How Robert Kraft, Patriots Legend ‘Cleared The Air’ After Shaky Breakup

If Adam Vinatieri had it his way, he would have been a Patriot for life.

Vinatieri, who broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with New England in 1996, had already helped the franchise win its first three Super Bowls when he hit free agency after the 2005 season. The Patriots and the legendary kicker failed to work out a new contract and he ultimately signed with the Indianapolis Colts, arguably New England’s fiercest rival of the 2000s.

The separation surely built up some tension on both sides. But as Vinatieri recently explained to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the hatchet has been buried.

“Mr. (Robert) Kraft and I had a wonderful conversation last year when I came back (for a game) and cleared the (air) on how it all happened,” Vinatieri told Reiss. “He thought that I just wanted to find a new place. That was absolutely not the situation. I had 10 years with New England and was never a free agent. After the 10th year, when I became a free agent, I didn’t want to leave. I just wanted a fair deal. Negotiations took a different way, and that’s different people’s philosophies on how they manage the team, or whatever … but I loved all my time there. To the day I die, there’s a huge spot in my heart for the organization and the people in New England. No hard feelings at all, for sure.”

Of course, Vinatieri’s fondness for the Patriots could intensify in the coming weeks. The four-time Super Bowl champion is one of three finalists to become the next member of the franchise’s Hall of Fame, which will be revealed in early May.