OK, New England Patriots fans. Imagine a world with no snow kicks against the Oakland Raiders, no walk-off against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI and no game-winner against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Imagine a world without Adam Vinatieri.
Now, calm down, catch your breath and grab a glass of water. It all was just a big nightmare. But apparently, there was a time in 1996 when the Patriots considered cutting Vinatieri.
New York radio host Mike Francesa revealed such Monday while talking with Bill Simmons, who filled in as a co-host on Francesa’s WFAN show. Francesa has long been close with former Patriots head coach Bill Parcells, according to ProFootballTalk, and he told of an exchange Parcells had with Vinatieri in Week 3 of the kicker’s rookie season.
Vinatieri missed three field goals in a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills during that 1996 season. He then missed his first field-goal attempt and an extra-point attempt in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, prompting an ultimatum from Parcells, according to Francesa.
Parcells sent out Vinatieri for a 31-yard field goal with just over 30 seconds remaining and the Patriots leading 28-0. Before doing so, according to Francesa’s account, Parcells told Vinateri he needed to either convert the field-goal attempt or find work elsewhere.
“I’ve had it with that kicker,” Parcells said, according to Francesa, via ProFootballTalk. “If he had missed it I would have cut him. And I told him, ‘You better make this kick’ before I sent him out there. And he made the kick, and he gained confidence little by little, and look who he became.”
Vinatieri since has won four Super Bowl titles (three with New England and one with the Indianapolis Colts) and has earned three Pro Bowl selections. The 43-year-old still is going strong as he prepares to enter his 21st NFL season.
It’s crazy to think he was one kick away from booting it all away.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
