Gostkowski: AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

Probably the best leg in the NFL and pretty accurate too. He was a great pick by Belichick and company.

It's tough to replace a legend, but this kid is doing the job well.

atlest we did nto spend second round pick like JETS did ( Selected Kicker by Jets in second round (47th overall) of 2005 NFL Draft.) I think Stephen Gostowski was 6th or 7th round pick. Once again, BB and SP know, what they doing... JETS suck....

He's also tied for the league lead in touchbacks (12); he completely negated Dante Hall last week.

gostkowski was a fourth round pick.

We were wise to get rid of #4, The Goose is the man!

Will Kraft dedicate a wing in Patriots Place to commemorate this fine honor?

Actually Gus was a 5th round pick

Not to pick on Mike Reiss, but even someone as astute as Mike felt the Pats would regret not re-signing Vinatieri. Yup, BB and SP know what they're doing. Aging, high-priced specialists - no matter what their past performance record - don't fit their "it takes 53 quality players to remain consistently competitive in today's salary cap NFL" model.

Way to goooooow Bra!!!
Another fine pick by the kicking-ah I mean the picking team

Fair point, mikeinNH. I definitely did say that the Patriots would regret not re-signing Vinatieri. I still wonder if Super Bowl XLII would have been different with Vinatieri, but it's hard to argue that Gostkowski has not answered the challenge.
--Mike

i dont think the pats would change their desion if they want back and re-did it. right now gostowki is much better. viniteri is having trouble kicking 45+

Mike--
You're assuming that everything else would have been the same with Vinatieri instead of Gostkowski, but that isn't really the case: Vinatieri's leg simply hasn't been as strong the last two years as it was before. Last season he was 8-for-13 from more than 30 yards out, and 0-for-3 from 40 or more (cf. his first seven seasons, when he had at least one kick from 50+ each year). Moreover, even with the advantage of playing indoors half the time (if not more), Vinatieri's kickoffs were essentially the same length as Gostkowski's (and Gostkowski's were significantly better in their head-to-head matchup).

In other words, I can't see them being more trusting of Vinatieri than Gostkowski--or, if they had, that he would necessarily have been successful.
If anything, Vinatieri would have made the Patriots *less* likely to win SB42, not more.

The Kid can kick!

Mike
I think you're right, with Adam V, BB kicks that 40 plus field goal instead of going for it on 4th down. The Pat's are up by 10 not 7 with 1:53 to play in Super Bowl XLII.

I want Missin' Sisson back!

*this is a joke of course*

Mike - I'm flattered you responded, but I was wondering how long it would take for someone to bring up the 49 FG that never was. But I think the bigger criticism is the 4th & 13 play call: long pass into the end zone on - not BB, McDaniel's better tactical moments, poor pass by Brady despite decent protection for one of the few times that awful February 3rd.
Again, Mike I am grateful for - and perhaps addicted to? your excellent reports and analysis. I look forward to see how you and the team continue to evolve the medium. Keep up the good work!

"Mike
I think you're right, with Adam V, BB kicks that 40 plus field goal instead of going for it on 4th down. The Pat's are up by 10 not 7 with 1:53 to play in Super Bowl XLII."

How does one figure that? We were up 14-10 with 1:53 to play.

14 + 3 = 17, not 20.

I still don't understand the pass on 4th and 13. Gostkowski has the leg and had shown it throughout the playoffs. Granted it was in grass, but it was still indoors. Worst coaching call of several seasons if you ask me.

Shoulda given him a chance late in the Super Bowl game against the Giants....who knows.....the game might still be in overtime.