Why do we give Gostowski a pass for how unclutch he has been in the playoffs?

[Joey007]

Think about it.

I still say that if it weren’t for him, we beat Denver in 2015. Not only does it become a tie game at the end instead of going for 2, but odds are BB has more faith in letting him kick once or twice rather than constantly going for it on 4th down late in the game so many times. So going for the FG and making it just one of those times would have been enough for us to win in regulation.

In the SB against Atlanta, he misses an extra point again. He’s lucky that Tom was able to somehow pull off two 2 point conversions in a row, otherwise he may have cost us another ring.

And then this last year he goes and misses a chip shot FG, along with yet another missed XP. Can’t completely blame the loss on him obviously, but those points add up.

Come to think of it, has this guy ever done anything clutch in the playoffs?

I understand why we haven’t gotten rid of him, as good kickers can be hard to find. (ask the Chargers) But why do we herald this guy like he’s one of the best? He’s folded under pressure time and time again.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

lolwut

 

[Triumph]

Injuries maybe why he chokes?

Good thing there isnt a horse named after him.

 

[IllegalContact]

 

[TB_Helmet]

Injuries maybe why he chokes?

Good thing there isnt a horse named after him.

Neither of these two sentences makes any sense at all.

 

[Joey007]

lolwut

You prove my point. For whatever reason, the guy can’t be criticized.

 

[jah]

Honestly I agree. He's statistically one of the GOATs but he doesn't perform like one in the playoffs. Maybe I would like him more if he wasn't one of the top paid players at his position.

 

[lancerman]

Remember that time Vinatieri went 1/3 in a Super Bowl

 

[chasa]

stuff.

You're complaining about the shape of the Iceberg that sank the titanic.

There are bigger issues to worry about.

 

[Joey007]

Honestly I agree. He's statistically one of the GOATs but he doesn't perform like one in the playoffs. Maybe I would like him more if he wasn't one of the top paid players at his position.

That’s my point. We pay this guy a lot. And he doesn’t perform to the level he’s being paid to peeform at in the postseason.

 

[Joey007]

Remember that time Vinatieri went 1/3 in a Super Bowl

Made the one that mattered most.

Plus you’re only pointing out one game. I just pointed out three in consecutive seasons.

 

[lancerman]

That’s my point. We pay this guy a lot. And he doesn’t perform to the level he’s being paid to peeform at in the postseason.

We could not pay him and try to find another kicker

 

[lancerman]

Made the one that mattered most.

Plus you’re only pointing out one game. I just pointed out three in consecutive seasons.

Your point was being clutch. We comfortably win that game if he makes both

 

[Joey007]

You're complaining about the shape of the Iceberg that sank the titanic.

There are bigger issues to worry about.

Did I say there wasn’t?

 

[TB_Helmet]

It may be instructive to compare him to other kickers in the playoffs over the past five or so years, or at least since the XP got moved back. Does he miss more than average or do we just remember the misses more?

 

[Dingleberry]

I have little faith in him, to be honest.

i probably would have less faith in his replacement, however, were he to be replaced.

 

[chasa]

Did I say there wasn’t?

Did I say you weren't?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Injuries maybe why he chokes?

Good thing there isnt a horse named after him.

You misread the OP. Gost...not Gronk.

 

[doesntmatter1]

You are right. I have felt the same way for a long time. You can even go back to sb 42. We go for it on 4th and long instead of a 52 yard fg if I remember correctly. My first thought was would Viniteri be allowed to kick that.

I have no fear in replacing him after Graham came in 2010 and didn't miss a kick. Maybe the next kicker will suck, but I'm confident that BB, a coach who loves st, would eventually find a capable guy.

ps I dont care what his stats are if he isn't clutch. Remember Mike Vanderjagt. Statistically a great kicker who was a choke artist.

 

[Kdo5]

He is a good kicker but has indeed not come through in some major games. What was the last truly clutch kick he had? The 50+ winner against the Giants. He hasn't had to deal with too many final second FGAs throughout his career but those extra points in AFCCGs and Super Bowls are pretty bad. You expect better from the highest paid kicker.