Indianapolis Colts Offseason: Luck Says Reggie Wayne is Offensive Leader

Dec. 22, 2011; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne (87) walks back to the locker room after the game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeated Houston 19-16. Mandatory credit: Michael Hickey-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Luck recently spoke to the media at the William & Mary Colonial All-Pro Football Camp, and he had some interesting things to say in regards to his leadership role on the Colts as well as who is the leader of the offense in general.

“As a quarterback you assume some leadership role, just naturally, having to talk in the huddle and people having to listen to you. But we have great leadership on offense. Reggie Wayne is our offensive leader. He still is our offensive leader. That’s who I defer to. That’s who I look to. Great leadership in the locker room.

I’ve never felt like that you play quarterback so you have to be the guy. I think that’s a natural progression from what I’ve learned in college and last year. As you get older you talk more, maybe you share your opinion more but Reggie is still, in my mind, our offensive leader.”

Now, obviously Andrew Luck is the vocal leader of the Colts’ offense. He is the one who gets the play calls, he is the one who orchestrates everything before the snap, and he is the one who is going to have the ball in his hands when the clock is winding down, and the Colts are down by three points in a clutch situation.

But he still defers to Reggie Wayne?

Let’s try and get some context with Luck’s comments. He obviously acknowledged his vocal role in the Colts’ offense as a leader, but Luck is a very respectful individual. He knows that Reggie Wayne is a Super Bowl champion, has paid his dues, and took a huge leap of faith by re-signing with a 2-14 team who had just missed the playoffs for the first time in a very long time.

Wayne is obviously a leader. He’s been there, done that, and he knows what he is talking about. Wayne is a veteran NFL star who has consistently produced at a high level on winning teams, so I don’t see anything wrong with Luck’s comments.

The sophomore QB knows his place on this Colts team, and he knows when his time as the leader of this team will come. Wayne is a veteran leader, and he is who all these young pups on the Colts’ offense are going to for advice. I don’t think this is a knock to Luck’s personal confidence in his ability to lead, but his intelligence and knowing when to defer to veteran wisdom in a guy like Reggie Wayne.

When the games are being played and the situation calls for it, Luck will know who is leading the team.