Veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne and the New England Patriots finalized a one-year deal worth up to $3 million on Tuesday.
The Green Bay Packers showed interested in possibly signing Wayne to replace recently injured Jordy Nelson.
Wayne, 36, spent 14 years with the Indianapolis Colts and faced the Patriots in many big games during that time as those two teams dominated the AFC in the 2000s.
While Colts fans took to social media to voice collective outrage, the franchise chose not to re-sign Wayne when he became an unrestricted free agent in March.
Wayne was the Colts’ franchise leader in regular-season games played (211) and wins (143) and ranked second in receptions (1,070), receiving yards (14,345), receiving touchdowns (80), 100-yard games (43) and consecutive games with a reception (134). He ranks seventh in NFL history in career receptions and eighth in receiving yards.
Wayne caught 64 passes for 779 yards and two touchdowns with the Colts last season.
After the season, Wayne underwent surgery to repair a torn triceps.
Asked how much Wayne has left, coach Bill Belichick told WEEI, “We’ll find out. We’ll see how it goes. We’ve never had him in our system before. Coached him in the Pro Bowl and all that, but we’ll just have to see how it goes. I think he’s certainly had a great career.”