Adam Vinatieri can't come home again

[everlong]

I think the Pedro/Damon comparison fits here. If AV went to a team like the Bears or Eagles I think most of us would be ok with it and understand it's just the nature of the business but much like Damon and the Yankees he had to know what going to the Colts would mean.

 

[Tunescribe]

There are NO KICKERS in the HOF.

I could be wrong, but isn't Jan Stenerud in the Hall of Fame?

 

[upstater1]

I just bet he doesn't get in. Look at the arcane rules the HOF has right now. Stenerud got in from an earlier era with many fewer teams. In the future, there's going to be a logjam for HOF entry. You have 32 teams, expanded rosters, and only 6 get in each year, and you want to reserve a spot for a kicker? I don't see it. Maybe if he goes on a huge run with Indy.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I just bet he doesn't get in. Look at the arcane rules the HOF has right now. Stenerud got in from an earlier era with many fewer teams. In the future, there's going to be a logjam for HOF entry. You have 32 teams, expanded rosters, and only 6 get in each year, and you want to reserve a spot for a kicker? I don't see it. Maybe if he goes on a huge run with Indy.

Bite your tongue.

 

[everlong]

I think going to Indy replaced any doubt of him getting in. They are the media darlings and because they have more offensive stars they will probably get more HOFers than the Pats will.

You know Manning and Harrison are in. If their careers continue the way they are Wayne, Saturday, Glenn, Clark could all get in. If James had stayed in Indy the same.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY SHOULD.

Just that the committee is bias towards offensive players and high profile players.

From the Pats it's Brady and who? Seymour doesn't have the big stats they like but might have a chance. Law maybe, Harrison won't, McGinist won't, Bruschi won't.

The NFL HOF is BS. It's like the Pro Bowl on steriods, just one huge popularity contest.

I love cold hard football facts take on the HOF.

 

[spacecrime]

Or consider this: he competes against younger stronger legs (Gostkowski) in training camp and lost out, was cut and then had to go to a team without a resolved kicker situation.

This is the A scenario that makes the most sense, and I have certainly read a lot of AV stuff since last march.

So he took his own situation in hand; moved to a DOME team that was competitive, a team that was willing to (OVER) pay top dollar and he had a chance to secure his legacy as THE KINGMAKER. Now that he has "brought" a SB trophy to 2 different teams

But he didn't do much. With NE he was hyped in national media. He is getting almost no national face time for this, except 20 seconds on PTI's big finish for Wilbon to ask if AV is slipping after missing an easy FG in the superbowl.

 

[Gumby]

spacecrime: But he didn't do much. With NE he was hyped in national media. He is getting almost no national face time for this, except 20 seconds on PTI's big finish for Wilbon to ask if AV is slipping after missing an easy FG in the superbowl.

But he scored 100% of the point in the Baltimore game. That is the one game they were the underdogs in the whole postseason. If he muffs one or two of those early ones; maybe Baltimre gets their act together on offense.

he also hit the kicks versus us in the AFCC game. Just cause he didn't kick the last 30 second kick IN THE SB; doesn't mean people can't or won't argue that it wasn't AV who put the Colts over the top for the season. Granted it is a DEBATABLE POINT; but all you need is a few HOF voters to accept it to change the equation from an HOF also ran to a HOF shoo-in.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The media make up the voters in the HOF and they have long projected him as the 2nd kicker in the hall. Now with 4 rings he is a LOCK. Possibly even first ballot depending on how well his career finishes and what the class looks like his first year on the ballot.

Adam maintained an in season residence here for 10 years, just like he now maintains one in Indy. But he hails from Nebraska and resides in Florida so there is little chance he has any desire to "come home" to NE. He will likely retire as a Colt with 5 years remaining on his contract there and having secured another ring, although if he wished to I guarantee you Bob Kraft would honor that request graciously and will likely have a day for him post retirement whether the jilted lovers here who can't get over it like it or not.

The Damon/Pedro comparisons are laughable. The Sox are now throwing stupid money at guys who haven't done anything approaching what those two did here because apparently they couldn't replace them after all. Might have had at least one more ring in 2005. Of course it's not really an apt comparison through because the Pat's simply won't overpay or in Adam's case overcommit ('cause they would have paid, it was just they wanted to continue on the one year at a time play as you play/go plan with Adam). Whereas the Sox suddenly just can't resist the urge to overpay most anything with a pulse.

 

[richpats]

Besides getting a ring with a 2nd team, perhaps he can again blow a FG for the defending champs while down 11 in the divisional playoffs.

That miss in the Denver game was the 2nd-most clutch kick he had to attempt while in NE. Make it and they're down 8. Remember that Brady moved the Pats down the field for a TD in 2 plays after that, but it was too late.

Fitting it was his last FG attempt in a Pats uniform.

 

[fgssand]

Mixed emotions here - I will never forget the Snow bowl kick and of course the two Superbowl winning kicks.

I will never forgive his dissing the patriots on the way out of town - his new name Vinitraitor was well earned by him.

Patriots respected a promise not to franchise him and he took advantage of their word.

His head simply swelled to about 200 times the size of his body - he became so full of himself and bit the hand that fed him so well.

