Dein erstes Forum » to cut ties with more than a half-dozen

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts victory over Peyton Manning came at a hefty price. Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. News of Waynes injury hit hard at the team complex. Second-year receiver T.Y. Hilton expressed sadness about losing his mentor. Coach Chuck Pagano tried to lean on his standard line about replacing injured players, though it didnt come with quite the same passion, and Luck blamed himself for putting Wayne in harms way with a low, underthrown ball late in the game against Denver. "Looking back it again today, there was really no one within 30 yards of him. He probably would have scored if I actually give him a decent ball. I feel somewhat responsible for the whole thing," Luck said. "I think I feel sick to my stomach about it a little bit." Wayne, who was not hit on the play, immediately clutched his right knee and stayed on the ground for several minutes as Luck, longtime friend Antoine Bethea, other teammates and a group of trainers gathered around. After making the short walk to the Colts sideline, the man who had played in 189 consecutive games limped into the locker room with tears in his eyes knowing that his season was likely over. Pagano and teammates were hoping for the best. Instead, they got the worst possible news, and theres no doubt Waynes absence will hurt the AFC South leaders. The perennial Pro Bowler leads his team with 38 catches and 503 yards this season. In 13 seasons, all with the Colts, he has 1,006 receptions, 13,506 yards and 80 TD catches -- second in each category on the franchises career charts, behind only ex-teammate Marvin Harrison and ahead of Hall of Famer Raymond Berry. But Waynes impact cant be measured merely by stats. When the Colts (5-2) decided to cut ties with more than a half-dozen high-priced veterans, including Manning, following Indys dismal 2-14 season, Wayne was one of the few holdovers who decided to stick around and rebuild. He even took less money to stay in his adopted hometown, and quickly emerged as a centerpiece of the Colts incredible turnaround. He always plays with passion, which was never more evident than last October against Green Bay. In Indys first game after Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia, Wayne caught 13 passes for 212 yards and almost single-handedly willed the Colts from a 17-3 deficit to a 30-27 victory that ended with Waynes orange gloves, a tribute to Pagano, barely crossing the goal line with 35 seconds to go. Its one of the reasons Pagano believes Wayne will return next season at full throttle. "Hes not going out like this. Hes not going to leave this game like this. Theres no way," said Pagano, who first met Wayne when they were working together at the University of Miami. "Hell fight, hell get his surgery, and hell rehab and hell grind like nobodys ever grinded. Hell do whatever it takes to get back on that football field -- even if its to catch one more pass, make one more block, do one more thing to help this organization win a football game, hell do it. But hes not going out like this." Pagano did not say when Wayne would have surgery though it takes most athletes a year to come back. Some require 18 to 24 months, though Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson did it quicker than that. Peterson came back in nine months and went on to win last seasons MVP Award. The then-30-year-old Woodson returned to play in the Super Bowl following the 1995 season after tearing up his knee in that seasons opener. Obstacles can be more difficult for older athletes such as Wayne, who turns 35 next month and will be heading into the final year of his contract next season. "There is a thought that the recovery process might be a little slower in athletes as they get older, but there arent any real studies that show its harder to recover," said Dr. David Geier, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, S.C. "We think being a high-level athlete in good shape can help because we know that the strength of the muscle going in plays a role how fast you get back. But being a higher level athlete, also means you have a higher bar to achieve to getting back." The Colts have seen this scenario before. In 2007, the then 35-year-old Harrison injured his knee while making a block when another player rolled up on the back of his leg. He missed most of that season and was never the same. He finished 2008 with 60 catches for 636 yards and five TDs but never played another down in the NFL after that season. Pagano doesnt believe it will happen to Wayne. "You just look in the mans eye. When he tells you hes going to do something, I can just look in his eye," Pagano said. "Again, Ive known him for a long time and watched him work over the years and he says Ill be back, I trust hell be back." Since dealing with a high ankle sprain and a sprained knee, which cost him three games as a rookie in 2001, Wayne had not missed a game. That streak that will officially end Nov. 3 at Houston when the Colts return from their bye week. Pagano would not say if the Colts will shop for another replacement. For now, they plan to go with the receivers already on the roster -- Hilton, Darrius Heyward-Bey, LaVon Brazill and David Reed -- and perhaps activate one or both of the teams practice squad, DaRick Rogers or Griff Whalen. Losing Wayne hurts even more because of what has already happened to Indys offence. Starting tight end Dwayne Allen (hip), Indys top two running backs, Vick Ballard (knee) and Ahmad Bradshaw (neck), and starting left guard Donald Thomas (quad) are already on season-ending injured reserve. Wayne is likely to join that list soon. "The first thing out of his mouth is he feels like he let his teammates down because he cant be there now. Thats how unselfish this guy is," Pagano said. "Like I told you, he could give a hoot about the numbers, all that stuff. He just wants to play and help us win a championship. Thats what hes dealing with right now." Pat Connaughton Bucks Jersey .ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen, NFL Editor Ben Fisher, and Isaac Owusu discuss three hot fantasy football topics. D. J. Wilson Bucks Jersey . 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The 29-year-old bantamweight from Sudbury, Ont., is on his third opponent, with Roman (El Gallito) Salazar stepping in this week for Rob Font, who had replaced Aljamain Sterling. Its part of the fight game, Gagnon said philosophically of the injury-related revolving door. Salazar (9-2) is a 26-year-old Tucson cable technician making his UFC debut. Gagnon (11-2) only found about his new opponent Monday but doesnt seem fazed. He says hes not big on game-plans. Im just going to do me, he said. Im positive Ill be come coming out victorious on Saturday. Gagnon, a prickly pocket rocket, has flown under the radar despite winning nine of his last 10 fights. He has won three straight since losing his UFC debut to Bryan Caraway via third-round submission at UFC 149 — a defeat that nevertheless earned him a US$65,000 bonus for fight of the night. The five-foot-five 135-pounder subsequently scored first-round submissions of Walel Watson and Dustin Kimura before winning a decision over Tim Gorman. Gagnons guillotine choke win over Kimura at UFC 165 in Toronto earned him a $50,000 bonus for submission of the night. That fight showed Gagnons heart. He was hurt by a Kimura body shot but promptly took his opponent down.dddddddddddd After escaping a heel hook, he hurt Kimura from top position. The fight ended when Kimura passed out from a guillotine choke after Gagnon stuffed a takedown attempt. He gave up six inches in height to Watson but floored him with a left and then locked in a rear-naked choke for a 69-second win at UFC 152. Ten of Gagnons 11 wins have come by submission, with six via guillotine choke. His cauliflower ears attest to an extensive grappling background. You dont get that ear playing tennis, UFC commentator Joe Rogan said dryly prior to the Kimura fight. It was an impressive comeback for Gagnon, who sat out a year after the Watson fight due to knee surgery. While focused on Salazar, Gagnon would like another shot at Caraway down the line. No excuses, he was the better man that day, Gagnon said. I just feel like Ive gotten better and he stayed the same. Gagnon, a former wrestler who took up MMA training some seven years ago, spent two months training for this fight in the Toronto area, with the occasional visit of his fiancee from Sudbury. He walks around at about 155 pounds, hitting 165 if I let myself go a little bit. As of Wednesday he was 147 pounds, still eating big meals and drinking water. Im doing everything right as far as the weight cut goes, he said. Im doing it as healthy as I can. ' ' '