This weekend served as a much needed distraction for Indianapolis Colts fans, who’ve been peppered by perpetual rumors regarding how the front office plans to address their quarterback conundrum this offseason.
The two-day break was capped by the confirmation of former quarterback Peyton Manning, arguably the franchise’s greatest ever player, getting into the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot. The Colts legend headlined an absolutely star-studded class, and his raw reaction to the big news was enough to make an emotionless sociopath weak in the knees.
Unfortunately for the fan base, however, that collective exaltation was hampered by the news of former wideout Reggie Wayne failing to get voted in for the second consecutive year. If there’s a silver lining to be had with his snub, it lies in the fact that approximately 90% of all finalists eventually get the nod.
Colts' great Reggie Wayne misses out on making the Hall of Fame in his second year as a finalist. https://t.co/2kb9PJCOzo
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) February 7, 2021
On top of that, Wayne was put in an impossible position after Calvin Johnson was voted in. As spectacular as the former Colts star was throughout his career, his statistics pale in comparison to that of Megatron, so his election really sealed Wayne’s fate this time around.
However, we have the utmost confidence that Wayne will eventually receive his due and these three statistics prove why he deserves to have a bust alongside Manning in Canton.
Here’s why Colts legend Reggie Wayne belongs in the Hall of Fame.
3. Playoff Dominance
The measure of a player’s true greatness is often defined by his performance in the biggest moments and that bodes tremendously well for Wayne’s chances to get into the Hall of Fame, as he’s widely regarded as one of the most consistent playoff performers of all time as far as the wide receiver position is concerned.
Wayne took his game to an entirely different level in the postseason, ranking second in league history (only to Jerry Rice) in playoff receptions (94). That stat is remarkable in and of itself, but the 1,254 receiving yards the six-time Pro Bowler compiled over his 21 career playoff appearances rank fourth in league history. He also hauled in nine touchdown passes for good measure, including one that was instrumental in the Indianapolis Colts’ lone Super Bowl victory.
The championship alone bolsters Wayne’s resume, but the fact that he was a consistent source of production during Indy’s journey to get there — on top of their other playoff runs throughout his tenure with the team — proves that he belongs in the Hall of Fame.