Somewhere, Andrew Luck is smiling.
Very late Tuesday, about 9:46 p.m., the first report was out that Reggie Wayne is staying. He has agreed to a new three-year deal, worth $17.5 million, to remain in Indianapolis.
This is great news for a multitude of reasons. For all the impact guys that have left or been cut, finally the team keeps one of their own.
Late last week, new Colts management cut Gary Brackett, Melvin Bullitt, Dallas Clark, and Joseph Addai. Wayne may have been the second-biggest name on the team behind Manning. There has been a lot of negativity regarding the team letting popular players go, and this re-signing should help reduce the angst.
Although his production has been down, he is still effective and will be huge for rookie quarterback Andrew Luck to target.
Last year, he had 75 receptions for 960 yards and four touchdown but that season should have an asterisk. With Curtis Painter under center for most of the season, there wasn’t much success offensively. He will be entering his 12th season in the NFL and he has lost some speed. He will provide a lot to this team and continue to be a target the defense will have to always keep track up.
As for the Colts No. 1 pick that will surely be Stanford’s Andrew Luck, he can rest a bit easier now. When Peyton Manning began his NFL career, he had Marvin Harrison and Marshall Faulk to help him along offensively. Luck will at least have Wayne and Austin Collie to throw to.
Regardless, it’s going to be a tough first couple of years because they are rebuilding but this may help ease the cause.
Jim Irsay getting a deal with Wayne was quite the surprise. Most, including myself, thought he would follow Manning wherever he went. Those two had been working out a lot in Miami and can nearly read each other’s mind. It may mean Wayne didn’t have the free agent value he thought or he wanted to remain a Colt. Either way, they were able to get it done and the Colts are better for it.
Wayne is the second Colts player to agree to stay in Indy. Defensive end Robert Mathis signed a four-year deal one week ago.
REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE!!!!!!!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 14, 2012