Supposedly, Adam Vinatieri was washed up, injured, done, and not worth his contract. In reality, AV is still one of the best kickers in the NFL. Today, he was honored with his second Special Teams Player Of The Week award for the 2010 season.
Vinatieri was 3-for-3 last weekend against the Tennessee Titans, including a 43-yard game-winner with no time left. Vinatieri's kick not only won the game, it gave the Colts the AFC South division and the #3 seed in the playoffs.
From Colts.com:
Vinatieri hit all three field goal attempts -- all from 40+ yards (48, 44, 43) -- and Sunday’s game-winner marked the 23rd of his career in the final minute of regulation or overtime. Vinatieri became the seventh kicker in NFL history to score 500+ points with two different teams, and he surpassed 100 career field goals in his five seasons with the Colts. He hit 26 of 28 field goals (92.9%) this season, the best percentage among NFL kickers with at least 20 attempts, and his 129 points marked the 2nd-most in his 15-year career.
It marks Vinatieri’s 12th career AFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honor, his second this season and fourth since joining the Colts in 2006. Vinatieri also was named Special Teams Player-of-the-Week following the Colts’ 23-17 victory over Cincinnati November 14.
AV is money, folks.