Just a reminder how quickly "it'll never happen" becomes "it happened".
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Some quotes from the above link
``A lot of teams had the misconception of, `Adam Vinatieri isn't going anywhere,' " Vinatieri said. ``It was a problem.
``That's why I switched agents. Once I did that, people started saying, `I guess he really is willing to listen.' People needed to know I was serious about seeing what was out there. Once teams truly believed I might be available, the phone started ringing off the hook."
Indianapolis president Bill Polian was initially skeptical when he learned Vinatieri wanted to talk with the Colts.
``I was very surprised Adam was looking at other teams," Polian said. ``When I talked with his agent, I made one thing very clear. I like Mr. Kraft and Scott [Pioli], but I was not interested in being a stalking horse for the New England Patriots. I wasn't interested in driving up the price for them. But the agent told me, `It's over with the Patriots.'
``That's when we got very interested."
``The final negotiations were done within a matter of 24 hours."
Vinatieri said he has no regrets about not giving the Patriots a chance to counter the offer.
``They had so many chances to sign me. They had my whole franchise year [in 2004], and this past season, and the early part of the offseason.
``They chose to do what they did. There's no animosity on my part. I love the Kraft family. Bill Belichick is a great coach. I'll miss my buddies who are still in that locker room. I hated to leave, but when it's a business, sometimes you have to make tough decisions. They could have kept me. They didn't.
``Everybody knows I had a great run in New England," Vinatieri said. ``I enjoyed my experience there, but this is a business.
``The Patriots clearly expressed to me that it was a business by the decisions they made. So I had to examine my options."
``I understand the business. I'm not naive. But [2004] was a good time to get a long-term deal done. I wish they had."
He's not the only one. Owner Robert Kraft said yesterday Vinatieri's decision to leave remains personally disappointing to him.
``To this moment, I'm very sad he is not part of this team," Kraft said. ``He'll always be a permanent part of the great legacy of the New England Patriots. But this is a business.
``Adam had to do what was right for him personally. I understand that. And I have great confidence that our football staff always does things that will put us in the best position to win future football games."
Although Vinatieri and the Patriots continue to insist their dealings were without rancor, it was hardly a warm and fuzzy departure for such a high-profile star and clutch performer. In his first public comments on how Vinatieri got away, Belichick answered, ``It's a longer story than it's worth telling, and it doesn't make any difference. He's not here."
Vinatieri, meanwhile, chose not to notify the Patriots when he reached terms with the Colts.
``I never did contact anyone," Vinatieri said. ``I think Scott Pioli saw it on some league transmission.
``They [the Patriots] were a little shocked with how things turned out, but I don't really understand why. Again, they had their opportunities."
``It was a great chapter in my life, but I've moved on," Vinatieri. ``There will always be a special place in my heart for the Patriots and the fans, I won't deny that. But it's disrespectful to my current team to be in that mind-set.
``I'm a Colts fan now."