Colts ask Reggie Wayne for patience

ANDERSON, Ind. -- After taking expensive steps to ensure the Indianapolis Colts have a roster capable of challenging for a championship by getting unsigned players in the fold, owner Jim Irsay turned his attention to a pair of Pro Bowl players still under contract.

His message to defensive end Robert Mathis and wide receiver Reggie Wayne was about patience. Each player's contract expires at the end of this season, and each wants an extension.

"At this point," Irsay said Sunday afternoon, "I don't anticipate that sort of thing, an extension or anything like that."

At some point, Irsay, vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian will sit down and look ahead to 2012.

"We always talk about next year, where we're going to be with the (salary) cap, what type of situation we're going to be in because it's going to come quickly," Irsay said. "We prepare for next year whether it's Pierre (Garcon), or Robert and Reggie."

Wayne, 32, has a base salary of $5.95 million this year. Mathis, 30, has a base of $2.4 million.

Bill Polian stressed that the Colts have a history of taking care of their own, at the proper time. The team rarely addresses a player's contract until it expires.

"Nothing could underscore that more than (Sunday)," Polian said. "Peyton Manning comes back to finish his career. Joseph Addai comes back. Ryan Diem comes back to finish his career. That's what the Colts and Jim Irsay are all about."

Wayne, Mathis and any other player seeking an extension apparently will have to wait. It's anybody's guess how each will react to the "be patient" message.

"We won't sign Robert and Reggie early," Polian said. "But they will be, along with Pierre probably, the No. 1 priorities next year. And we always achieve those priorities. The fact of the matter is we address them in due course."

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(indystar.com)