shatch62

Right now Adam Vinatieri has one of the best gigs in sports. He is by far the biggest kicker in the game. In a recent Sporting News, it was summed up perfect. Vinatieri is a rock star in New England. The blurb also said he would be crazy to leave. I know he is in his early 30s and this might be his last chance to get a huge contract but he also better think about his legacy. Does it make sense to him to go to – say Dallas – for an extra $500,000 a year? How about an extra $750,000. Maybe. But he won’t be the legend there that he is here. There he will be a famous athlete. Here he is a God. Will he get Papa Gino like endorsement deals there? Maybe…maybe not. Look at a guy like Mo Vaughn. Here he was the toast of the town. After he took the big money to go to Calafornia he just became another famous guy surrounded by other famous guys. Could be the same deal for Adam.

If he goes for some extra cash I will not think any less of him. He needs to make as much as he feels he is worth. I just hope the extra cash is worth it for him

jeffd

In Dallas he is still in the media spotlight. He will play for a team that has a poor offense and he will probably be kicking more often. Those kicks will be made mostly indoors. That sounds like a formula to add to his legend. BTW, he is already Hall of Fame material and considered among the best all time. He'll do nothing but add to that in Dallas.

Pats726

As was pointed out in a PFT blurb of a few days agao..those in their 30s need to think more long term. His agent may want to go big contract, whish in the short term is OK..but not the same long term. You are right..he stays here, he is golden for life...how many millions can he make long term in business?? After football?? The agent does not care a dran about that as he isn't making a penny from it..so why not push Adam into a short deal a ways cross the country. Maybe it is short siighted to look at the bucks now and not long term..I think NE will raise the ante but will let him go for megabucks...
but if it's less than a mill..I think Pats raise and call and Adam stays.

mgteich

I continue to be amazed. You think that it is short-term thinking for Adam to try to get $8M - 10M of guaranteed money. And you believe that accepting a non-guaranteed contract from the patriots is the right long-term decision.

IMHO, you have the situation exactly backward. Adam will solidify his children's lifetime money needs with one more large guaranteed contract.

PATSNUTme

If any team offers any kicker $8-10mil of guaranteed money, that kicker should grab it and run right to the bank.

If that is what we are talking about, I say thanks Adam and goodbye.

We then should go to Europe and hold a "superfoot' contest. Worked pretty well when we got John Smith off the scoccer team.

patchick

I'm usually one who argues that staying in one place has long-term social and economic benefits for the player. But I'm with mgteich on this one...it's not a question of total dollars, it's guaranteed dollars. Adam seems like a smart guy. He knows how much the endorsements earn him. But he also knows this is his single best chance for one monster check, his to keep even if he tears up his knee in training camp and never sees game action again.

What's more, I think his legend in New England is secure. If someday he does make it to the hall of fame, it's quite obviously in a Patriots jersey. So long, and thanks for the memories.

MoLewisrocks

On what planet to kickers get $8-10M in guaranteed money?

The Patriots are in the right area code on Adam if as indicated they have already offered him a contract that would keep him the highest paid by some measure. So it's reasonable to assume they offered him something in the $2.5M per year range. The problem is they offered no guaranteed money (SB) and we don't know what length of contract they offered. They are apparently willing to let the market set his market. I hear people throw around wild numbers like Dallas may offer $5M a year. Jones may be flashy but he isn't stupid.

The top compensation marks for a kicker to date are $10.5M for 5 years on length and AAV and $3M on up front bonus on a 4 year deal to Rackers. Adam is likely looking for something a little north of both those marks - say 5 years $12-13M and a $3M+ SB. He did say he would have been OK with the franchise tag this season so that tells me that figure was in his SB range.

Dallas is a huge market with a desperate need for a reliable kicker - they missed the playoffs this year because of 3 games they didn't win by a missed FG margin. He can recoup the Papa Gino's money. Where he would lose out would be several years down the road in retirement opportunities and endorsements. But as someone here already said, thirty somethings don't always think that long range and player agents are seldom still involved in those down the road dealings.

Bobs My Uncle

The extra money that Adam might be compensated for now could be invested to easily offset any future endorsement monies he might lose by leaving. And who's to say those future endorsement deals ever materialize. As my Grandpa used to say "it's all a rumour until it's in your pocket"

smg93

One of the points of the PFT story was that his agent doesn't care about the money he makes after his playing days are over. I doubt that actually, because if I was a smart agent I would make sure that I would line up endorsements for him even after he retires. If I were a player, I'd let my agent do that as well because I don't need the distraction of having to answer calls from companies and read all the proposals since it only costs me 3%.

MagicMarker

I don't blame Adam for wanting to go into free agency. I would, too.

But, I have to say, unless the difference in money were HUGE,I'd stay in New England. Being a professional athlete is not just what you do, it's who you are. It's being loved every where you go. It's being a local icon. If he stays here, he'll get that for the rest of his life. If he goes, it's just not the same.

If he leaves, he never gets that back.