Interview with Vinatieri

by Brad Wells on Mar 23, 2006 10:39 AM EST in News

Here is a video interview with Vinatieri from CBS 4 Boston. Watch the interviewer. The guy seems to reflect the dumbfounded reaction many New England fans have regarding this signing. In my mind, the reason they are dumbfounded is they can't believe their "genius" coach let one of their best players sign with a rival. My favorite reasoning from Pats fans, and it takes some serious Kool-Aid drinking to come up with this, is that the brain trust in New England thinks Adam is done and that's why they let him go. Here's some insight into this train of thought from Tommasse over at PatsPulpit:

Did he (Belichick and/or Pioli) do the right thing? Based on track record, he's innocent until proven guilty. Forget Belichick's "mind." He has been regarded for many years as the keenest judge of talent possibly ever. Did he see something that indicates Vinatieri just "didn't have it" or at least isn't worth the boatload of money he was asking for? Otherwise, why wouldn't they have pinned him with the franchise tag again, as they did to protect him the two previous years?

Tommasse goes on to say that Vinatieri hasn't "made a truly clutch kick in a couple years" and that this is why they chose to pooch kick with Flutie in a meaningless Week 17 game last year. Listen, I like Tommasse and I like his blog. He's a rabid Patiots fan and he defends them relentlessly against criticism. However, if he really thinks that Vinatieri is done and that this is why Belichick and Pioli let him go to the Colts, he's smoking some serious ganja.

The bottom line here is New England was beaten to the punch by Indianapolis. That's all. New England had every intention to re-sign Vinatieri, but the Colts offered slightly more money. It's not like New England was offering a cheap deal to Vinatieri. They were going to pay him a lot of bread. This is dated March 3, 2006:

John Tomase of the Boston Herald writes that Adam Vinatieri has reportedly turned down an offer from the Patriots for what sources are saying was a multiyear contract worth more than $2 million annually that would keep him the highest-paid kicker in the game. Tomase reports that a source close to Vinatieri said he wants to let the market determine his value, "like at an auction."

So, if Vinatieri is as damaged as Tommasse suggests, why the hell did the Patriots offer him $2 million annually in a deal that would have made him the highest paid kicker in football? I'm sure some Pats fans will offer up some cockamemey reason, like the knew Indy was interested so they offered Adam something they knew he would turn down so Indy would jack up their price and kill their cap. "Logic" like this is easily debunked. We know that rather than wait for New England to match the Colts' offer, Vinatieri just up and signed with Indy. Heck, no one expected Indy to give Adam an offer.

Vinatieri himself didn't even expect it! He says in the interview he was surprised by the call.

Indy beat NE to the punch. It's literally that simple, and for some reason this does not compute with many Pats fans.

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I'd be interested to know who QBs your team

Plz make an account and tell me.

Parents hug your kids every chance you get... you don't know when it's going to be the last time. -- Tony Dungy

by Brad Wells on Mar 23, 2006 1:01 PM EST reply actions

Blue

you just never stop. Pats "Genius" coach...as if you are criticizing him? OK, what has Tony Dungy EVER won? N-O-T-H-I-N-G!! Man, your jealousy is disgusting. Indy DID NOT beat NE to the punch. Vinatieri did not want to be there. He wanted to kick indoors in a dome to prolong his career. A good team that needed a kicker was the Colts, plain and simple. That is why HIS agent called Polian. The Colts did not go after him...he went after them. You really ought to check your facts before you blabber about information. God, your analysis is filled with jealousy and venom. It would be amusing if the Colts had ever won anything...oh wait, they have won nothing, absolutely nothing. And, if you truly think Vinatieri is going to solve all your problems...you just don't understand your team's needs. Losing a proven rusher will hurt this team tremendously. Losing a good linebacker like Thornton will hurt you guys...

