Some of Wayne's fans may surprise you

Jan/15/07 02:32 PM Filed in: Reggie Wayne
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- There is a lot of love for Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne in the Baltimore Ravens' locker room.

Safety Ed Reed, like Wayne, is from Louisiana and played at the University of Miami. Cornerback Samari Rolle, who is from Miami Beach and played at Florida State, persuaded his secondary to cast Pro Bowl votes for Wayne the past two years. Wayne, in his sixth NFL season, was selected to the all-star event for the first time last month.

Reed, who considers Wayne "a brother way past football" and works out with him in the offseason, took a shot at Colts record-setting receiver Marvin Harrison in assessing why it has taken his buddy this long to get a Pro Bowl nod.

"Reggie, on any other team in the league, would be that guy," Reed said. "And he's really the guy over there, it's just that under the circumstances, with records and stats mattering to certain people, he don't get the looks."

By unofficial count, Peyton Manning threw 150 passes to Harrison and 137 to Wayne in the regular season. Harrison led the Colts with 95 catches for 1,366 yards and 12 scores. Wayne caught 86 passes for 1,310 yards and nine scores. Wayne's catch total has increased in each of his NFL seasons.
Rolle, who will cover Wayne on Saturday, saw him twice a season while with Indianapolis' AFC South rival Tennessee from 2001 to 2004 and again in a Ravens home loss to begin the 2005 season.

"He has been overshadowed for too long," Rolle said. "Last year, we voted for him and were surprised he didn't get in. I'm just happy for him that he's getting his credit. We voted for him again this year."

(indystar.com)