Not So Fast My Friend

As training camp inches closer and closer, many fans are getting more and more edgy about the possible holdout situation of Reggie Wayne. The uncertainty surrounding number 87 has caused many fans to vent and voice their opinion regarding his possible holdout. As is human nature, fans seem to be jumping to conclusions and making unfair assumptions about Wayne, who doesn’t deserve near the amount of criticism that he is receiving. Unlike other professional sports, the NFL is much tougher on its players both physically and financially, and although players can receive a huge payday, they can also have their contracts ripped up at anytime. However, before you jump on Wayne, consider what he has meant to this team.

Many people believe that Wayne has simply been the beneficiary of Peyton Manning’s enormous coattails. Granted, Wayne isn’t playing for the Buffalo Bills or Oakland Raiders, he is playing for one of the best offenses in the NFL, but he is one of the main reasons why the Colts are one of the best offenses in the NFL. After viewing the slow demise of former standout, Marvin Harrison, Colts fans were still able to see Manning throw to a number one receiver in Wayne. Manning has never been without one of the better receivers in the league, and although he certainly elevates the level of play of those around him, the same can be said for the players around him elevating his game.

As fans we are quick to assume that Manning is the reason for the Colts success, but in reality just as much praise can be payed to the front office as is paid to Manning. It is not a coincidence that the Colts consistently have young, talented receivers waiting in the wings, and Polian and company have mastered the art of drafting the receiver position. Harrison, Wayne, Brandon Stokley, Anthony Gonzalez, Austin Collie, and Pierre Garcon were all receivers that had the ability to have success on the NFL level. Manning has elevated the play of all of these players throughout his career, but without these quality receivers Manning would not be where he is today. For years the media would discuss the fact that Tom Brady could still win without top notch receivers, and that Manning couldn’t even beat Brady with weapons, such as, Harrison, Wayne, and Clark. Brady was never able to put up the numbers that Manning did until the Patriots added Randy Moss and Wes Welker to Brady’s arsenal. Both of these receivers were good elsewhere, but when paired with Brady they were able to elevate their games even more. The same can be said with the Colts’ weapons. Should Wayne leave the Colts there is no doubt that he would not be as effective, however, he would still be one of the better and more effective receivers in the league.

Fans want to jump on players the second they start demanding more money, and when people are struggling to make a decent living while athletes are making millions of dollars, people have the right to complain. However, keep in mind that these players have spent their whole lives training to be in the position they are in now, and even worse is the fact that the fans have paved this road of greed that most players now find themselves on. The fans have dumped billions of dollars into the NFL, and players choose their path knowing the costs and benefits. So before you criticize Wayne, realize that he is not simply riding the coattails of Manning. The Colts do not have a true number one receiving threat outside of Wayne, and although they have nice up and coming receivers, none of them are ready to take on the role of the number one guy.