Colts' Harrison, 35, facing questions on his future

alen1 · May 27, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS - It was a powerful and revealing, if relatively innocent, comment that surely could creep under the skin of the man who has caught more passes than all but three players in NFL history.

"I guess I'm Marv now," Reggie Wayne said last weekend.

If Wayne, the Indianapolis Colts' eighth-year wide receiver, who had his best season in 2007, is now "Marv," where then does that leave Marvin Harrison, the 35-year-old Philadelphia native with more than 1,000 catches in 12 seasons? On the downhill arc of his career? As the "other option" in the Colts' offensive arsenal? One more tweak away from becoming Mr. Irrelevant? A successful rehabilitation away from regaining his status as The Man?

As questions about Harrison's possible connection to an April 29 shooting near his garage and car wash on 25th and Thompson Streets in North Philadelphia linger, there, too, are plenty about his football future, and not just where Wayne is concerned. No matter his physical prowess or unique speed, Harrison has reached the age of diminishing returns. The NFL is a young man's game, and Harrison, who will turn 36 in late August, is closer to 40 than 30, much less 20.

While Harrison sat out 11 games last season with a nagging knee injury, the Colts' offense didn't seem to notice. Peyton Manning still threw for 4,000 yards. The team still won 13 regular-season games, still dominated the AFC South, still got a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

No, Indianapolis didn't win the Super Bowl - or a playoff game, for that matter - but it's fair to say those shortfalls were more because the Colts missed defensive end Dwight Freeney and free safety Bob Sanders than because they missed Harrison.

Which raises the question: Regardless of what happens with the police investigation in Philadelphia, how much more does No. 88 have left?
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