Michael David Smith continues to rip Adam Vinatieri
by Brad Wells on Sep 15, 2008 1:27 PM EDT
in Bad Journalism
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PrintMore love letters from AOL Fanhouse writer Michael David Smith to Adam Vinatieri:
I could write a long essay about why the media's love affair with Vinatieri represents everything that's wrong with the idea of "clutch" players, but for now, let's just say I ripped Vinatieri, and a few minutes later he made me look foolish. Congratulations, Adam.
Ok, Mike. Write your essay. Backup your claim with some actual writing rather than the usual stuff we usually get from AOL Snickerhouse. I'll then write a counter essay on Vinatieri on how he embodies everything that is great about the NFL, and how he defines clutch. We'll let the readers decide who makes the better argument.
By the way, just to remind everyone, the Colts have won a Super Bowl since Vinatieri's departure from New England. The Patriots have none, and their replacement for Vinatieri (Steve Gostkowski) had a hand in New England choking in the Super Bowl last year. Bill Belichick did not have the confidence in Gostkowski kick a key FG in the Super Bowl from 48 yards out. Belichick opted to go for it on 4th and 13th. They didn't convert, losing the game later by 3 points. Yesterday, Vinatieri kicked a 47 yarder to win the game. The kick would have been good from 50+ yards.
Just saying.
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Re- Heck
A kicker is the same as a QB when it comes to misses, it’s going to happen regardless, just like QB is going to throw a bad pass, with a kicker it could be bad ball placement bad foot angle there are a number of reason.
I forget what coach that was talking about kickers, I seen the other day and he got his point accross to the players that was saying they couldn’t believe a kicker missed a kick, so what did he do, he made the team kick what they considered a no brainer field goal I think it was around a 25 yard try, not a one made it and he said they shutup about a easy kick from then on.
Regardless of ANY excuses
Vinatieri was AWFUL last year. Very few kickers were worse. He missed every easy kick. That awful shank yesterday was looked A LOT like last year. He redeemed himself, and everyone can make a fluke mistake. But that miss sure looked like the same old Vinatieri from last year.
As much as you guys love to rip AOL, Vinatieri is crazy over-rated, he hasn’t been the best kicker in the league for a long time (If he ever was)
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So
He has one bad year, and he’s a “terrible kicker?” This “same old Vinatieri” crap is silly. One bad year does not warrant the suggestion that he always sucked, which is what “same old Vinatieri” suggests. Without Vinatieri, the Colts would not have a Super Bowl ring. Debate otherwise, and you’ll lose. Prior to last year he was money in the bank on big game clutch kicks. Based on yesterday, it seems last year was a fluke.
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No
He was a terrible kicker LAST SEASON, and the “Same old Vinatieri” was talking about LAST YEAR when he couldn’t make a freakin 30 yarder. His first year with the Colts he was very good, and he was for the most part good with New England. But he But LAST YEAR, he was one of the worst in football. Period.
How would you say last year was a fluke when he shanked that 30 yarder? Granted, he had a great kick later. But he missed WAY TOO MANY easy kicks last year, and that one looked exactly like that again. I’m hoping it was a fluke miss and he has a great year. People can have awful years, hopefully that’s all last season was. But kicks like that 30 yarder don’t give me confidence that it was a fluke.
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Is it possible we could be talking about a Curse of Vinatieri in New England? It’s like when the Sox released Babe Ruth who signed with the Yankees. The Pats released Vinny who signs with the Colts. That same season, the Colts win the SB by beating the Pats. The next season, the Pats lose the Super Bowl.
Coincidence?
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Hmmm...
very interesting theory…
I LIKE it!
April in CA
by peytonsthebest on Sep 15, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Ravens game
I seem to remember Vinatieri making 5 field goals against Baltimore to give the Colts all of their points during that game on the way to the superbowl victory. That seems like pretty good kicking to me.
Vanderjact
I’m just glad Vandy was not kicking that game-winning 47 yarder.
What sets Vinatieri apart...