I am sure you will some day feel better if you guys can GET to the Super Bowl, let alone win one. I know deep down you want to be like the Patriots...and if your team works hard, they may just get there some day.

by InBradyWeTrust @ Stampede Blue on Mar 23, 2006 2:01 PM EST reply actions

Some facts and opinions

Agents calling teams is very rouitine. The Colts were without a kicker. Several kickers' agents, not just Vinatieri's, have called the Colts. Means nothing. What we do know is AV rejected a big offer from the Pats in order to test the market. Polian re-established contact with AV's agent after he returned from the winter meetings, amde an offer, and AV accepted.

I agree, AV did not want to be in NE anymore. He seemed unwilling to let NE match Indy's offer. I think he sees a team in decline.

Losing Edge hurts. However, we lost a difference maker at RB and gained a difference maker at K. AV is not "just a kicker." i'm fairly certain that was not your opinion of him last week. It certainly wasn't Pioli's opinion, or he wouldn't have offered AV all that money.

Thornton is a good LB, but not worth an $8 million dollar signing bonus. They've been grooming his replacement, Gilbert Gardner, for years. Gardner will step in and do fine the way June stepped in and replaced Thornton at Weakside Backer.

I think the Colts will replace Edge with a quality back in the draft of which there are many.

Parents hug your kids every chance you get... you don't know when it's going to be the last time. -- Tony Dungy

by Brad Wells on Mar 23, 2006 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

And...

The dumbfounded look was because the interviewer could not believe what a twirp, arrogant ass Vinatieri was being. "The decision was simple"? What? Really Blue. One of their best players? One of your best players (literally and not a kicker) signed with Arizona. And, no NE did not have every intention of signing AV. They made him a fair offer...if they had EVERY intention, they would have offered him more. Indy offered him more (and for a kicker I may add). The decision, as I said was that he wanted to kick indoors for a good team. Indy=good team=indoors. Hmmmm. But, as all your stories suggest, I guess your front office is the best and smartest in the league.

by InBradyWeTrust @ Stampede Blue on Mar 23, 2006 2:07 PM EST reply actions

I think

NE would have matched Indy's offer had AV let them. He didn't.

Parents hug your kids every chance you get... you don't know when it's going to be the last time. -- Tony Dungy

by Brad Wells on Mar 23, 2006 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Your boy Polian

In an interview on a Boston radio station said, "AV's agent called them"...

by InBradyWeTrust @ Stampede Blue on Mar 23, 2006 2:30 PM EST reply actions

Again,

Wow, you have brilliant insight. AV saw the Pats as a team in decline? Very impressive. And, he went to a team that hasn't won jack shit. BTW, it is known that he left to kick in a dome to extend his career.

by InBradyWeTrust @ Stampede Blue on Mar 23, 2006 5:40 PM EST reply actions

A kicker?

Next thing you will be telling me is Tom Brady wants a trade because he sees them as a team in decline. Dude, you are absolutely priceless! And a rookie no matter who he is, will not replace Edge this year. Ah, gee..Thornton not worth $8 million? Was McGinest as you have claimed the sky is falling because of it. man, you are very, very contradictory when it comes to your HOPE that the Patriots are in decline. In case you hadn't noticed, it is March 23rd. How many days until the season starts? Colts are always SB champs until the playoffs come around...then find a way to choke.

by InBradyWeTrust @ Stampede Blue on Mar 23, 2006 5:45 PM EST reply actions

As I read more of your bullet points

Ridiculous. "We lost a difference maker at RB, but gained one at field goal kicker"? Are you serious? Comparing a 1,500 yard rusher to an 80% field goal kicker? FG kicker scores 3 points at a time. RB scores 6. And you replaced the most accurate kicker in the NFL with one who may make 1 or 2 more. And, I wish we signed Vinatieri, but trust me...I am not in tears over it. He hit big kicks, but there were a lot of other people that got him in that position to make the kicks. Alright, I am done responding to your utter ridiculousness. Done. Will not be back to comment on any assinine comments you have.

by InBradyWeTrust @ Stampede Blue on Mar 23, 2006 5:49 PM EST reply actions