Adam Vinatieri on borrowed time in IND? (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

We were having a discussion in the Eagles thread about the Colts giving up a 6th rounder to trade into this year's 7th and grab PK Pat McAfee. Jeff P asked why the Colts would trade a higher pick just to grab a PK.

I responded by noting that Adam Vinatieri was downright bad last year. He wasn't league average, he was among the worst kickers in the league. Now I don't follow the kicking game with the nuance and vigor that our boy Mike "Capybara" Herman does, so I wanted to get his thoughts on Adam Vinatieri and whether his job really IS and SHOULD be in danger.

But for those wondering, last year Vinatieri ranked:

*** 26th in touchback percentage

*** 26th in FG%

*** 30th in FG% for 40+

For a guy with his paycheck and the benign conditions he plays home games in, that's not acceptable production.

So could we see one of the most hyped PKs of all time be shown the door for a rook this year?

 

[SmokeScreen]

We were having a discussion in the Eagles thread about the Colts giving up a 6th rounder to trade into this year's 7th and grab PK Pat McAfee. Jeff P asked why the Colts would trade a higher pick just to grab a PK.I responded by noting that Adam Vinatieri was downright bad last year. He wasn't league average, he was among the worst kickers in the league. Now I don't follow the kicking game with the nuance and vigor that our boy Mike "Capybara" Herman does, so I wanted to get his thoughts on Adam Vinatieri and whether his job really IS and SHOULD be in danger. But for those wondering, last year Vinatieri ranked:*** 26th in touchback percentage*** 26th in FG%*** 30th in FG% for 40+For a guy with his paycheck and the benign conditions he plays home games in, that's not acceptable production.So could we see one of the most hyped PKs of all time be shown the door for a rook this year?

I think Pat McAfee is going to be their new punter. He averages almost 45 yards a punt and also can kickoff. They lost Hunter Smith to the Skins.

 

[Jason Wood]

We were having a discussion in the Eagles thread about the Colts giving up a 6th rounder to trade into this year's 7th and grab PK Pat McAfee. Jeff P asked why the Colts would trade a higher pick just to grab a PK.I responded by noting that Adam Vinatieri was downright bad last year. He wasn't league average, he was among the worst kickers in the league. Now I don't follow the kicking game with the nuance and vigor that our boy Mike "Capybara" Herman does, so I wanted to get his thoughts on Adam Vinatieri and whether his job really IS and SHOULD be in danger. But for those wondering, last year Vinatieri ranked:*** 26th in touchback percentage*** 26th in FG%*** 30th in FG% for 40+For a guy with his paycheck and the benign conditions he plays home games in, that's not acceptable production.So could we see one of the most hyped PKs of all time be shown the door for a rook this year?

I think Pat McAfee is going to be their new punter. He averages almost 45 yards a punt and also can kickoff. They lost Hunter Smith to the Skins.

Interesting. That makes sense. But I still find it fascinating how bad Adam V was last year, those are some horrific numbers especially factoring in his stadium conditions.

 

[runner06]

We were having a discussion in the Eagles thread about the Colts giving up a 6th rounder to trade into this year's 7th and grab PK Pat McAfee. Jeff P asked why the Colts would trade a higher pick just to grab a PK.I responded by noting that Adam Vinatieri was downright bad last year. He wasn't league average, he was among the worst kickers in the league. Now I don't follow the kicking game with the nuance and vigor that our boy Mike "Capybara" Herman does, so I wanted to get his thoughts on Adam Vinatieri and whether his job really IS and SHOULD be in danger. But for those wondering, last year Vinatieri ranked:*** 26th in touchback percentage*** 26th in FG%*** 30th in FG% for 40+For a guy with his paycheck and the benign conditions he plays home games in, that's not acceptable production.So could we see one of the most hyped PKs of all time be shown the door for a rook this year?

I think Pat McAfee is going to be their new punter. He averages almost 45 yards a punt and also can kickoff. They lost Hunter Smith to the Skins.

+1. He might be a situation kicker too (+50 yard field goals at the end of halves).

