Wayne’s World: Colts receiver eager to put his hands on construction project

Colts ready for Wayne’s construction project

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Peyton Manning drove to from Indianapolis to Terre Haute, and first-round draft pick Donald Brown reported on time Sunday.

On another day, either appearance — or Jim Caldwell’s first training camp as Indianapolis’ head coach — might have trumped Reggie Wayne’s comic routine.

Not a chance. The Pro Bowl receiver with the penchant for grand entrances got everybody’s attention again by hitching a ride on a yellow dump truck, honking the horn to announce his arrival and delivering a loud, clear message.

“As you can see, we’re under construction,” he said. “I’m here ready to work. I’ve got my lunch box and I’m ready to go.”

Wayne had the gig down flat — from the dirty shoes to the safety goggles. He wore a white T-shirt, black pants, an orange construction vest and a belt to carry his hammer.

The custom-made helmet had the words “Wayne’s Construction” and “Super Bowl under construction” screen-printed across the front and side. And when the truck proceeded slowly down a small hill and pulled up in front of the dorm rooms at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, teammates knew it could only be one guy.

“Oh yeah, that’s Reggie,” said Bob Sanders, whose interview was interrupted by the blaring horn.

But Wayne’s antics always have a serious side.

Indy begins practice Monday after its most tumultuous offseason in years.

Gone are Marvin Harrison, the franchise’s career-leading receiver, Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and special teams coach Russ Purnell.

Caldwell has added two new coaches and brought back two offensive assistants who decided to come out of retirement, senior offensive coordinator Tom Moore and senior offensive line coach Howard Mudd. They are the only coordinator and line coach Manning has played for in 11 NFL seasons.

Caldwell can’t wait to get started.

“We’ve got a lot of eager guys coming in and I saw a bunch of them crossing the street,” he said. “I said ‘Don’t you wish we were practicing today?’ I guess they’re not as excited as me.”

Fortunately, Manning made it to camp this year on his own. He was the first player to report.

Last July, Manning needed a chauffeur to make the 80-mile drive west, keeping his surgically repaired left knee elevated in the back seat. He’s hoping that being around this year will help the Colts get off to a faster start.

“I’ve always kind of felt guilty not being with all those guys (last year) for two-a-days in the heat,” Manning said. “Obviously, I wasn’t having any fun. Believe me, I’d rather have been out here.”

The big news Sunday was that Indy reached a deal with Brown, the Colts’ last unsigned draft pick.

Terms were not disclosed, but the team has traditionally signed first-round picks to five-year deals.

The rookie running back arrived shortly after Manning but did not speak with reporters because he hadn’t yet signed the paperwork. Rookies are not allowed to practice until they are signed, something team president Bill Polian expects to be completed by Monday morning when Indy holds its first practice.

“We’re happy we got it done,” Polian said. “Sometimes you do; sometimes you don’t. The last couple of years, we’ve been fortunate enough to get them done.”

But Wayne delivered the punch line, again.

In 2006, he showed up wearing Edgerrin James’ Arizona Cardinals jersey, a tribute to his former college and pro teammate and longtime friend. In 2007, he arrived in camouflage gear — a symbol that the Super Bowl champs were ready to hunt for a second title instead of accepting their role as the NFL’s hunted.

The message this year: Get down, get dirty, get another ring.

“I’m real honest about this; I really mean it,” he said. “I feel like this year, we’ve got some work to do. We have a new head coach, a new defensive coordinator and it’s time to get to work. We’ve got to really work at this and get it figured out.”