Let me take a few of his points and answer them:
“Perhaps the best clutch kicker in the history of the NFL and one of the most popular athletes Boston ever has known now is wearing enemy colors because the Pats refused to budge off their hard-line philosophy.â€
If his price tag was such a great deal, such a no-brainer why did the cold weather Packers let him leave? The Pats and the Packers but thought the price tag was too high!
“Vinatieri agreed to a multi-year deal that reportedly comes with a $3.5 million signing bonus and is worth $2.5 million a season over the first three years of the deal. When all the numbers are factored in, Vinatieri’s average annual cap value will fall in the $3 million range. The NFL salary cap will be $102 million in 2006 and $109 million in 2007.â€
If my choice is Vinatieri at $3 Million or
It’s chicken feed.
There was apparently little dialogue between the Pats and Vinatieri the last several weeks, but the Pats always intended to be below the top of the market, whatever that happened to be. They wanted Vinatieri to make up the difference in local endorsements. That’s insulting.
Meanwhile, here’s another bit of news that’s sure to send you right back to the toilet: The Pats reportedly have expressed interest in former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt.
Lest you forgot, the last time Vanderjagt was on a football field, he sent the ball into the cheerleader formation on a potential game-tying playoff kick against Pittsburgh.
The last time Adam didn’t come through with a game on the line was 1999.
“But if the Pats are so bent on consistency, then how do you explain what happened with Corey Dillon last year? Entering the final year of his contract at a fair price of just over $3 million, the Pats felt the need to lavish a multi-year extension on the 31-year-old running back that guaranteed him $10 million over two years. The Pats then watched in horror as Dillon aged in front of their eyes.â€
All Corey did the year before was run for a franchise record 1,635 and 12 TDs in 15 regular season games. Not to mention the 292 yards he racked up in 3 play-off games. I don’t think $3 million would be considered “fair†for that production.
“And if anyone can give me an explanation why Starks was worth $3.5 million but Vinatieri wasn’t, I want to hear it.â€
$3.5 would be the highest cost of any kicker and does not represent good value – unless the kicker has makes every kick – but $3.5 is a bargain for a starting CB. Starks was a bust for argument sake would Felger rather have Champ Bailey for $3.5 or Vinatieri for $3.5. I am assuming Bailey.