 

[Jason Wood]

Making a lot of sense here folks

 

[Adebisi]

Vinatieri's leg has been on the decline since before he left New England. He is a liability on kickoffs and is a huge question mark from 40+ yards on field goals. There was some speculation that part of the reason he left the Pats was to extend his career (and increase his Hall of Fame chances) by kicking in the dome in Indy rather in than the winter elements of Foxboro.

As a Patriots fan, I will never forget the kicks that Vinatieri made for us, but if you're going to pay players for future performance rather than past performance, then he never deserved the contract he got with Indy.

I will also say that Vinatieri has a reputation for being one of the most clutch kickers of all time, but I think it's important to keep in mind that very few kickers have even gotten as many big opportunities as Vinatieri has.

I'm sure this will come across as sour grapes to some, but it genuinely is not. Letting Vinatieri go and drafting Gostkowski was a great move for the Pats, both in terms of performance and salary cap numbers.

 

[Pots]

I'm sure this will come across as sour grapes to some

It did.

 

[JAA]

I posted this in the other thread

The big deal with McAfee (WVU grad) is that he can PK and punt. Good athlete and has a hell of a leg for PK, and has struggled some with accurracy. However, last I checked he still holds the record for the longest field goal at Heinz field, 53 yards.

 

[Mike Herman]

Jason,

As you aware, several posters above have answered this. McAfee was drafted to be the punter. He, like a seemingly unusually large number of college kickers this year, handled both punting and kicking well enough that they could probably succeed at either role in the NFL.

On a day to day basis, Vinatieri has never been quite the kicker his reputation suggests. He happened to be in the right place on three different occasions in the playoffs, and came through on each occasion. That clutch reputation is what most people remember. However Vinatieri has had his share of missed playoff kicks and less than stellar regular seasons. He's also had some pretty good seasons. Overall he's probably an above average kicker that had three huge career kicks. Most kickers are lucky to have even one huge career kick.

 

[Jason Wood]

Jason,As you aware, several posters above have answered this. McAfee was drafted to be the punter. He, like a seemingly unusually large number of college kickers this year, handled both punting and kicking well enough that they could probably succeed at either role in the NFL.On a day to day basis, Vinatieri has never been quite the kicker his reputation suggests. He happened to be in the right place on three different occasions in the playoffs, and came through on each occasion. That clutch reputation is what most people remember. However Vinatieri has had his share of missed playoff kicks and less than stellar regular seasons. He's also had some pretty good seasons. Overall he's probably an above average kicker that had three huge career kicks. Most kickers are lucky to have even one huge career kick.

Thanks Mike. Also thanks to the Shark Poolers for clearing this up re: the punting thing. I feel like I pay quite a bit of attention to college football, but I have to admit that I don't know much about the PK/P position.

 

[Adebisi]

I'm sure this will come across as sour grapes to some

It did.

That's certainly understandable. But it seems I'm not the only one who thinks this way; Mike Herman seems to be on the same page as I am with this.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Jason,As you aware, several posters above have answered this. McAfee was drafted to be the punter. He, like a seemingly unusually large number of college kickers this year, handled both punting and kicking well enough that they could probably succeed at either role in the NFL.On a day to day basis, Vinatieri has never been quite the kicker his reputation suggests. He happened to be in the right place on three different occasions in the playoffs, and came through on each occasion. That clutch reputation is what most people remember. However Vinatieri has had his share of missed playoff kicks and less than stellar regular seasons. He's also had some pretty good seasons. Overall he's probably an above average kicker that had three huge career kicks. Most kickers are lucky to have even one huge career kick.

Teaser alert.Here are my PK rankings for Vinatieri for each season of his career, 2008 excluded.

2007	412006	82005	332004	12003	422002	12001	132000	191999	291998	161997	81996	24

That's a regular season, NFL (non-FF) ranking. So he had two terrific seasons -- and also was named All Pro both of those years -- and then a few other good seasons. But to the extent that people put him in the pantheon of great kickers, he's nowhere near guys like Stenerud, Lowery, Andersen or Anderson.

 

[Mike Herman]

Teaser alert.

I'm sure that I speak for everyone here when I say that we are all eagerly awaiting the complete package!