FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Sorry to report that it's sunny and beautiful down here today.
The Colts' media session has already taken place at the Harbor Beach Marriott. One thing I'd like to focus on for this particular post is the Colts' place-kicking situation.
Because of an injury to Adam Vinatieri earlier this season, the Colts signed 20-year vet Matt Stover to carry themfor awhile.
Coach Jim Caldwellsaid this morning that the plan was to have Vinatieri kick in the regular season finale against the Jets and thenreclaimhis job heading into the playoffs.WhenVinatieriwasn't 100 percent, Caldwell quickly made th decision to go with Stover the rest of the way. Period.
"We made the decision so there would be no guessinggame," Caldwell said.
It's hardto argue with him.Vinatieri is a future Hall of Famer, the greatest clutch kicker the game has ever seen and a guy who has experiencemaking last-second game-winning Super Bowl kicks. But Stover also is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history and a guy who was on the Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV-winning team.
But let's play a game. Suppose it's a close game and the Colts move into position to kick a last-second game-winning field goal. And let's suppose Vinatieri is healthy again. And let's say Stover, who's the oldest player in Super Bowl history (42) and doesn't have the same leg strength as Vinatieri, misses.
Caldwell certainly would be second-guessed for not leaving open the possibility for Vinatieri to kick in the Super Bowl. I think I would have left it open week to week. And if Vinatieri is healthy enough, I'd go with himfor a clutch kick over any other kicker inNFL history.