I could not imagine respecting him should he try to return here after his career to take a radio spot or whatever. When he left as he did and went to one of our top rivals, he lost my respect. His greed accompanied his exit.

HOF?? Yeah, I think so - the Snowbowl kick was an amazing boot, HOF status for sure.

 

[jcdavey]

Regardless, when is retirement comes there won't be any ceremoinal 1 day contracts so he can retire a Patriot and there shouldn't be.

if he badmouthed your team then he shouldn't ever be asked back

 

[everlong]

But he didn't do much. With NE he was hyped in national media. He is getting almost no national face time for this, except 20 seconds on PTI's big finish for Wilbon to ask if AV is slipping after missing an easy FG in the superbowl.

I think AV was more hyped once he went to the Colts. I've never heard so much talk about a kicker being the difference and what would put the Colts over the top.

He missed two kicks against the Panthers and that is forgotten, as will his miss from Sunday.

 

[jcdavey]

Besides getting a ring with a 2nd team, perhaps he can again blow a FG for the defending champs while down 11 in the divisional playoffs.

That miss in the Denver game was the 2nd-most clutch kick he had to attempt while in NE. Make it and they're down 8. Remember that Brady moved the Pats down the field for a TD in 2 plays after that, but it was too late.

Fitting it was his last FG attempt in a Pats uniform.

yeah brady telegraphing an int right to champ didn't hurt either eh?

face facts, the guy is a great kicker he is clutch, and there's never been a kicker who has hit 100%

brady was more responsible for the loss in denver than your kicker was

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Mixed emotions here - I will never forget the Snow bowl kick and of course the two Superbowl winning kicks.

I will never forgive his dissing the patriots on the way out of town - his new name Vinitraitor was well earned by him.

Patriots respected a promise not to franchise him and he took advantage of their word.

His head simply swelled to about 200 times the size of his body - he became so full of himself and bit the hand that fed him so well.

I could not imagine respecting him should he try to return here after his career to take a radio spot or whatever. When he left as he did and went to one of our top rivals, he lost my respect. His greed accompanied his exit.

HOF?? Yeah, I think so - the Snowbowl kick was an amazing boot, HOF status for sure.

He's one of the few players who left here without dissing the Patriots.

 

[Yankees/Colts]

Colt legend Adam Vinatieri goes in on the first ballot and you know it. You're kidding yourselves. Perhaps he goes in with fellow Colt legend Marvin Harrison. They're about the same age. Perhaps he goes in with fellow Colt legend Bill Polian also. Perhaps Bill will move on at that point.

 

[RayClay]

When Adam V.'s playing days are done, he will likely move to Florida or another warm weather climate where he can pursue his passion for golf. He may find his way into a network gig, or maybe travel the world and the seven seas. But if all those plans fall through, and he decides New England isn't so bad after all, and a job in the local media market seems appealing... I hope he thinks twice, and stays away. I realize other fans will find my views extreme, but as irrational as it may seem to some, any feelings I had for Adam V. the player evaporated this season. Watching him wearing the Colt uniform, happily beating the Pats in a heartbreaking game, and winning the SB as a Colt: those events ended the appreciation I once had for him as a Patriot player. He won another SB this year, but it came with a price: the gratitude of at least one Patriot fan for past glory. Don't come home again, Adam.

Forming a border patrol?

 

[groundgame]

.. But I'll also tell you this: Adam will not enter the Hall of Fame unless something a lot more dramatic happens in his career. A couple amazing kicks doesn't land you in the Hall of Fame.
He is, after all, just a kicker.

He is a lock for the HOF if retires tomorrow.

 

[frankiesfly]

I love everything he has done for our team, but ever since he left the Pats i see the true Adam. This guy is a total azzhole. Every interview i see him in, he throws those indirect hits towards the Pats, and its so obvious he is talking about them. Screw Adam, im glad he left because now i see the true piece of sh_t he is.

 

[unoriginal]

Vinatieri is not a lock for the HoF if he retires tomorrow. As Gumby was so kind to point out in his post further up this thread, Vinatieri trails Stenerud in all major statistical categories for a kicker, with the exception of field goal percentage: Stenerud's was a low 66%, while Vinatieri is hovering around 82%.

The reason Vinatieri went to the Colts and went to a dome is he is trying to extend his career in such a way that he surpasses Stenerud in points and FGs while maintaining a better-than-era FG%. Only from there is Vinatieri a lock: Stenerud got in because he was an innovator in all aspects of the kicking game, Vinatieri's angle is that he is the most clutch and successful kicker in postseason history.

The reason Stenerud got in, and Vinatieri will get it, while Ray Guy will not is because kickers score points and win games. There is an institutional bias in the HoF against defense.

 

[JustWinBrady]

Vinitieri will make the HOF. He holds all major place kicker records in the playoffs/superbowl. He has made the biggest FGs in the history of the NFL. He is a HOF lock.

IMO, If he stayed here in NE he would be up there with Orr, William, Bird, & Brady and would own the town. He would be a walking legend in this town. Now he is in the company of a law, milloy and branch. He may not understand it now, but he will when his career is over.