nelms Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 at least this time it's against his opponents and not his QB and coach. :laugh: Kicker says Pats 'ripe for the picking' Tuesday, January 11, 2005 ESPN.com news services FOXBORO, Mass. -- Mike Vanderjagt's mouth is still causing trouble, even though he's criticizing his opponents and not his coach and quarterback. On Tuesday, New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison fired back at the Indianapolis kicker. "He has to be a jerk, Vanderjerk," Harrison said. Many of Harrison's teammates brushed off Vanderjagt's remark, made shortly after Indianapolis dominated Denver 49-24 in the first round of the AFC playoffs. Speaking about the Patriots, he said "I think they're ripe for the picking" in Sunday's playoff matchup with the Colts. Vanderjagt also said on WISH-TV in Indianapolis that, "I think they're not as good as the beginning of the year and not as good as last year." Those comments stirred little controversy in Indianapolis, where his outspoken nature is well known. That's a sharp contrast to his comments two years ago when he said after the Super Bowl that Peyton Manning should show more emotion and coach Tony Dungy is too mild-mannered to be effective. Manning then called Vanderjagt an "idiot kicker" and Dungy said Vanderjagt should have come to him with his complaints instead of airing them on a Canadian cable television show. Manning and Vanderjagt later apologized to each other and Vanderjagt met with Dungy. Now Vanderjagt has provided material that coach Bill Belichick might use to provide extra motivation for a team seeking its third Super Bowl title in four years. "Have I ever done it?" he said with a tiny smile. "Yeah, probably I have." But quarterback Tom Brady didn't think Vanderjagt's words carried much weight. "I mean he's just talking, you know? It's a kicker talking," Brady said. "Whether one guy says something or not, a team that's won two Super Bowls in three years and has established the type of reputation for playing hard and winning football games, I mean it kind of speaks for itself. "I don't think we ever make comments that teams are ripe for the picking or plucking," he said. "I really think we have enough motivation at this point." Vanderjagt indicated on a radio interview during the season that he may not be back with the Colts next year. His cap number is around $2.8 million and he told the radio station he might kick in the CFL where he started his pro career in 1993. "That's great for Vanderjagt," said Pats linebacker Willie McGinest, who has made big, game-altering plays in each of New England's last three victories over the Colts. "Hopefully, he makes it the next time." The last reference was a reminder that, in this year's regular-season opener, Vanderjagt missed a potential game-tying field goal in the final seconds. Instead, his NFL record streak of 42 consecutive successful field-goal attempts ended and the Patriots won 27-24. "He should focus on making the field goals, not worried about what we're doing over here, OK?" Harrison said. "I mean, he has to be a jerk, Vanderjerk, if he sits there and criticizes Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy, one of the best quarterbacks in the game and one of the best coaches in the game. And then for him to put his foot in his mouth again just shows what type of character he has." Vanderjagt made 20 of 25 field goals this season after going 37-for-37 last year. The 20 field goals are the fewest of his seven-year career, but he had the fewest opportunities with Manning throwing 49 touchdown passes for an offense that scored 61 touchdowns, nearly four per game. New England's Adam Vinatieri went 31-for-33. "You won't catch me (making such remarks). I try to just do my job on the field and I guess it's better to not be heard, or seen maybe," Vinatieri said. "He's as much a member of the team as anybody so I guess it's his right to say what he fe els and thinks. But, like I said, I don't know what he said, so it's no big deal." Punter Josh Miller, another Patriot who takes the field only when a drive falls short, understood why Vanderjagt might have spoken out. "People do funny things when there's a microphone in front of them. They really say what's on their mind. I would never do that," Miller said. But would he have rushed to cover Vanderjagt's mouth if they were teammates? "I wouldn't have to. Someone else would have beaten me to that one," he said. McGinest said that Vanderjagt's comments probably will not have much bearing on this weekend's game, but hinted he felt they were ill-timed. "If Vanderjagt feels confident enough to guarantee victory, that's great," said the Pats veteran linebacker. "Great for him. But [because he's a kicker] there's going to be a whole bunch of plays when he's not going to be out there [on the field]. The rest of his guys will be out there dealing with it." ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pr11fan Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Great, I was hoping Manning would win it all this year since the skins aren't in it, this guy probably blew whatever chance they had. What a dope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 kickers man, kickers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carter23 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 kickers ruin everything sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 must have been liquiored up :40oz: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenaciousB15 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 I'm suprised they don't try and find a kicker that doesn't require two roster spots. Or one that doesn't feud with Peyton Manning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Originally posted by TenaciousB15 I'm suprised they don't try and find a kicker that doesn't require two roster spots. Or one that doesn't feud with Peyton Manning. same reason other teams tolerate stupid action from key players... he is too good to replace that easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenaciousB15 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Yeah, but it would stink to hold a valuable roster spot for an extra guy just to do kickoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Putting your opponent in 5-10 yards into worse field pos seems to be worth it in the long run, especially since you only get one shot in