REDSKINS NOTEBOOK Colts' General Manager Says Wayne 'Won't Be a Redskin'
By Howard Bryant Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, February 4, 2006; Page E08
Three days after the Washington Redskins' front office announced it had no interest in pursuing the troubled but talented wide receiver Terrell Owens, the Indianapolis Colts made clear Friday that Reggie Wayne, another high-profile, big-play wideout, won't be available to the Redskins in their search to complement Santana Moss.
Colts General Manager Bill Polian said yesterday that the team will prevent Wayne, 27, from becoming a free agent, either by negotiating a new contract or designating him the team's "franchise player," which would give the club exclusive negotiating rights. Wayne is due to be an unrestricted free agent and, along with Owens, stood to be one of the most coveted wide receivers on the market.
"I can say one thing about Reggie Wayne, and it's he won't be a Redskin," Polian said. "We'll either sign him to a long-term deal or we'll franchise him, but he's not going anywhere."
A second wide receiver to provide relief to Moss and expand the Redskins' offense is a main objective of the offseason. Wayne has teamed with Marvin Harrison for the past four years to form perhaps the league's premier receiving tandem. Wayne caught 83 passes for 1,055 yards and five touchdowns last season. In 2004, he caught 77 passes for 1,210 yards and 12 touchdowns. He and Moss were teammates at the University of Miami and both were first-round picks in 2001.
Wayne's availability seemed to be something of a long shot, for Polian had reiterated throughout the season and earlier that the club had planned on keeping him. Price had been an issue in Indianapolis, but the expected departure of Edgerrin James would allow the team to keep Wayne. Some executives felt the Colts might benefit from spending some of the money it would take to keep Wayne on improving the defense.
By designating him an exclusive franchise player, the Colts would have to pay Wayne the minimum of the average of the top five wide receivers or 120 percent of his 2005 salary, whichever sum is greater. Wayne earned $1.25 million last season, and thus would have to be offered the franchise minimum average, which for wide receivers would be at least $7.76 million.
"We just got done with our coaches meetings and we know we have two elite wide receivers and we understand their value," Polian said. "We understand the system and what it dictates."
What a relief. Perhaps we can now move on from any Reggie Wayne fixation and look at somebody a little more practical. We really don't need to be paying out another $40m contract to a wide receiver.
Amen UK Skins fan -- I've been saying that all along. We can't afford another high priced WR. You can't spend that much money on the WR position and afford to get good players at other positions.
Moss makes big money and Patten got a nice contract last year. We can win with one really good WR and a good not great #2, a good TE, a good RB and backup RB, a great line and a QB that can make the throws. We have it all, except for the QB. My hope is, we find a possession WR for a very reasonable salary (to shut everyone up!) and spend our time getting a QB ready - i.e., Campbell!
We could sign Wayne but Brunnel wouldn't find him...we could add 3 Wayne's and our offense wouldn't improve.
UK Skins Fan wrote:What a relief. Perhaps we can now move on from any Reggie Wayne fixation and look at somebody a little more practical. We really don't need to be paying out another $40m contract to a wide receiver.
This does mean that all the other free agent WRs will get larger contracts though. Smaller supply, same demand, higher cost. Basic economics.
Romans 1:11 "For I wish that I myself were cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers..." Paul
UK Skins Fan wrote:What a relief. Perhaps we can now move on from any Reggie Wayne fixation and look at somebody a little more practical. We really don't need to be paying out another $40m contract to a wide receiver.
This does mean that all the other free agent WRs will get larger contracts though. Smaller supply, same demand, higher cost. Basic economics.
That's true enough, but I still think we'll get more bang for our buck with a second tier wide receiver, rather than going for the stud. It may mean Randle El goes out of our price range (if he was ever in it), but I just know that this offence can take off without two Pro Bowl wide receivers on the team.
The Colts are screwed. Their window officially closed with that announcement. Now they lose Edge so they'll have no running game and their defense still isn't as good as everyone thinks. They have so much money invested in their QB, and three WRs (they just gave Stokely a big payday last year) I don't know if they can even resign Freeny.
I never wanted Wayne anyway. He's too expensive for what he would bring to the table and add to the team. I don't think the Redskins were seriously thinking about adding him anyway.
"We're not going to be the pushovers of the NFL, we're gonna push over some people!" - Clinton Portis
They are stupid over there anyway. They think Peyton does it all alone. They have a losing record when Edgerrin James is not playing and it looks like they are ready to give him up to keep Wayne.
Yeah I think Polian is still realing from the Marcus Washington deal and would likely rather die than see Reggie Wayne don the burgandy and gold. I'll take K.Rob or Randel El.
Gibbs4Life wrote:Yeah I think Polian is still realing from the Marcus Washington deal and would likely rather die than see Reggie Wayne don the burgandy and gold. I'll take K.Rob or Randel El.
I agree. I wonder why the Colts would be worried about us? They are in the AFC. Unless they are worried when we meet them in next years Super Bowl!!!
I'm still not sold on the fact that we have no chance at Reggie.
the franchise tag rule is stupid. this is idiotic. it should be illegal for them to hold a player against his will like that (if he did in fact want to leave). they can franchise my balls.
UK Skins Fan wrote:This does mean that all the other free agent WRs will get larger contracts though. Smaller supply, same demand, higher cost. Basic economics.
Well there is less demand because the Colts will not want another receiver. Teams still have the same budgetary constraints anyways. And if free agency becomes too expensive, teams can just look towards other alternatives, (the draft), which may keep the price of wide receivers in check. It is not that simple economically .
UK Skins Fan wrote:This does mean that all the other free agent WRs will get larger contracts though. Smaller supply, same demand, higher cost. Basic economics.
Well there is less demand because the Colts will not want another receiver. Teams still have the same budgetary constraints anyways. And if free agency becomes too expensive, teams can just look towards other alternatives, (the draft), which may keep the price of wide receivers in check. It is not that simple economically .
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