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Selecting the Colts All-Time 53-Man Roster: Specialists

NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

John Farley at Field Gulls, the Seattle Seahawks SB Nation blog, had a fantastic idea for an interactive story during the slowest time of the NFL off-season. He put together a list of the franchise’s all-time 53-man roster that culminated into this story.

The Colts have had their own rich history of players who should not be forgotten and who deserve the kind of recognition that Hall of Fame voters and fans of other franchise’s might never see. This is the chance for the Stampede Blue Colts fan community to look back at Colts greats and vote for who they believe belongs on the all-time team.

Kickers, punters, and long snapper might seem like a funny thing to concern yourself with on an all-time list. Fans like to see their team score touchdowns and keep opponents from doing the same. Sometimes long field goals are exciting, especially at key times during the game, but for our specialists it seems like it is only when the team has its back against the wall that the importance of these players gets crystal clear to football fans.

We will vote on and select one player to fill each of the following positions on the all-time 53: kicker, punter, and long snapper.

Kicker

These players almost always lead their teams in scoring. Granted, for a very long time extra point kicks have been almost free, but there have been numerous times where kickers have had a major impact on the outcome of a game — for better or worse. Entire playoff games have been won with only field goals scored. Super Bowls have been decided by a last second field goal. Entire seasons have fallen apart when a kicker misses.

Which of these Colts kickers should be on the all-time 53?

Poll

Which Colts Kicker Must Be on the Colts All-Time 53

This poll is closed

  • 2%
    Dean Biasucci
    (12 votes)
  • 1%
    Lou Michaels
    (8 votes)
  • 5%
    Mike Vanderjagt
    (29 votes)
  • 91%
    Adam Vinatieri
    (529 votes)
578 votes total Vote Now

Punter

I have personally watched the punter on a team (San Diego - Scifres) decide the outcome of a football game. The funny thing about punters is that fans are quick to overlook their importance until they either have a particularly bad punter on their team or until they see the value of a particularly good one.

Which of these punters do you want when they are needed most on the Colts all-time 53?

Poll

Which Colts Punter Must Be on the All-Time 53

This poll is closed

  • 1%
    David Lee
    (8 votes)
  • 79%
    Pat McAfee
    (456 votes)
  • 9%
    Hunter Smith
    (53 votes)
  • 9%
    Rohn Stark
    (56 votes)
  • 0%
    Tom Tupa
    (4 votes)
577 votes total Vote Now

Long Snapper

While not a lot can be said about long snappers, they play a vital role on special teams. All punts and field goal attempts require them to be accurate. As with some of the other special teams positions. These players are paid to be unnoticed. It’s when you notice them that you value the position.

I’ll admit, I don’t know the long and storied history for Colts long snappers and I don’t know of anywhere I can look to educate me a great deal on the position. As such, we’ll take the last two Colts long snappers who both have played a Pro Bowl levels in their careers and see which of the two belongs on the all-time 53.

Poll

Which Colts Long Snapper Must Be on the Colts All-Time 53

This poll is closed

  • 26%
    Matt Overton
    (145 votes)
  • 73%
    Justin Snow
    (393 votes)
538 votes total Vote Now