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Wayne, who has caught passes from both Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, now moves on to Tom Brady.
Julian Edelman, one of the injured receivers trying to get back on the field, said, "He's one of the best. Reggie Wayne statistically shows it. Just from being around him in the couple of days I have, he's a true professional.
"I'm excited. I really am," he said of now being with Brady. "One of the best to ever do it. Tom has definitely welcomed me here. It's outstanding, man. Not everybody can say that they've had this journey I've had. I'm excited about it and looking forward to it."
Added safety Devin McCourty: "He's a great player. Any time you can add a veteran player that's made a ton of plays throughout his career I think is not just good for the offense but for the overall locker room. Obviously we've heard great things about him and gotten to watch him play so I think everybody's excited to have him here."
"You look at him,Wholesale Jerseys China, and that's a pro. It's going to be good to have him around and to learn from him. He's played in a lot of big-time football games and he's made a lot of big-time plays. So it's good to have him and it will be good to learn and see what his perspective of the game is as a fellow receiver."
"I know what I can do. I know what I'm capable of,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale. I'm grateful for this opportunity and that the New England Patriots organization has welcomed me in."
Wayne said he was injured all last season, when he battled triceps and groin injuries in a career-worst season of 64 catches for 779 yards and two touchdowns.
Coach Bill Belichick, who confirmed the signing on a Boston radio station on Monday before it was announced on Tuesday, called Wayne one of the best route runners in the game.
"I'm excited about the transition. I've got so much work ahead of me. I'm sitting here at my locker now cramming. It's been some years since I've had to cram. This is something new for me and I'm looking forward to it."
"I've coached him in Pro Bowls and those kinds of situations," Belichick said. "This is obviously different, we'll see how it goes, but glad we have him, excited to have him on the team. I think he can help us, but we'll see."
"If that's what he said about me,Cheap China Jerseys, I'm on the other side saying he's one of the best to ever do it in the coaching form," Wayne said.
He enters the regular season seventh all time in the league in receptions and eighth in yards receiving, with 82 touchdowns. In the postseason, he is second in catches,Wholesale Jerseys From China, fourth in yardage and tied for seventh in TDs.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Reggie Wayne said he was talking to several NFL teams before deciding to sign a one-year contract with the New England Patriots.
NOTE: The Patriots placed wide receiver Brian Tyms on injured reserve and released fullback Eric Kettani.
"There were a lot of serious calls, from some good teams, but I felt like this was the best place," Wayne said Tuesday before joining his new team for his first practice.
His new teammates are impressed with what he has accomplished.
For Wayne, who has played all 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and will be 37 in November,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, this is a fresh start and there's a lot of work to be done after signing at this point in the preseason.
"New place. New journey,Air Max 97 NZ, new path, new number," he said. "He can have (87). Eighty-seven for me is over with."
"I knew I was going to be behind the 8-ball. I was sitting at home in Miami and constantly getting that itch. And the longer I waited the harder it was going to be. I think it's right on time and I've gotta go back to school and try to figure all this out."
"A guy like that, with the career he's had, you respect a guy like that for the things that he's done in the league and the way he goes about his business," defensive end Rob Ninkovich said. "I haven't met him yet, but just his reputation speaks for itself for a guy that is always working hard and doing whatever it takes to help the team."
Wayne, known for his No. 87 in Indy, comes to a team that already has a pretty good No. 87 — tight end Rob Gronkowski. That's fine with Wayne, who will wear No. 15.
Asked why New England was the right fit for him, Wayne said, "I want to win, point blank."
"I'm excited about the opportunity. I'm excited for the challenge," he said. "All the guys have welcomed me with open arms. It should be sweet. |
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