http://www.ecnnews.com/cgi-bin/15/etstory.pl?-sec-Sports+fn-fn-burtet.0322-20060322-fn
Belichick only pays for future, not past
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Bill Burt
OK, let's get this straight.
Over the last two off seasons, the New England Patriots have decided to cut ties with the greatest cornerback in franchise history (Ty Law), the most consistent playoff wide receiver in franchise history (David Givens) and now the best and/or most clutch kicker in NFL history (Adam Vinatieri).
Before you run to the bathroom to throw up, again, especially after last night's announcement about Vinatieri-to-the-Colts deal, take a deep breath and repeat after me.
This ... is ... Bill ... Belichick's ... plan.
Didn't clear up the nausea? Still feeling a little queasy, are you?
It is understandable. Vinatieri is not Law or Givens. He was more important than Givens and, unlike Law, always seemed to say the right things.
Not to mention being the difference in all three of the Patriots Super Bowl victories.
Vinatieri was on commercials. He helped sell cars. He sold furniture. He attended many card shows.
The kid from South Dakota, who oozed confidence since the day he first arrived, became a man here. He got married here. He had two kids here. He caught Herschel Walker from behind here. He, most of all, won Super Bowls here.
What you have to understand is it would have been easy to pay Vinatieri $1 more than what the Colts paid him, making him the richest kicker in NFL history. Everyone — and I mean everyone — from Presque Isle, Maine, to Hartford, Conn., would have signed off Belichick's investment.
I don't know if you've been paying attention the last six years, but Belichick doesn't care about the past. When it comes to rewarding players for their past, a drop-kick in a meaningless finale rather than a $5 million bonus will have to do.
......
Belichick only pays for future, not past
(single page view)
(view as multiple pages)
Bill Burt
OK, let's get this straight.
Over the last two off seasons, the New England Patriots have decided to cut ties with the greatest cornerback in franchise history (Ty Law), the most consistent playoff wide receiver in franchise history (David Givens) and now the best and/or most clutch kicker in NFL history (Adam Vinatieri).
Before you run to the bathroom to throw up, again, especially after last night's announcement about Vinatieri-to-the-Colts deal, take a deep breath and repeat after me.
This ... is ... Bill ... Belichick's ... plan.
Didn't clear up the nausea? Still feeling a little queasy, are you?
It is understandable. Vinatieri is not Law or Givens. He was more important than Givens and, unlike Law, always seemed to say the right things.
Not to mention being the difference in all three of the Patriots Super Bowl victories.
Vinatieri was on commercials. He helped sell cars. He sold furniture. He attended many card shows.
The kid from South Dakota, who oozed confidence since the day he first arrived, became a man here. He got married here. He had two kids here. He caught Herschel Walker from behind here. He, most of all, won Super Bowls here.
What you have to understand is it would have been easy to pay Vinatieri $1 more than what the Colts paid him, making him the richest kicker in NFL history. Everyone — and I mean everyone — from Presque Isle, Maine, to Hartford, Conn., would have signed off Belichick's investment.
I don't know if you've been paying attention the last six years, but Belichick doesn't care about the past. When it comes to rewarding players for their past, a drop-kick in a meaningless finale rather than a $5 million bonus will have to do.
......
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