How Much Does Reggie Wayne Still Have to Offer NFL Teams?

The NFL can be a very harsh business.

We're seeing that play out in a big way this week. Former franchise cornerstones like New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu have either been shown the door or are about to be.

A similar storyline is playing out in Indianapolis, and with the Colts set to part ways with the last remaining big piece of the Peyton Manning days, an unsettling question is wafting across the Indiana plains on Friday.

Is Reggie Wayne done?

At the very least, it appears Wayne is done in Indianapolis. As general manager Ryan Grigson indicated via the team's website, the Colts will not be bringing the 36-year-old wideout back in 2015:

"

Everyone knows the greatness and history associated with number 87. He truly is one of a small handful of players who really define the Colts as an organization. He was already a Hall of Famer in the making when Chuck and I arrived in Indianapolis in 2012, but no one has contributed more, on the field and in this building, to our turnaround, our continued growth, and our overall success since then. Reggie was the catalyst that sparked and ignited the team during our comeback against Green Bay in 2012. His gritty performance that day and that entire challenging season infused us all with the belief we could overcome any obstacle. His dedication and the example he set are second to none. We wish him nothing but the best in whatever new endeavor he pursues.

"

Head coach Chuck Pagano also chimed in:

"

My relationship with Reggie goes back to my coaching days at the University of Miami. He is the epitome of what a coach looks for in a player. Hard work, dedication, and sacrifice are just a few ways I would describe him. He encompasses everything that is right about this game, on and off the field. I am so grateful I had the chance to coach Reggie again when I arrived in 2012. It was a blessing to see the impact that he made with this organization and Colts fans around the world. I wish him all the best in the future and thank him for representing the horseshoe in the most professional manner.

"

The news sent shock waves across the Indy locker room, stunning the player who had surpassed Wayne as the Colts' top receiver, T.Y. Hilton:

On some levels, it's easy to see why Hilton was blown away.

Years	Games	Rec.	Yards	Avg.	TD
14	211	1,070	14,345	13.4	82

Over his 14 seasons with the Colts, Wayne tallied 1,070 receptions, 14,345 receiving yards and 82 touchdown grabs. Only Marvin Harrison has bested those numbers in the long and storied history of the franchise.

Wayne eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in eight separate seasons. He caught more than 100 passes in a season four times. Wayne hit double digits in touchdown catches three times. As recently as 2012, Wayne hauled in 106 passes for 1,355 yards.

Unfortunately, much has changed since then.

Wayne's 2013 season got off to a decent start, with 33 catches for 453 yards and two scores over the season's first six games.

Then came a Sunday night affair against Manning and the Denver Broncos, and the bottom fell out.

Wayne tore his ACL in the Colts' big win that night, and he hasn't been close to the same since.

When Wayne returned to the field in 2014, his ability to separate from defensive backs appeared to have completely evaporated. His numbers dropped across the board, and by season's end, Wayne had been supplanted in the Indy pecking order by both Hilton and Donte Moncrief.

Stat	Pre-Injury	Post-Injury
Receptions per Game	4.9	4.3
Yards per Game	65.9	51.9
Yards per Reception	13.5	12.2
Touchdowns per Game	.39	.13

And what was once unthinkable had become inevitable.

Mind you, this isn't to say that Wayne's tank is completely dry. He did manage to top 60 catches and 700 yards in 2014. Wayne may not be the vertical threat he once was, but 14 seasons spent playing with elite quarterbacks has afforded him a bag of tricks that rivals Santa's.

If NFL teams are looking for a player who can hurt teams over the top, look elsewhere. Even if Wayne's knee is in better shape another year removed from surgery, he's another year older as well.

That ship has sailed.

However, if an NFL team is looking for a chain-moving possession receiver who is the epitome of professionalism and who would effectively serve as a coach on the field, then those teams could do a lot worse than Reggie Wayne.

There is, of course, the possibility that Wayne decides to retire instead of looking for his second NFL home at the tail end of his career.

"It's uncertain what's next for Wayne," ESPN.com's Mike Wells wrote. "He had said several times during the regular season that he wouldn't play for another team. Now we must wait to find out if that's still the case."

If Wayne chooses to give it one more go with a different team, the question then becomes whether he wants the pounding over the middle and relatively paltry paycheck that comes with that role. If so, at least he'll be able to offer the unwavering leadership many teams are so desperate for in their locker rooms.

Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter at @IDPManor.