Part of what sets Vinatieri apart from the typical NFL kickers is that he works out with the team, running the same drills, doing the same penalties, as they do. Many kickers are dissed because they’re like consultants who come in here and there and are primarily interested in themselves instead of the team—they certainly don’t do regular team practice. AV isn’t like that, according to his teammates and coaches.
Sure, Vinatieri misses once in a while, but the San Diego game last year is the only one I can recall where he actually caused a loss. And he certainly never runs his mouth like Vanderjerk.
Nobody but nobody can equal his record for stepping up when the pressure is on.
That’s why he’s a clutch kicker. And BigBlueShoe, your continued support of AV is one reason I have pimped this site and all of SB Nation to all the football fans I work with.
(BTW, for the nerdier fans, check out his approach: unique in the NFL, he takes 2, not 3, steps to the ball to kick. Only Robbie Gould, who idolizes Vinatieri, does the same. )
May the wind be always at your back, and may your placekicker have icewater in his veins.
And another thing...
Remember when, in 1996, AV’s rookie year, he ran past all the Patriots special teams defenders, caught up with Herschel Walker, and closed the distance to tackle him? Tedy Bruschi said, “The reason Vinatieri caught up with Walker and tackled him from behind was, nobody told him you can’t catch Herschel Walker”.
And who can forget the Oakland-in -the-snow game leading to the 2001/2002 season superbowl?
And all the tackles he has made against kick returners?
And the touchdown pass against St. Louis?
Vinatieri is a class act and a great kicker. There’s a reason he’s a team captain.
May the wind be always at your back, and may your placekicker have icewater in his veins.
To say
that Gotskowski “had a hand” in losing the Pats SB is a little dramatic, don’t ya think?? He was not given the chance to kick it thru the uprights. Kinda like keeping Manning on the bench all game—- then saying that he had a hand in the Colts losing. It’s not a true statement. Just because he’d never kicked from that distance before didn’t mean he couldn’t, he wasn’t given the oopurtunity. IF he kicked and missed than your statement would ring true.
Vinatieri is not only one of the most clutch kickers in all of football, he’s also one of the classiest, most respected, and well like players on the field.
Kicker
When a supposedly “genius” coach doesn’t have faith that his kicker can make a 48 yarder in perfect conditions on 4th and 13, it tells me (and everyone else) something about the kicker.
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If the game was on the line
at that moment, end of fourth quarter, he would’ve kicked it. I think BB just had faith in his offense, as well as his defense, to not need to risk a long kick. But he would have in a different circumstance. Just my opinion.
OneMore, thanks for not hating on a great player just because he’s no longer on your team.
by coltsfanawalt on Sep 15, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
If you need confirmation about Vinatieri's work ethic, check this out
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/09/07/vinatieri_will_give_colts_a_kick/
May the wind be always at your back, and may your placekicker have icewater in his veins.
what a great second effort by westbrook, to get that td.
by Indianapolis star on Sep 15, 2008 11:09 PM EDT reply actions
What is Clutch?
The imaginary concept of “clutchness” aside, for a decade I have criticized AV’s reputation for clutch for a couple reasons: 1) Until 2007 Pats usually won by 3 points and Colts usually won by 10. A last-minute kick is a lot more noticeable and impressive when it is the winning margin and not a safety cushion. During those years Vandy racked up a better success rate (in the regular season) but it was noticed less, unless he was mouthing off about it (ugh); and 2) The very games where AV earned his highest clutch honors, the Pats’ SBs, he had missed potentially game winning kicks earlier in those very games. So had he not missed the “easier” ones, his clutch last-second kicks would not have been needed…… Just like Sunday in the Metrodome.
I’d say his snowy Tuck game performance was equalled by Vandershank’s Denver snowy MNF performance—two 50+ yarders in the snow, on the road, to tie and win it. His post season performances way outshine Vandy’s, however. But if that Denver game had been a playoff game, might we still be “graced” with Vandy’s presence?
Am I more comfortable with AV in that situation than Vandy? You bet. Are his kickoffs better? No question. Is he the best or was he ever? I doubt it. As a person, a teammate, someone I can point my kids to and say “watch him,” do I hold him in higher regard than Vandy? Oh yes.
Bobman
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