the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeythetapeworm Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Has anyone read Madden's book? He talks for awhile about the eccentricities of kickers. The book is a few years old but the information doesn't sound to have become obsolete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chachie Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Vanderjagtoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drex Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 If I recall correctly, "Vanderjerk" will be a free agent next season, and one of the reasons that Martin Grammatica was signed as a kickoff specialist this season was so he could take over the K position next season. The guy should just shut up and kick. He must have forgotten that the Pats are still the world champs and possess a 14-2 record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poidog22 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 I think Dan Patrick said it best on his radio show yesterday: "I don't think that anyone who doesn't have to take a shower after the game should be allowed to talk smack." :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 I'd welcome him in D.C., especially if John Hall can't recuperate enough to be effective at long range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMac Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 I must be in the minority here, but I dont think he said anything as dumb as he did last year. New England is ripe for the picking right now and they are not as good as they were in the first part of the year. The Patriots are a hurting team thats filled with injuries. Ty Law is out for the playoffs and that is gonna hurt a team that has Indy and their WR core coming to town. Im looking forward to watching Troy Brown try and cover Harrison, Wayne and Stokley. If anyone else than Vandy had said this, there wouldnt be this much publicity over it. I think Indy wins easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoCommiesGo Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Ohhhh the lonely kicker.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrfriedm Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 :doh: Stupid liquored up idiot kickers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 It is just cliche to say "dumb kicker" or "stupid kicker" or "kickers aren't part of the team." If they aren't a crucial part of the team, they why don't teams drive down in the last two minutes of a game to score a TD? Is there a position that has more pressure packed moments riding on their perfromance? There is a reason they are called "teams." It is the combination of all the players doing their jobs that culminate in scoring or defending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Hmmm im on the shortside here.. I like him: He woke that team up last year i thought. And if they have New England as the Underdog this week how is he wrong???? How many games has he won? he should be able to talk smack. Other than QB name another position that can be a career killer due to One play at the end of a game? I always thought it was the same as special teams... they are taken for granted till you get 14 pts a game given up to them... Wasnt the Drinking thing proven wrong also.... what a sarcastic bunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingGibbs Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Originally posted by 5Arrington6 I must be in the minority here, but I dont think he said anything as dumb as he did last year. New England is ripe for the picking right now and they are not as good as they were in the first part of the year. The Patriots are a hurting team thats filled with injuries. Ty Law is out for the playoffs and that is gonna hurt a team that has Indy and their WR core coming to town. Im looking forward to watching Troy Brown try and cover Harrison, Wayne and Stokley. If anyone else than Vandy had said this, there wouldnt be this much publicity over it. I think Indy wins easy! I'm with you here. Once again something is being made out of nothing. I mean really, who cares? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Funny, who won the Super Bowl for the Patriots the last 2 times? I don't think anything Vanderjagt said was crazy or outlandish. I think the media is playing this one to the tilt. NOBODY on a football team thinks a kicker is worthless. At least nobody with any smarts. The funny part is, he can say all the crap he wants. He just has to kick. So if the Patriots are so fired up at what a lowly kicker has to say, there may be some truth in their minds as to what he is saying. Mind you, I think Vanderjagt is correct and both teams know it. We just need some stuff for the media. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budski Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Hes just the kicker, let him talk all he wants nobody on the other side is taking him serious. I think he is just tired of kicking off so many times, and the point afters he must be exhausted, after a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins11 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 The Pats shouldn't be insulting Vanderjagt just because he is a kicker. Viniateri has singlehandedly bailed the whole Patriot team in TWO SUPERBOWLS. Show some damn respect for the position, because right now they also look like asses. Even Tom Brady was sort of laughing at the comments since they were from a kicker - he of all people should have just shut his mouth. The Brady-Montana comparisons would NEVER have existed if it wasn't for the most clutch kicker to score the winning points in two superbowls. Please... Joe Montana didn't need a kicker to score the final points on his last second scoring drives... he did it himself (and with his receivers). Brady watched from the sidelines. Maybe Vanderjagt will draw a roughing the kicker penalty from a crazed Rodney Harrison, which will win the game for the Colts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illone Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 What he said was true:doh: I can't believe they interviewed half the patriots team about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins11 Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 Originally posted by illone I can't believe they interviewed half the patriots team about this. I know :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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