks second in franchise history in receptions (1,070), receiving yards (14,345), touchdowns (80), 100-yard games (43) and consecutive games with a catch (134). He sits seventh in NFL history in career receptions and eighth in receiving yards.

But it was evident throughout 2014 Wayne was far from his best. On Thursday night, he admitted to being injured throughout the season.

"I wasn't healthy," he said. "I was nowhere near healthy. I played the whole year hurt. Finally, playing hurt got to me."

Wayne missed the final nine games of the 2013 season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. Recovered in time for the 2014 campaign, Wayne tore his left triceps muscle midway through the year but fought through the injury for most of the season. He settled for 64 catches and just two touchdowns, and had only one catch in the team's three postseason games.
All of which played into the decision by owner Jim Irsay and general manager Ryan Grigson to not bring back Wayne, who became a free agent last month.

"That's the way it goes," Wayne said. "I've seen a lot of people come and go. What makes me different?"
Wayne said he holds no ill will towards the Colts.

"Ever since I was a young pup, they brought me in here and gave me an opportunity," he said.

He also professed his appreciation for a fan base he's been a favorite of for more than a decade.

"Love all the fans," he said. "Without the fans, there would be no me. I appreciate everything from day one. I'm extremely humbled. I wish I could give them all a personal hug."

Of making the decision to release Wayne, Irsay said last week at the NFL owner meetings: "Him and I had a very long talk, face-to-face, man-to-man. It was really hard.

"I told Reggie I just thought that we felt that it was time."

For Wayne now, he enters unfamiliar territory, same as longtime teammate Peyton Manning did after the Colts released him in March of 2012: He's looking for a new team for the first time in his career.

"I'm just living the dream," Wayne said. "Trying to keep it moving."


(indystar.com)