Indianapolis Colts team president Bill Polian, interviewed this afternoon on WEEI's Big Show, said his team didn't think twice about casting aside its own star place kicker in favor of Patriots free agent Adam Vinatieri. The Colts yesterday signed Vinatieri to a multiyear deal with a $3.5-million signing bonus. Polian fielded questions yesterday with a Big Show panel that included Providence Journal writer Tom Curran.
The Colts dominated the NFL last regular season, only to lose at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, a loss that was sealed when kicker Mike Vanderjagt shanked a field goal as time expired. Polian said the Colts had become convinced even earlier that Vanderjagt was becoming less effective at kicking long field goals, and he added that Vanderjagt's ineffectiveness on kickoffs had hurt the team by requiring the Colts to keep an extra kicker on the roster. He said it was unclear, however, if Vinatieri will handle kickoffs in Indianapolis.
Polian said the Colts did not seriously consider Vinatieri as an option until last week, because they assumed he would re-sign with the Patriots until the team was contacted by Vinatieri's agent, Gary Uberstine.
"Once he became available, it was a no-brainer," Polian said. Polian expressed confidence that the 33-year-old Vinatieri, who has played his entire NFL career with the Patriots, has some good seasons left, particularly within the climate-controlled conditions at the RCA Dome. "I think that in the next three years given the fact ... that he’s going to be kicking indoors in ideal conditions most of the time, it’s a good investment."
Polian said the Colts may hold a press conference with Vinatieri tomorrow.
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