Longtime Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne has not decided to hang up his cleats yet, but RTV6 reporter Mike Chappell said Wayne won't be returning to just any team with a paycheck.
Just had a nice, long talk with Reggie Wayne. Back in Indy for NCAA events. Told me he wants to play in '15 if the situation is right. @rvt6
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) April 2, 2015
Wayne has a long track record of NFL success but he has a suffered a major knee injury in the recent past and will turn 37 during the 2015 season. That said, here are five situations in which Wayne can both succeed and have the most value to his team.
New England Patriots
Often, the complaint about the New England Patriots is that they lack a downfield threat. Well, once upon a time Wayne offered that, but he's no longer a deep ball receiver. What Wayne will offer, is excellent route running on the outside and courage over the middle. With New England, extra attention must be paid to tight end Rob Gronkowski, and defenses need to game plan for slot receiver Julian Edelman. Wayne has the veteran wiles to win one-on-one battles even at 36 years old, and will fit right in with the Patriots' veteran culture.
Denver Broncos
Denver has parted ways with Wes Welker, and needs an underneath presence to make their offense click. Emmanuel Sanders fits the bill as a replacement, but he's also extremely valuable on the outside. With Wayne's speed diminished, he might be a surprisingly snug fit in a new role with his old quarterback, Peyton Manning, easing him in. If anyone can step right into a Manning offense, it is Reggie Wayne.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are in desperate need of just about anybody to play wide receiver. Wayne isn't a burner anymore, but he is used to playing in fast-paced offenses from his days as a key cog for Peyton Manning's Colts, and he won't be the focal point of defenses with Chip Kelly's run game creating havoc.
Jeremy Maclin proved that good receivers can put up superstar numbers in Philadelphia, even with mediocre quarterback play. The Eagles are expecting improvement from the QB position with Sam Bradford at the helm, so Wayne might be a sneaky smart add.
Chicago Bears
After trading away Brandon Marshall, the Bears' projected No. 2 wide receiver (remember the NFL draft hasn't happened yet) is Marquess Wilson. That's pretty ugly. Reggie Wayne isn't any great shakes, but even in a bad season he caught 64 passes for 779 yards. He can be productive, and give defenses something to think about besides double or triple-teaming Alshon Jeffery.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs just signed Jeremy Maclin away from the Eagles, but they still have work to do in terms of building a respectable receiving corps. Wayne's not as adept at going deep these days, but that's perfect in KC. Alex Smith isn't much for downfield passes anyway, and head coach Andy Reid values the short passing game. Wayne could to damage here.
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