Colts working out Matt Stover, possible concerns over Adam Vinatieri's knee

by Brad Wells on Oct 13, 2009 9:38 AM EDT in Colts News

All kinds of speculation are swirling around the Colts complex at West 56th Street today concerning Adam Vinatieri. We saw Adam Shefter on the Monday Night Football pre-game show last night say the Colts are having Vinatieri's knee re-examined after Indy's 31-9 victory over the Tennessee Titans. I can't find any link to this story on ESPN.com, and Shefter's Twitter page seems to make no mention of this.

What does seem fairly certain is the Colts are bringing in veteran kicker Matt Stover for a workout today.

The Stover workout could possibly corroborate the concerns about Vinatieri, or it could be a "back-up" plan due to the fact that Shane Andrus, Indy's kicker during pre-season while Vinatieri healed up from off-season knee and hip surgery, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.

If Adam is significantly hurt, we should hear something about it pretty soon, likely in the form of Adam getting placed on IR and Stover getting signed. It is entirely possible that Stover could be signed and Adam would just be inactive until he heals up. The Colts did that in 2006, using Martin Gramatica as the kicker for several early season games.

The key here is the health of Vinatieri. Regardless of what some of you think, the Colts need him healthy if they want to push deep into the playoffs. However, if Adam cannot go, Stover is a very solid replacement. With Pat McAfee booming kickoffs, the place kicker's job is to make big, clutch, money field goals. Like Vinatieri, Stover has shown that ability.

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damn, should have put Andrus on the practice squad hahaha

seriously though, they better get AV’s knee fixed by voodoo or a medicine man quickly

Call me "Sir" goddamnit!

by danorocks17 on Oct 13, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

the PS wouldn't have been a guarantee either

anyone can swipe players off the PS

How can you not love a team that does this?

by LovinBlue on Oct 13, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Stover

I wouldn’t be too sad to see Vinatieri go. The guy is clutch, clearly, but he doesn’t have the leg strength to kick anything beyond 40 anymore. I’m not saying he’s lost it as a kicker, but the guy just doesn’t have the physical capability to complete necessary kicks anymore.

Stover was fantastic for Baltimore, right? But he’s also an older guy, how is his leg strength?

by clownsaw on Oct 13, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

Sorry

That’s simply not true. If his knee is hurting him, that’s one things. But, I recall two games just last year where Vinatieri won the game kicking FGs longer than 45 yards: San Diego and the Minnesota game. The SD kick was a 51 yarder.

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by Brad Wells on Oct 13, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

we would have to see his efficiency while his healthy. So, with that in mind, Stovers add would be only because Vinny is injured which Im gald for, since I really like Adam and what he has done for the Colts

"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady

by BlueMark1821 on Oct 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

good point

those are good points. Maybe it just feels like Vinny has more trouble when the game isn’t on the line. Actually, during the Pats/Panthers SB, didn’t he miss two medium-length field goals before hitting the last second game winner? Maybe he’s able to focus his chi when it counts, but isn’t able to in the 2nd and 3rd quarters?

by clownsaw on Oct 13, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Kickers

Kickers are going to miss “easy” kicks. Everyone seems to love Rob Bironas, but he missed two very makeable kicks against the Steelers in Week One. Now, his team is 0-5. Vanderjagt had a season where he did not miss a kick in the regular season… only to choke again in the playoffs.

Expecting kickers to make everything is a unreasonable expectation. The true value of a great kicker is does he make the kick when the team absolutely, positively NEEDS the kick to win. In Vinatieri’s case, he damn near letter perfect.

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by Brad Wells on Oct 13, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

true

remember the divisional playoffs against baltimore?

"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady

by BlueMark1821 on Oct 13, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

age man

but as you say, if youre bringing another guy with the same problem (weak leg), how much could the Colts use him?

"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady

by BlueMark1821 on Oct 13, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Again

Vinatieri does not have a “weak leg.” That’s just plain and simple ignorance to say that. I don’t know about Stover, but the guy kicked a big FG to beat the Titans in last year’s playoffs.

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by Brad Wells on Oct 13, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I was looking for another word, or probably add quotationm marks to the word weak. Thats why i added another reply saying that we have to check his efficiency while healthy

"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady

by BlueMark1821 on Oct 13, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

i think stover would be a good SUB might we say

while vinatieri is out but it owuld have been nice to have andrus on the practice squad oh well though we will be fine im not really worried

by TheAngelsColts on Oct 13, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Ok, makes sense

BTW, love your sig. :)

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by Brad Wells on Oct 13, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

:)

priceless

"We’re only going to score 17 points? haha...OK" - Tom Brady

by BlueMark1821 on Oct 13, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Hope Vinny is ok, but...

Honestly, when i heard this news I wondered whether or not we were better off. Maybe it’s been because if his hip and knee problems, but when Vinny lines up a 45 yard field goal I don’t assume it’s going in. I’m not saying I assume the opposite, but it’s far from automatic. Vinny is still treated like an elite kicker, but at this point in his career I’m not sure he’s that much better than average.

by invisibulman on Oct 13, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions