Key Super Bowl matchup: Wayne vs. Greer
Colts WR Reggie Wayne vs. Saints CB Jabari Greer
The Colts' Reggie Wayne is the complete package as a receiver, and he's replaced Marvin Harrison as Peyton Manning's go-to guy on the outside.
He is a precise route runner with sticky fingers, very good speed and the ability to hurt a defense everywhere on the field, from short slants to deep routes. He has more than 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past six seasons, and he's caught 52 TD passes during that time.
In their careers, Manning and Wayne have combined for 62 touchdowns, the most of any active quarterback-receiver combo in the NFL. Wayne opened the Colts' scoring against the Bears in Super Bowl XLI with a 53-yard TD catch from Manning.
The 6-foot, 198-pound Wayne, who has started every game since 2003, is a New Orleans native and a product of the University of Miami.
Greer missed seven games late in the 2009 regular season after suffering a sports hernia in Week 9 that eventually required surgery in early December. In four of the first six games Greer missed, the Saints allowed 23 points or more, including games against the offensively challenged Rams and Redskins, two of the lowest-scoring teams in the NFL. The Saints suffered 2 of their 3 losses in games Greer did not play.
He returned for the regular-season finale and is now back to full strength.
Greer was a standout sprinter for the Tennessee Volunteers and is the Saints' best cover corner. He has excellent speed and quickness and helped hold Vikings Pro Bowl wide receiver Sidney Rice to just 4 catches for 43 yards in the NFC title game, although Rice did have a 5-yard TD catch. Greer has a modest 2 interceptions in each of the past three seasons, but in 2008 and 2009, he scored on 3 of his 4 picks on returns of 48, 42 and 33 yards.
Greer is a bit undersized at 5-feet-11 and 180 pounds, but he can be physical and does not play small.
As well as Greer has played, Wayne should have an easier time in Super Bowl XLIV than he did in the AFC title game, when he was shadowed by All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis but still managed 3 catches for 55 yards.