Pats let Adam V walk away...WTF are they thinking??

[MaineDolFan]

The guy that single handedly won the Pats two Super Bowls has agreed to a contract with the Colts.  Let the "we didn't need him anyway" talk start!  This, for the Pats, is terrible.  Worst thing (outside of losing Brady) that could have happened.  As a 'Phins fan...I'm dancing in the streets!!

Vinatieri reaches agreement with Colts
By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff  |  March 21, 2006

Adam Vinatieri and the Indianapolis Colts have agreed in principle to a multiyear contract and are working out the final details of a deal that will make him the highest-paid kicker in National Football League history, sources close to the negotiations told the Globe Tuesday night.


Vinatieri, who is entering his 11th season and has played with the Patriots his entire career, met with the Green Bay Packers last week, his only other free agent visit.

Vinatieri, who earned $2.5 million as the Patriots' franchise player last season, spurned an offer to re-sign with New England before the free agency period began.

The Colts play indoors at the RCA Dome, and Vinatieri has made 37 of 41 career field goals indoors. His only misses have come in Reliant Stadium in Houston, all in the 2003 season (3 of 5 vs. Houston and 1 of 3 vs. Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII). He is a perfect 10 for 10 in Indianapolis.

The Patriots will be auditioning kickers over the next few weeks.




Source:  http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/03/21/vinatieri_reaches_agreement_with_colts/

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I'll bet the farm that we'll be seeing Mike Vanderjagt in red, white and blue. 

[Pats2006]

We have allready been talking about this. 

http://www.thedolphinsmakemecry.com/forums/index.php/topic,8968.0.html

[raptorsfan29]

maine, shouldn't you be happy he left.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

maine, shouldn't you be happy he left.

He is.... he's just looking at it from a football analyst's point of view... not a Dolphins fan's.   I've been known to do the same thing at times.

[MaineDolFan]

I specifically said "as a 'Phins fan I'm dancing in the streets."  Miss that line?

[MaineDolFan]

We have allready been talking about this.

http://www.thedolphinsmakemecry.com/forums/index.php/topic,8968.0.html

Hence renaming threads to make sense.  Why would I look into a thread "hey Pats2006" that was started well before Adam signed for discussion?

Let's name threads specific to what the content is, eh?

[jtex316]

Adam Vinatieri is the Mariano Rivera of kickers...but that won't help the Colts.  They lost Edgerrin James, and Peyton Manning / Tony Dungy are the Chris Webber / Phil Mickelson combination from hell.

[Thundergod]

Adam Vinatieri is the Mariano Rivera of kickers...but that won't help the Colts.  They lost Edgerrin James, and Peyton Manning / Tony Dungy are the Chris Webber / Phil Mickelson combination from hell.

Dude, 'Stroke is right on one thing,  you are the most pessimistic person ever.  So what WILL help the Colts?  E. James was there,  and they never won jack with him.  V-jact hasn't been clutch for a while, and the Colts only had the best record in the NFL last year. Granted it means nothing if ya keep losing in the playoffs but hell,  even Cowher eventually won a S.B. 

[Denver_Bronco]

The Pats baffle me. Last night i heard that they have 20 mil in cap space. I know they don't believe in overpaying for people, which i respect, but i think Viniateri has proven one of their least expendable players. I mean since most of the major free agents are signed i wonder how or if they plan to spend any amont of money.

[Phishfan]

The owner is beginning to look a little tight fisted in NE if you ask me.

[jtex316]

What WILL help the Colts?

Vinatieri is a good start, but a Tony Dungy coached team simply cannot finish the post-season job.

[gocowboys31]

We'll the scholarship for belechick & pioli is officially over. They cannot justify this move, not with 20 million bucks in cap space. I know they hate to overspend, but this guy is the best at his position period. The pats should've franchised him.  I'm not ready to count the pats out, but the fans are growing restless.

[Dave Gray]

The guy that single handedly won the Pats two Super Bowls

Let's get real here.  He made two pretty big kicks (which kickers should make.)  The guy is clutch, but I don't think the Pats are going to be much worse off because of it.

We've seen this before with the Pats -- they can dump whoever they want, and the team will still do okay.  Every time a player left, it was supposed to be a big deal, but they always patch it up.  If you want too much money for your position, you're going to get cut from the Pats.  They'll do just fine, and they'll get another kicker who will play for less.

[MaineDolFan]

Let's get real here. He made two pretty big kicks (which kickers should make.) The guy is clutch, but I don't think the Pats are going to be much worse off because of it.

We've seen this before with the Pats -- they can dump whoever they want, and the team will still do okay. Every time a player left, it was supposed to be a big deal, but they always patch it up. If you want too much money for your position, you're going to get cut from the Pats. They'll do just fine, and they'll get another kicker who will play for less.

Yes, Dave - let's get real here.  Oakland - New England, in the snow.  Pats give Adam a 46 yard attempt, IN A BLIZZARD.  If he misses that field goal it drastically alters the direction of the entire franchise.  Adam has 19 GAME WINNING KICKS in his career.  Two of those are last second game winning kicks IN THE SUPER BOWL.  Both of those kicks were OVER 40 yard attempts.

So yes, let's get real here.  In '01 do you know how many offensive touchdowns the Pats scored in the post season before beating the Rams in the Super Bowl?

ZERO.

Freakin ZERO.

Defense and kicking won those games.

Period.