Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Terrell Owens ... Reggie Wayne? Colts receiver looking to join select company at 35

Reggie Wayne relaxed in front of his locker room cubicle, occasionally dabbing at perspiration on his face from the Indianapolis Colts’ latest offseason work.
He held a couple of sheets of paper in his hand. His eyes scanned the list of names, and he pointed to this one (Jerry Rice), that one (Joey Galloway) and yet another (Jimmy Smith).

Motivation comes in different forms.

At least a portion of Wayne’s motivation heading into his 13th season is the exclusive list of NFL receivers who have compiled at least 1,000 yards at age 35. It will be within arm’s length the rest of the year.

“I’m going to put that list in my locker,” he said. “I strive off that.

“That’s what fuels me, motivates me. Not everybody can do that.”

The 1,000-yard mark has been breached only 16 times by 12 players 35 years or older. The trailblazing list includes Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (on three occasions), Cris Carter and James Lofton.

Wayne turns 35 in November. He’s on the downside of a career teeming with Pro Bowl selections (six), receptions (968), yards (13,063) and touchdowns (78).
But at a time when many begin showing signs of the aging process, Wayne refuses to yield. He fully intends to play at his established high level through the duration of his contract, which expires after the 2014 season.

Backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been around Wayne for only a few days this offseason, but he has a firm understanding of Wayne’s pedigree.
“Around the league there is a real healthy respect for what he has done and the level he’s still at,” Hasselbeck said.

“It said a lot when he decided to come back.”

Wayne became a free agent after the Colts’ 2-14 season in 2011. After exploring his options and considering at least one offer that was more lucrative than what the Colts had on the table, Wayne accepted the Colts’ three-year, $17.5 million deal.

“It surprised everyone around the league,” Hasselbeck said. “He had a lot of pride in what he had already helped build here and he wanted to see that through even though it was a new regime.”

To do so, though, required Wayne to remain committed and motivated.

As it did when the Colts selected him with the 30th overall pick in the 2001 draft, the end result can be traced to how Wayne attacks the offseason.

“I still train the same way I did as a rookie,” he said.

It began in Miami in mid-March. Up at 6:30 in the morning, four days a week, for two hours of pushing his body.

Wayne is in town this week for the start of the team’s on-field work but plans to return to south Florida and follow his own agenda. At some point, quarterback Andrew Luck, receiver T.Y. Hilton and a few others are expected to join Wayne in Miami for a few days of concentrated passing drills.

Wayne has been one of the Colts’ most durable players. He has missed only three of a possible 192 regular-season games, all during his rookie season. He leads active receivers with 182 consecutive games played and consecutive 161 starts.

Preparation has been key. So have been lessons gleaned from watching former teammate Marvin Harrison.

“The name of this game is longevity,” Wayne said. “There were times I would see Marvin catch a pass and take a nose dive. I was like, ‘What are you doing? You’ve got 3 more yards (to get).’

“But if you sit back and think about it, that’s a lot less hits he’s taking. You’ve got to pick your battles.”

So, Wayne has. He’s aiming to join that short list of aging receivers who’ve defied Father Time and put up big numbers.

“There are some special guys on that list,” he said. “That’s why I want to keep that list in my locker.

“I want to compare myself to those guys.”


(indystar.com)