After another difficult outing from future Hall-of-Famer Adam Vinatieri on Sunday, the Colts are working out free agent kickers today, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Graziano says the team has not made any decision with respect to Vinatieri, but Indianapolis wants to see what’s available in case it elects to move on from the 46-year-old.
It sounds as if the Colts will consider cutting Vinatieri if they are sufficiently impressed by one of the kickers they’re bringing in for a tryout. If that happens, it would be an unceremonious end to a brilliant career, but Indianapolis cannot afford to keep Vinatieri around because of what he’s accomplished in the past. In 2019, the four-time Super Bowl champ has directly contributed to several of the Colts’ four losses — including Sunday’s home loss to the previously 1-7 Dolphins — and he has missed a whopping six extra points and five field goals.
After the second game of the 2019 season, a game in which he missed two PATS in a narrow win over the Titans, Vinatieri sounded like a man contemplating retirement. He ultimately elected to continue playing, and the Colts have stood by him, but after the defeat to Miami, it was easy to see that head coach Frank Reich‘s patience was wearing thin. Now, it’s unclear whether Vinatieri has already attempted the last kick of his 24-year NFL tenure.
We will pass along the names of the kickers the Colts are trying out when they become available.
We’re all told at some point in your life that we can no longer play a kids game. For summit comes at 18 and for some it comes at 40. To be playing in the national football league at 46 is extremely commendable. I know hes a kicker but it is what it is.
You quoting moneyball?
Correct
I was about to ask the same thing. I immediately thought of the scene where Billy Beane is in the kitchen with the scout after being drafted.
Kickers have the most stressful task on the team, no one expects every pass to be completed, every run to be positive yards, every tackle made, etc… Everyone expects 100% from kickers.
They get the blame when they miss but they just did their job when they make it
Anyone with real kicking ability is playing a sport overseas for millions more a year.
Just because they can kick a soccer ball doesn’t mean they can kick a football with accuracy. Not to mention a huge majority of their kicks come with no pressure involved.
Adam Vinatieri set the bar for all other kickers to strive for so I can only imagine the agony he must be feeling this season knowing he can no longer make the grade. His hanging on would make some sense if there was some important milestone to be reached but I can’t see one which leaves me feeling deeply saddened it has to end like this.
Missing 21 points in a half season should be more than enough to get cut. Gotta respect Andrew Luck all that much more for not hanging around to cash a check like Adam miss the chippies Venatari