Is Reggie Wayne A Villain Now?

By Nolan Schmidt | Aug 25, 2015

If you told me last season that Reggie Wayne would be playing for the New England Patriots this season, I’d do what many Colts fans would do, scoff at the remark.

I mean come on, this is a guy who has spent his entire career happily playing for the Colts and presumably despising the Patriots. Why would he ever betray Indianapolis and sign with their biggest rivals?

Well, today brings that harsh news of Wayne indeed signing a one-year deal with New England. He leaves the Colts second all-time in receiving yards and receptions in franchise history

The response from Colts fans can be categorized in many words and some still don’t believe the news. From what I have seen from fans, it seems as though they are making Wayne out to be a villain.

A man who has abandoned his team and fans of 14 years for the most hated team in the league.

Colts fans would have been fine if he signed with any other team, but since it’s the Patriots, he’s committed the cardinal sin in their minds. In fans’ minds, it’s comparable to Anakin Skywalker abandoning Obi-Wan Kenobi (Andrew Luck) and the Jedi Order to turn over to the dark side with the Emperor (Bill Belichick).

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All Star Wars comparisons aside, should Wayne truly be regarded as a villain to Colts fans? On the surface, it would be easy to call him a villain, he’s playing for the Colts biggest rivals. He’s now teammates with Colts’ mortal enemy in Tom Brady, for a fan that’s reason enough to convict him of being a villain.

However, part of this lies on the Colts’ shoulders, if you recall the Colts choose not to re-sign Wayne earlier this offseason after an ineffective/injury prone 2014.

They could have signed Wayne for one-year and made him a Colt for life, but they choose not to, allowing him to do what he pleased. Fans should not be so quick to judge Wayne for his decision because part of the decision lies with Indianapolis not re-signing him.

Another element of this is the fact that it’s Wayne signing with the Patriots and not any other Colts player. Remember, Colts fans didn’t bat an eye when Joseph Addai signed in New England in 2012, know why?

Because Addai does not have the Colts lore that Wayne has. Wayne is a Colts legend and fans have clouded their minds with that fact, hence why it may sting to hear Wayne signing in New England.

Personally, as a Colts fan it does sting a little seeing Wayne sign with New England, but I do not believe he should be demonized as some type of villain. It’s unfair to him, and if fans continue to dwell on it, they will completely forget the 14 amazing years Reggie had for the Colts.

I wish Reggie the best(not the Patriots) and hopefully Colts fans will give him the cheers he deserves rather than boos when he returns on October 18th.

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