FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — How can Reggie Wayne help the New England Patriots?

That’s what everyone wants to know.

Or more precisely, what does the 36-year-old former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver have left in him?

There are those predicting he’ll be a great addition to the Patriots’ offense, another weapon for Tom Brady – or whoever is quarterbacking this team when the season starts. There are others who tell you he’s running on empty, that he’s another Chad Ochocinco, another wide receiver Coach Bill Belichick coveted but who caught only 15 passes in his one season here.

Let Wayne, who signed a one-year contract Tuesday with the Patriots, tell you what he thinks.

“I think I have enough to play … if I didn’t think I had anything left, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “One thing I don’t do is worry about what other people say. If I didn’t play at all, if I decided to retire, they still would have something to say. I can’t do anything about that.

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“The only thing I can do is let my work speak for itself. I know what I can do. I know what I can bring to the table. I’ve just got to get caught up and get on the same page with everybody, and I’ll be able to show what I can do. Whoever those naysayers are, just watch me work.”

He has a lot of work to do. Before turning around to speak to the media – and once the interview was over – Wayne sat at his locker trying to digest the Patriots’ playbook.

“It’s been some years since I had to cram,” said Wayne, the No. 1 pick by the Colts in 2001 out of the University of Miami. “It’s something new for me and I’m looking forward to the journey.”

Wayne had other teams call him. “Good teams,” he said.

He considered the options even as he knew it was getting later and later into the preseason. In the end he felt the Patriots were his best option.

Why, he was asked.

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“I want to win, point blank,” he said.

As Belichick has always raved about Wayne and his ability to get open and catch the ball, Wayne has always respected what Belichick and Brady have accomplished in New England. The Patriots were almost always the team standing in front of the Colts and Wayne, whether his quarterback was Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck, for a championship. New England was 4-1 against the Colts in the playoffs, the loss coming in the 2006 AFC championship game.

“You’ve got to respect what he’s done in this league over the years,” said Wayne of Belichick. “Even though I was on the opposite side, you see that from afar, and that’s what you want. You want to be part of that.”

Belichick didn’t feel the need to extol Wayne’s attributes Tuesday. “That’s all on record,” he said.

And as much as he admires him, Belichick knows Wayne has a lot of work has to do.

“We’ll see how it goes, but glad we have him, excited to have him on the team,” said Belichick.

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“I think he can help us but we’ll see.”

Wayne brings a jolt to an offense that’s been hit hard by injuries to wide receivers in training camp.

Julian Edelman, last year’s leading receiver, and Aaron Dobson just returned to practice Tuesday from injuries. Brandon LaFell, who led all wideouts with seven touchdowns last year, hasn’t even practiced yet as he recovers from a foot injury.

The Patriots look for him to not only have an impact on the field but as a leader in the locker room.

“His reputation speaks for itself,” said defensive end Rob Ninkovich. “I mean, the things he’s done in the past, he’s a tremendous receiver. For him to be here … you try to learn from a guy like that and the experiences he’s had. It’s pretty cool.”

Wayne comes to the Patriots after 14 Hall of Fame-quality seasons with the Colts. He has 1,070 career catches (seventh all-time) for 14,345 yards (eighth all-time) and 82 touchdowns. He holds the NFL record of 82 consecutive games with three or more catches and he went over 1,000 receiving yards in seven consecutive seasons from 2004-10.

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Last year, in what many considered a diminished role, he caught 64 passes for 779 yards and two touchdowns.

Wayne said he was hurt, “from Week One to the end.”

He’s healthy now and ready to get back at it. He doesn’t know what his role will be, but is willing to do whatever he’s asked. He’s already told Brady that he’ll put in however much time after practice that he needs to get the timing down that quarterbacks need with their receivers.

“All of that is on my shoulders,” said Wayne. “How fast I can catch up, how quick I can learn – it will all take care of itself. Right now it’s just taking it one day at a time. They’re throwing everything at me right now and seeing what sticks.”

He’ll wear No. 15 for the Patriots, perhaps a nod to this being his 15th year in the league. His number with the Colts (87) was already taken by some guy named Rob Gronkowski. When it was suggested Wayne could perhaps negotiate for the number, he said no thanks.

“New place, new journey, new path, new number,” he said.

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The Patriots play his old team in Indianapolis on Oct. 18. Wayne was asked if he thought about that – “I don’t even see that right now,” he said – or if he had anything to say to the Colts’ fans who might be bitter for him joining the Patriots.

“No time for that right now,’ he said.

Nope, he’s got a lot of work to do. Time to study.

 


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