Bottom Of The Barrel

Thank you #4

A sad day for Patriot's Nation, Adam Vinatieri has signed a deal to play with the dreaded Indianapolis Colts. This, of course, is what happens when you build a winning franchise and we have lost our share of coaches and players since the first super bowl win in 2001-2002 but losing Mr. Clutch is the biggest lost player to date.

Adam Vinatieri is the all-time leading scorer in Patriots history, and is widely considered one of the best clutch kickers in NFL history. Adam has 19 game-winning kicks during his 10 years with the Patriots. He has not missed a game since he entered the NFL with the Patriots and many, like me, had hoped he could have played his entire career at Foxborough. Before we say good bye let's recap a few of his memorable moments:

January 19, 2002 - Patriots 16, Raiders 13. Vinatieri converted all four of his field goal attempts against the Raiders, including a 45-yard field goal with 27 seconds left in regulation through the driving snow to tie the Raiders and send the divisional playoff game into overtime and the game-winning 23 yard field goal in overtime in the game dubbed "The Snow Bowl".

February 3, 2002 - Patriots 20, Rams 17. Vinatieri hits a 48-yard field goal in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXIX against St. Louis gave the Patriots their first Super Bowl win.

February 1, 2004 - Patriots 32, Panthers 29. Vinatieri kicks a 41-yard, game-winning kick in Super Bowl XXXVIII against Carolina to give the Patriots their second Super Bowl win.

February 6, 2005 - Patriots 24, Philadelphia 21. Although not a "game winning" kick, Vinatieri's 22 yard kick with 6:20 left in the game proved to be the difference and this gave the Patriots their third Super Bowl win, 3 in 4 years.

One could say that without Adam "Mr. Clutch" Vinatieri, the Patriots might not even have a single Super Bowl ring to their name. Thank you for the past ten years and 3 amazing Super Bowl seasons.

posted by TheWino @ 11:19 AM