Securing Reggie Wayne means that Indianapolis still has the franchise marker available, and could use it to keep tailback Edgerrin James, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency. It is unlikely, however, given the cap ramifications, that Indianapolis will tag James for a second year in a row. At the Pro Bowl last week, the veteran tailback indicated to ESPN.com that he is prepared to play elsewhere in 2006.

FOXSports.com has learned that the Colts agreed to terms Wednesday with wide receiver Reggie Wayne on a six-year deal worth nearly $40 million including $13.5 million in bonus money. Wayne was slated to become an unrestricted free agent and his signing now weakens an already extremely weak receiver free agent class. While the contract terms have been agreed upon by both sides Wayne has not yet officially signed and should as soon as the NFL approves the deal. The deal also makes him the third highest-paid receiver in the NFL behind teammate Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss. By getting the Wayne deal done the Colts do not have to use the franchise tag on him, a move they were primed to make had they not worked out a new contract. It's unclear whether they will use the tag on free agent running back Edgerrin James, but right now that appears to be unlikely.

The death of the 18-year-old son of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy has been ruled a suicide, a medical examiner said Friday. James Dungy hanged himself from a bedroom ceiling fan with a leather belt, Dr. Jacqueline Lee of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office wrote in her final autopsy report. Authorities had ruled out foul play in December, but toxicology results were pending. Those tests were negative, except for caffeine and medication paramedics used in attempts to resuscitate the teen, Lee said. Dungy was found and cut down by his girlfriend on Dec. 22, less than a half-hour after last being seen alive, according to the medical examiner's office. The teen's girlfriend called paramedics, who attempted to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at a Tampa hospital.

In what might have been the final collaborative performance by the Indianapolis Colts' "Triplets,'' the AFC dropped a 23-17 decision to the NFC in the Pro Bowl all-star game Sunday at Honolulu. Quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Marvin Harrison and running back Edgerrin James all contributed to the AFC as starters, but it conceivably served as a closing statement to their long, productive association. James will be an unrestricted free agent March 3 and salary-cap concerns might keep the Colts from re-signing their career rushing leader.

Edgerrin James has resigned himself to the fact his playing days with the Indianapolis Colts are over. "I don't see nothing happening,'' he said Thursday night after a taping session here with the NFL Network. "You can read between the lines and from the things I'm hearing, nothing's going to happen. "And that's crazy, man. I'm part of the solution, I'm not part of the problem. Crazy, man.'' The Colts retained James for the 2005 season by naming him their "franchise'' player. He played his seventh season under a one-year, $9.1 million contract. The team had no comment Thursday night on James' statements. Team president Bill Polian has made it clear in recent interviews the Colts' offseason priorities included retaining wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who like James will become an unrestricted free agent in early March, and extending the contract of three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney. James has heard the talk, and noticed how his name seldom is at or near the top of the Colts' list. He wonders how that can be, how a two-time league rushing champion who will appear in his fourth Pro Bowl on Feb. 12 can be so underappreciated, so easily replaced.