Reggie Wayne has been in the NFL for a decade and a half and has been involved in every kind of passing play coaches can design. But after signing a one-year deal with the Patriots this week, he had to admit he felt a little lost."Like a rookie," Wayne said when asked how he felt blending into New England's playbook. "They're throwing a lot at me right now. I'm not getting very much sleep. I feel like a rookie all over again."
Much of the work is mental. The Patriots' play the Erhard-Perkins scheme, a pass game that involves wide receivers using their brains as much as their brawn in a high volume of short gaining plays in multiple formations, asking wide-outs to make improvised decisions in the moment against a particular defensive alignment.
And while Wayne didn't come to Foxboro a lock to make the final roster, some injuries at the position may boost his playing time. Julian Edelman is still questionable for the season opener with a leg injury and Brandon LaFell may be headed for the PUP list with a foot ailment.
Experience is on his side: Wayne has the NFL's 7th-most receptions (1,070), is eighth all-time in receiving yards (14,345), and is 22nd in league history with 82 touchdown catches.
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