Wayne eager to make his presence felt on Super stage

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — When the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff used last week to reveal details of their game plan for Super Bowl XLIV against the New Orleans Saints, wide receiver Reggie Wayne felt an adrenaline rush as if it was already game day.

"I feel the game plan we have is going to work to my advantage," Wayne says. "I definitely feel like it's going to be a good one for me."

His comment at Super Bowl media day Tuesday reflected how far he has come in his nine seasons with Indianapolis. He was an important offensive player when the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl to close the 2006 season, but most eyes were on Marvin Harrison as he wound down a record-setting career.

Now, Wayne is the primary wide receiver for quarterback Peyton Manning— and he's relishing it. "On that third down, I want to be that guy to get the call and make a big catch to keep the chains moving," he says.

After Harrison was not retained last offseason, Wayne arrived at training camp wearing a hard hat, a symbol of how hard he was prepared to work to fill that void and how hard he expected his teammates to work to compete for another NFL title.

He appears very much at ease as he prepares to face New Orleans. He grew up in the "Big Easy" rooting for the Saints.

"Growing up, it was always brown paper bags," he says, remembering the headgear of choice for some fans who preferred not to reveal their allegiance to such a ragged team.

Beyond that, he attended the University of Miami, making him so comfortable in his surroundings that he says family and friends expect him to serve as a "tour guide" this week.

Wayne, of course, knows better. He is one of the veterans who sets the tone for the serious-minded Colts.

"The guys down there at the University of Miami all talk about Reggie Wayne's work habits. They are legendary," coach Jim Caldwell says.
Wayne, 31, boasts six consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards. He matched tight end Dallas Clark for the club lead during the regular season in both catches (100) and touchdowns (10) while pacing the Colts with 1,264 yards.

"He's just a precise route-runner. He's been on the same page with Peyton for a number of years," New Orleans safety Darren Sharper says. "He can stretch the football field and make a spectacular play, and he's tough to bring down after the catch."

Big plays in the passing game will almost surely be a must in what, on paper, looms as one of the highest-scoring Super Bowls in history.
"We've got to score as much as possible as often as possible," Wayne says. "And we understand we've got to take care of the ball."

As significant as his catches and yards are, Wayne has made an equally meaningful contribution in the locker room in his mentoring of rookie wide receiver Austin Collie (60 catches, 676 yards, seven TDs) and second-year Pierre Garcon (47 grabs, 765 yards, four scores). Both stepped up when Anthony Gonzalez, projected as Harrison's replacement, suffered an early season-ending knee injury.

"I can only give them so many female tips," Wayne jokes. "As far as on the field, it's just them taking their time, not rushing into anything."
Wayne acknowledges, though, that he is eager to put his personal stamp on Super Bowl XLIV. "It would be kind of bittersweet," he says of beating the team he rooted for as a child. "But I've got to do it."

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(usatoday.com)