Reggie Wayne key for Colts

INDIANAPOLIS - The great day turned in by Indianapolis Colts receivers Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie in winning the AFC Championship Game comes down to the message of the hard hat. Garcon wore it to the postgame interview room after the Colts’ 30-17 win against the New York Jets [team stats] last Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The front says “Wayne’s Construction.” The side says “Super Bowl Under Construction.”

Reggie Wayne first displayed the hard hat back in training camp in July, when he arrived riding in a dump truck.

It’s a mind-set of work ethic that’s meant for the whole team, but resonates most with the receivers.

Garcon caught 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown in the AFC title game. Collie caught seven passes for 123 yards and a score. Wayne, attracting the undivided attention of Jets standout cornerback Darrelle Revis, caught three passes for 55 yards. No scores. Major influence.

“I keep coming back to Reggie,” Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said. “His presence allows things to happen.”

The attention on Wayne allowed Manning to utilize his young receivers as effectively as he has all season.

On the two biggest drives of the game - the 58-second drive at the end of the half to pull within 17-13 and the first drive of the second half to take a 20-17 lead - Collie and Garcon took advantage while the Jets keyed on Wayne.

Manning hit Collie on passes of 18, 46 and 16 in a matter of seconds to cut deeply into New York’s 17-6 lead. The 46-yarder was a perfect strike past the fingertips of Jets cornerback Drew Coleman.

“You try to get some kind of rhythm,” Manning said. “That play down the field to Collie really got us going. We went back to him on the same play (for the touchdown). From that point on, we had a good beat on things.”

The rhythm continued in the Colts’ scoring drive on their first third-quarter possession. Manning hit Garcon four times in the drive, including a fade route to the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. It was reminiscent of the classic Manning pass to former Colts star Marvin Harrison. Garcon, in fact, runs many of the plays that Harrison once perfected.

Garcon became the fourth Colts player to record double-digit catches in a game, joining Raymond Berry, Joseph Addai and Wayne.
His 151 yards receiving were the third-most in Colts playoff history behind Wayne’s 221 and Berry’s 178.

“Since training camp, we’ve been working at this,” Garcon said. “Reggie’s been the leader. We’ve been the soldiers following him. He’s been a great example all year. We’ve had the ultimate test all year and we have to finish it off strong.”

Click here to order Reggie Wayne’s proCane Rookie Card.



(bostonherald.com)