According to longtime team journalist Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano would be happy for his former wideout Reggie Wayne if he actually ends up signing with the New England Patriots:
Pagano: If Reggie Wayne goes to Patriots. That's great for Reg. Know he wants to play another year. You just want best for him.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) August 23, 2015
While Colts fans may be collectively dry-heaving at such a sickening thought, Pagano obviously wants what’s simply best for Reggie. If the 36 year old is serious about continuing his playing career, a job–even to the despised Patriots, is theoretically better than no job.
However, it may come at a significant cost to his Colts legacy, as Wayne played all of his previous 14 seasons in Horseshoe Blue and would be joining their arch-nemesis during the twilight of his career.
Seeing Wayne join “the darkside” and teaming up with the Sith Lord himself Bill Belichick and his equivalent of Darth Vader i.e. Tom Brady may be too much for Colts fans to realistically stomach.
That being said, Pagano and Wayne go way back, dating all the way back to when Pagano was the Miami Hurricanes defensive backs coach while Wayne played for “the U” during the 1997-2000 seasons. Not to mention, Wayne was a solidifying presence and veteran leader during a tumultuous Colts transition period under Pagano’s first few seasons as an NFL head coach.
As shown this offseason, the NFL can be a cold-blooded business, and Pagano is simply hoping for the best when it comes to one of his former players–a beloved one at that, potentially continuing his playing career.
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