Oh how soon they forget

New England placekicker Adam Veniteri has signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He will replace outgoing kicker Mike Vanderjagt.

I find this all rather interesting. Veneteri kicked game winning field goals in two Super Bowls and his 3-pter in another was the margin of victory. He is considered one of the premier kickers in the league. So why did New England let him go?

Then look who he is replacing at Indianapolis. Vanderjagt is the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Both teams considered these men expendable. It just makes me shake my head. For how many times have games been won a last minute field goals? It happens every year. These are probably the best in the league at their job, and both had to find employers.

I think it says most NFL coaches take their kickers for granted. They shouldn't, they may not be a glamour position but who do you want when you got a 40 yard FG to win the game= Paul Edinger or Veneteri? The answer is obvious and New England fans should be upset with what management allowed to happen.

Open Post- Adam's Blog, Third World County, Cao's Blog

The bad times continue to roll for the Patriots.
One of the surprise stories of NFL free agency was the tepid response Adam Vinatieri was receiving around the league, which gave rise to the possibility of him staying with New England. But the rival Indianapolis Colts, who gave the boot to Mike Vanderjagt, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, pounced on the opportunity to land Vinatieri, considered the biggest money kicker in NFL history.

The Colts announced last night that they had reached an agreement in principle with Vinatieri. League sources said the issues left to be ironed out are not deal-breakers, and when it is done, the deal will make Vinatieri the highest-paid kicker in league history.

According to sources familiar with the talks, Vinatieri would receive a $3.5 million signing bonus and $7.5 million over the first three years of the contract. The total length of the contract was unclear, though it could be five years.

The deal with the Colts comes shortly after Vinatieri hired Gary Uberstine as his agent to replace the Neil Cornrich group, which has represented him for many years. Until Indianapolis stepped up, Vinatieri had received only what he deemed a declinable offer from the Patriots and nothing but a promise for a top offer from the Green Bay Packers, with whom he visited last week. The Dallas Cowboys had also expressed an interest, but the Colts came out of the blue and essentially got the deal done yesterday.

The Patriots had former Bears and Vikings kicker Paul Edinger in for a visit yesterday. Vanderjagt, who badly missed what would have been a 46-yard field goal attempt in a playoff loss to the Steelers, is still available, too. He is an unrestricted free agent whom the Colts decided not to re-sign.