Reggie Wayne less than thrilled with Kerry Collins signing

We'll see what kind of chemistry Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne has with quarterback Kerry Collins on the field, but Wayne doesn't sound interested in establishing any rapport.

With the team uncertain about when Peyton Manning will be able to play — he still is recovering from neck surgery — Collins came out of retirement and signed with the Colts on Wednesday. Wayne didn't exactly lead the welcome wagon.

"We don't even know him, we ain't vanilla, man, we ain't no simple offense," Wayne told the Associated Press. "So for him to come in here and be the starter, I don't see it. I think that's a step back."

While Manning has been rehabbing — he hasn't even practiced with the team yet — third-year quarterback Curtis Painter has been working with the No. 1 offense. Dan Orlovsky is another quarterback on the roster.

"I don't care who you are," Wayne said. "I mean I'm not going to let anyone just come in here and just push someone (like Painter) aside like you're that dog now, you know what I mean?"

Perhaps Wayne was talking out of frustration because he hasn't been able to work with Manning, who has never missed a start in his previous 13 seasons. Painter, meanwhile, tried to be diplomatic about the Colts signing Collins.

"It was a business decision for them," Painter said. "It doesn't change much from my thought process. I need to go out there and be ready for any situation."

Wayne also had some words of support for backup Curtis Painter, which voiced an interesting but flawed premise (at least based on statistics).

"I don't want to make it seem like I'm not welcoming or having open arms to anybody that comes to our organization," Wayne said to the local media. "If they open the doors for Kerry Collins to come, then that's fine. I can't do (anything) about that anyways. But I'll be damned if we're going to open the doors for someone else, and just drop our heads on who we already have. The Colts are big on protecting their own, so I'm (going to) help protect our own."

One thing is certain: If Manning comes off the physically unable to perform list, it's unlikely the Colts would keep four quarterbacks on their active roster. Painter or Orlovsky probably would be the odd man out.

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(sportingnews.com)