Well, for some reason I find this far more depressing than McGinest, Arroyo, Givens, Mueller, or any of the other inevitable off-season departures. As the biggest Pats fan among us I can only assume MMazz feels the same way.
What especially stings, if true, are the rumors coming out of Green Bay that Vinatieri made it clear he wanted to finish his career in domed stadium. It's not a terribly rational reaction but for some reason the idea of an athelete switching teams for money doesn't bother me while the idea of an athelete switching teams so they can pad their career stats does. Or at least, when it's this athlete is does.
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A domed stadium or a team in Florida, where he lives now, according to the Globe, but the Florida teams weren't interested.
It's a bummer. OTOH, the Colts are offering him more than any kicker has ever made, if I understand correctly, so it's not like he's taking a discount to play inside. And Belicheck didn't build this team by paying top dollar for people -- at least that's what I think that book says, the one everyone got for Xmas, but I haven't read it yet.
As a fan, I'm sad to see Vinatieri go. He kicked some incredible field goals for us, and while he was here, you never had to worry about the kicking game. Plus, if you believe in this sort of thing, he's certainly the most clutch kicker of his era, even if my final memory of him as a Patriot will be his missing that field goal against the Broncos that would have closed the gap in that game.
On the other hand, or OTOH as TS would say, there are the questions of age and productivity. First of all, Vinatieri is 33, and there are reports that he's had back problems in the last few years. There are also reports that his kickoffs aren't as long/high as they have been in the past. I don't know the stats on the latter, so can't really say whether that's the case. But there are arguments to be made that his projected productivity, at least on kickoffs and possibly on field goals as well, may well decline in the next few years.
But as we all know, the Patriots are interested more in productivity per dollar, not in straight up productivity. I'm assuming the question they've asked themselves is whether it's worth 2+ percent of their salary cap to have Vinatieri on board, or whether they can find someone in free agency or in the draft who can be 90 to 95 percent as good as Vinatieri for half that or less. If that was indeed their analysis, I think it's clear where they came down. As always, if it turns out they were wrong, fans and the media will crucify them. But I actually think this is a pretty easy decision. Let him walk, find someone else. And pray they come through in clutch.
As a fan, I'm sad to see Vinatieri go. He kicked some incredible field goals for us, and while he was here, you never had to worry about the kicking game. Plus, if you believe in this sort of thing, he's certainly the most clutch kicker of his era, even if my final memory of him as a Patriot will be his missing that field goal against the Broncos that would have closed the gap in that game.
On the other hand, or OTOH as TS would say, there are the questions of age and productivity. First of all, Vinatieri is 33, and there are reports that he's had back problems in the last few years. There are also reports that his kickoffs aren't as long/high as they have been in the past. I don't know the stats on the latter, so can't really say whether that's the case. But there are arguments to be made that his projected productivity, at least on kickoffs and possibly on field goals as well, may well decline in the next few years.
But as we all know, the Patriots are interested more in productivity per dollar, not in straight up productivity. I'm assuming the question they've asked themselves is whether it's worth 2+ percent of their salary cap to have Vinatieri on board, or whether they can find someone in free agency or in the draft who can be 90 to 95 percent as good as Vinatieri for half that or less. If that was indeed their analysis, I think it's clear where they came down. As always, if it turns out they were wrong, fans and the media will crucify them. But I actually think this is a pretty easy decision. Let him walk, find someone else. And pray they come through in clutch.
Bill Simmons:
"[I] can't question the Patriots because they have had an nearly impeccable record of determining when one of their veterans has exceeded their value over the last 5 years - not one of them has come back to haunt them."
More Simmons:
Jordan from Montreal: What's a more devastating blow to the Boston sports scene, losing Damon or Vinatieri?
Bill Simmons: (1:07 PM ET ) Vinatieri. it's no contest. It's like Norm leaving "Cheers" in 1989 and appearing on a ripoff show about people who hang off in a bar.
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