Colts Thank Reggie Wayne with Banner at Lucas Oil Stadium

The Indianapolis Colts made the incredibly tough decision to move on from longtime star wide receiver Reggie Wayne this offseason, as they told the free agent that they would not be re-signing him, ending his terrific 14-year run with the franchise.

Wayne is currently a free agent and considering his options, but he won't be playing for the Colts in 2015.  As such, there will need to be a new banner that goes up outside of Lucas Oil Stadium replacing the fan favorite Wayne, but that won't come before the team honors him as they've done with a few others before him: by hanging a banner over the picture thanking the player for his contributions to the franchise.  If you walk by Lucas Oil now, you'll see a "Thanks for the memories" banner hanging across the picture of number 87.

The @Colts thank Reggie Wayne at Lucas Oil Stadium pic.twitter.com/UaU2JAJ3aB

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowenColts) April 9, 2015

This is something that the Colts have also done in the past to honor quarterback Peyton Manning and safety Antoine Bethea when the team parted ways with both of them and had to replace their banners outside of the stadium.  It's unclear who will replace Reggie Wayne (T.Y. Hilton would be my vote), but that will come after the team has honored the longtime star for his contributions to the team.

Wayne leaves the Colts holding the franchise record in games played (211) and wins he was a part of (143), also ranking second in nearly every receiving statistic, including receptions (1,070), yards (14,345), touchdowns (80), and 100-yard receiving games (43).  He ranks seventh all-time in NFL history in receiving yards and eighth all-time in receptions in NFL history, and is also quite possibly the second-greatest playoff receiver ever behind only Jerry Rice.  In fourteen seasons with the Colts, Wayne made six Pro Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2010.  His name will go in the team's Ring of Honor one day very soon and he might end up in Canton as well, but for now, the Colts are honoring him in the same way they've honored some previous great players: by hanging a thank you banner outside of Lucas Oil Stadium.

So we'll take the time to say it as well: thanks for the memories, Reggie.