Vinatieri will give Colts a kick

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Adam Vinatieri carved out a living at his former address by insisting kickers should be seen and not heard.

This is a drastic departure from the previous Indianapolis Colts kicker, the omnipresent Mike Vanderjagt, who demanded attention, whether it was after nailing a key 50-yard field goal to win it, talking about nailing a key 50-yard field goal to win it, or dissecting the psyche of his prolific quarterback, Peyton Manning. Vanderjagt had an opinion on everything, and had no qualms about sharing it with those in the football world -- whether they wanted to hear it or not.

Vinatieri has plenty of opinions of his own, but they are not for public consumption. In 10 seasons with the Patriots, he was one of the least controversial stars in New England sports history. In 2003, when he was suffering through back woes but forbidden to discuss them, even though he was entering free agency and his numbers were suffering, Vinatieri dutifully declined to talk about his injury. Through prolonged negotiations with the Patriots, he said nothing. Only recently, in Colts training camp, did he express his disappointment that New England did not offer him a contract that would have kept him there for life. That dissertation was delivered in his customary calm, measured tone.

``He's just so even-keeled," reported Manning during Indy's camp. ``The other day we were running our two-minute drill, and I asked him, `Where you do you want the ball?' He said, `Anywhere.' It's nice."

Vanderjagt left Indianapolis as a free agent (he later signed with Dallas) following a stunning 21-18 loss to Pittsburgh in a divisional playoff game in which he missed a 46-yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime. His talent was indisputable, but his personality often was grating.

Vinatieri was blending in well -- until he sprained a ligament and chipped a bone in his non-kicking foot, although he's back practicing and believes he'll be ready for Sunday's season opener. But he didn't begin the seamless transition before his wrenching decision to leave the Patriots left him with a momentary pang of self-doubt.

``I don't want to say I felt like a rookie," Vinatieri said, ``but everything was new. I came here and I didn't know where to go. I had to ask where the locker room was. I had to ask about everything.

``On top of that, the expectations are very high. But I like that. I've got to replace the most accurate kicker in the NFL, and I like that, too."

Vinatieri was a regular at the Colts' summer workouts. He memorized the names of his teammates and coaches. He became a regular in the weight room, causing more than one massive lineman to do a double take.

``Here's the thing that stood out," Manning said. ``Our strength and conditioning coach runs his workouts by positions. He does certain things with the quarterbacks, certain things with the linebackers. He said, `I've never had to come up with conditioning drills for a kicker before.'

``Adam was out there every day, running with us. Some days he ran with the receivers. Some days he ran with the secondary. You don't think that made an impression on the guys? He was right there, from the beginning, in the middle with all of us."

Vinatieri suffered the foot injury in those conditioning drills. Yet you can be sure that won't alter his habits.

``I was trying to show this team I cared," he said. ``I want them to know this is important to me, and I'm prepared to do everything I can to be successful."

He is mindful that he left a town where he was a living legend, a playoff hero. Rarely do athletes have a chance to begin and end their careers in one place, with the exalted status Vinatieri enjoyed.

``New England fans love their sports," Vinatieri said. ``They love Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, Ted Williams, David Ortiz. I get it. That's why I loved it there so much.

``When I go up there [Nov. 5 at Gillette Stadium], they can cheer me or boo me, and I'll understand -- either way. If I get out there and they start yelling negative stuff, I'll know why, and I'll be fine with it.

``I'll never forget how the fans of New England treated me. They appreciated an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota who was trying to help the team win."

Manning said he was euphoric when he learned Vinatieri signed with the Colts, a five-year, $12 million contract with a $3.5 million signing bonus.

``I've never seen him miss a big kick," Manning said. ``You take it for granted he's going to make them. When I was on the sideline against him, you'd see the Patriots cross the 35-yard line and you'd say to yourself, `OK, they've got 3.' It's a nice feeling to have. We often had the same situation with Mike."

The unspoken difference is Vanderjagt's volatile personality resulted in emotional swings that often were counterproductive to the common good. And, say Vinatieri's new teammates, the kicker's work ethic is second to none.

``You appreciate how self-directed Adam is," said special teams coach Russ Purnell. ``I don't have to tell him anything. He's done a really good job of building chemistry with the guys. They've really embraced him, in part because he's got three championship rings, but also because he's just so easy to be around."

By choosing Indianapolis, Vinatieri has aligned himself with one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league, and he's gone from kicking in the most difficult environment in the league to one of the most benign. He will handle kickoffs for the Colts, something Vanderjagt did not do, thereby saving them a roster spot.

Yet his most pivotal characteristic remains his ability to handle pressure situations.

``I've always felt kickers are as important or more important than any skill player except quarterback because they win games," said Colts president Bill Polian. ``Adam Vinatieri makes us a better football team."

``You always dream of getting a player of this caliber, but it's usually just that -- in your dreams," said coach Tony Dungy. ``I still can't believe we got him.

``The first thing you notice is the consistency. Every ball he kicks off the line is good. No. 2, he's really into football. He's not a kicker. He's a football player. He really likes this."

Vinatieri doesn't have Nov. 5 circled on his calendar -- he doesn't need to. He's put in extra workouts kicking outside, even though his new home field is inside a dome, so he can prepare for venues like Gillette Stadium.

``When I was with the other team and I looked at this team, I knew we had to minimize our mistakes and not take any stupid penalties," Vinatieri said. ``If you didn't play well against Indianapolis, you'd lose. The view is the same now that I've changed sides. If you don't play well against New England, you'll lose."

He will not relish lining up opposite any of the Patriots -- especially friends Lonie Paxton, Tedy Bruschi, and Josh Miller. He still keeps in contact with New England strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik, and discusses the adjustments of moving to a new team with another ex-Patriot, Christian Fauria.

``I hope when I'm 60 years old they'll still have reunions so I can go back and see my old teammates," he said. ``You don't ever completely lock away those memories."

Vinatieri's status as a three-time champion has left new teammates thirsty for details of how to win it all. There is no other goal in Indy. The only end result to quiet their critics is a Super Bowl victory. The new kicker answers any and all questions, but does not flaunt his rings.

``I don't wear them," Vinatieri said. ``It's just not my style. But if there's a request for them to make an occasional appearance, I'll be glad to comply."