AzPatsFan

I concur. In my opinion its is a major DOWNGRADE for the Colts. Vanderjerk has a more accurate leg, and still has his distance. It was quite clear that AV wasn't going to kick any 50 yarders for the past few years, and wasn't getting many chances by the Coaches for any mid-forties ones either last season. His kickoffs have been getting progressively worse every year.

Vanderjagt was screwed by Pay-me-a-ton who wasted three downs trying for the endzone bomb, rather than getting a 5-10 yard completion to make it a chippie FG, at the end of the Steelers game. That is spelled QB s-t-u-p-i-d-i-t-y!

SeanBruschi54

Ok see when teams play pass all day and you run with a guy he's going to get yards against teams no matter what. Noticed how in the second game you said combined to get 100, once James wasnt in thier teams just beat the crap out of these guys.


Yea when teams defenses are decimated with injuires your going to lose games. Backups cant always win you the game.

AzPatsFan

He hasn't kicked a 50 yarder in FOUR years. He can't even kick 45 yarders reliably anymore.

The Rams SB game was SIX YEARS AGO !!

WV-Colt

when your kicker has proven that he's unable to make a FG in the clutch, why wouldn't you try and score a TD?

PatsRI

Article in today's Globe:

Viatieri shunned Patriots:
http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...triots/?page=1

He sounds like he was bitter since 04.

About Gostowski:
``He's going to be a good one," Polian said of Gostkowski. ``If we hadn't signed Adam, we probably would have drafted him."

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Flying Fungi

not impressed...

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richpats

My thoughts exactly - though I don't blame the Pats' FO for not doing a deal after that year. His kickoffs were a liability in '04, though he improved in '05. His numbers were pretty good in '04, but he only attempted one from 50+ (and that from a fluke F.O.T.K. by the Jets) and he wasn't really kicking in clutch situations since we dominated most games that year.

I'd rather have the first 10 years of a great kicker's career than the last 5, and I think the Pats FO feels the same.

Clonamery

Read the article. Some people the more they speak and try to explain their situation, the more you realize just how shallow they really are. He was a great performer for the Patriots but if I comment further it will only be spit....

dhamz

The reality is, the Colts last offensive plays show the opposite. They show complete confidence in Vanderjagt to make that kick. They were playing as if it was a chip shot.

They had 30 seconds, 2 TOs and a 2nd and 2. That is minimum 2 plays before the FG, possibly even 3 or 4 if you can get out of bounds on 1. If you are worreid about your kicker, don't you hit a 10-15 yard pass, make it a chip shot and then go for the end zone? The only reason not to do that is either you think you already have a chip shot or the QB made a huge mental error.

Coaches and Qbs will tell you when running a 2 minute drill down 3, the goal is to make sure you get the 3. Once you are in range where you are assured of the 3, you can go for the win.

MoLewisrocks

It's statements like that made as if they are fact that drive me nuts. In 2004 he had the third best KO distance average in his career. Coupled with the best PK percentage in his illustrious career. And it's not his decision how many kicks to attempt at 50+. That's Bill's, and one he will very seldom make unless he has no other alternative.

This was always about the Patriots unwillingness to commit to a guy whose agent, who had a somewhat unholy alliance with this FO, may have led the team to believe he could be had without a long term committment over the last 10. I guess he was wrong which is why he (and his replacement lackey) got fired.

This FO and ownership leaked to it friends in the local media for months that Adam wasn't going anywhere. That led most teams with kicker needs to believe there was no point persuing him. When he got to GB they couldn't get a number out of his agent which is the only reason he left there without an offer. But that was also when he finally smartened up and cut the cord with the Cornish group. And I for one don't blame him a bit - I guess because unlike some here I'm willing to acknowledge my own inclination to be vindictive when I think I'm being disrespected or taken advantage of. Adam never did anything but make BB's life easier from the day he arrived as HC. On and off the field and in the locker room. An almost unheard of PK acknowledged by this FO as a core player and leader. When guys deliver as Adam did they shouldn't have to grovel.

If the Patriots believed the other tripe about rankings (which they don't unless it suits their purposes in negotiations) they would not have been prepared to keep him here at a $2.5M+ cap hit for 2006 and purportedly beyond. They were just playing coy with a guy they thought they emotionally owned, and it backfired. That they were not given one last chance after two years of opportunity to get a real long term deal done is just too damn bad. Like BB always says, it's a business on both sides.

All that remains to be seen is whether his signing positively impacts his new team, I hope not - although he is saving them a million and a half and that KO roster spot Vanderjerk could not fill either at the very least right out of the gate. And whether a rookie or a retread with issues or both can kick successfully and consistently this year let alone long term in a venue most kickers rank as one of the toughest in the league remains to be seen.