Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne made it clear earlier this offseason that he was dissatisfied with his current contract, releasing a statement and skipping minicamps and organized team activities.
"I have tremendous respect for Jim Irsay, Bill Polian and the entire Indianapolis Colts organization, but at this time, we are in disagreement concerning my contract situation," Wayne said in a statement his agent e-mailed to National Football Post prior to the Colts' minicamp. "Therefore, I will not be attending this weekend’s mini-camp. I will continue training diligently in Florida, as I have each off-season since my rookie year, to ensure that I am ready to play this season. I hope that a fair resolution can be reached in the not-too-distant future that allows me to achieve my goal of playing my entire career with the Indianapolis Colts.”
Now, Wayne is taking a noncommittal stance toward attending the Colts' upcoming training camp at Anderson University.
During an interview with WISH-TV in Indianapolis at his charity basketball game, Wayne indicated his decision is up in the air.
"We have to see," Wayne said in a video posted on the StampedeBlue.com website. "We're just gonna take it day-by-day. I would love to see Anderson. I've never been there. When that day comes, we'll see what's up."
Wayne told the television station that there have been conversations between the team and his camp.
"We've been talking," Wayne said. "I guess you could say that, but we're just gonna let them do their thing. I'm just going to come and play football. When that phone rings with the good news, I'll be excited."
Colts team president Bill Polian has previously said that no deals will be done for Wayne or defensive end Robert Mathis until the team addresses quarterback Peyton Manning's contract.
"What I told both representatives was that given the current status of both our budget and the labor negotiations, it is not possible to do anything at this point," Polian said. "I recognize that they are both very good players, that they are great guys, that we respect them highly, that we value their contributions, and when it's time to do that, when it's propitious to do that, when it is possible to do it, we will."
Polian predicted that Wayne will report for training camp.
"I don't think he will stay away from training camp because there is a rule this year in the uncapped year that if you do not come in by Aug. 10, you get an extra year tacked onto your contract," Polian said. "So, that is the last thing he wants. He's got two years to run on his contract. So, I presume he will be in."
Polian has also said that the uncertain state of the collective bargaining agreement is a big obstacle toward doing long-term deals.
The Colts did sign safety Antoine Bethea to a new contract this offseason, though.
"We're not in a regular environment, that's the problem," Polian said. "I've spoken to both their agents, and I certainly respect both men and they make a good case. But the problem is we don't have a system, and without a system you don't know where contracts might or might not fit .. It's a jigsaw puzzle, and as one piece fits in then another falls in place and another falls in place.
"So the question is, what are the basic concepts and then where you go from there? What does one piece do to all the other pieces? That's the difficulty. You can't predict that, no one knows what it will be. No one knows until the parties sit down and hammer it out what it will be. And a small, little piece over here could change the whole complexion of things."
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(nationalfootballpost.com)