Still no word on Vinatieri?

[mybills]

He spoke with Green Bay, but messages left with Packers general manager Ted Thompson and Vinatieri's agent, Neil Cornrich, weren't immediately returned.

[DynaPaul]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

He's a Packer for sure.

[Ickybaluky]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

He left Green Bay without an offer and returned to his offseason home in Orlando.

[mybills]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

Do you think N.E. can find a way to keep him?

[!Papacrunk!]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

B/c of my jealousy of the Pats success, I will applaud each piece that is being taken away from the past SB champs. Vinatieri is just too clutch to stay in the AFCE. LOL, hating a kicker, a new low for me.

[The Spaz]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

Go get'em Packers!

[Michael82]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

Come on Green Bay. You know you want him.

[Billsrock4life]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

who is the packers current kicker or do they not have 1?

[Michael82]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

who is the packers current kicker or do they not have 1?

They lost Ryan Longwell to the Vikings.

[Ickybaluky]

Re: Still no word on Vinatieri?

Do you think N.E. can find a way to keep him?

It isn't a matter of "finding a way", it is a matter of if someone offers him more than what they think is his value.

They sure have enough cap room, but who knows what they are thinking. I figured they would lose Givens, and I'm fine with it. I know they need to save room because Seymour, Koppen, Wilson, Branch and Graham are all due next year.

That said, I wasn't prepared to lose McGinest, and the thought of Vinatieri going has me confused. The guy is like Mariano Rivera when it comes to final kicks.

Basically, the Pats see the kicker market at $2M per season average value and $3M bonus money. That is what David Akers got, and Longwell just signed for. Neil Rackers (probably the best K in the NFL right now) just signed a 4-year $6.7M extension a year ago. The Pats philosophy is to pay the market, but if someone wants to set a new market and pay a premium, they let the player go. Their feeling is they have to spread the money throughout the roster, and they like getting the comp picks each year. That is one reason they are active in the post-June 1 market, because anyone signed then doesn't count toward the draft comp pick formula.

They stick to this philosophy with everyone, even a player like Vinatieri who has been money during their most recent run.

So the answer is, if someone offers Vinatieri more than $2M-$2.5M average value and $3M in bonus money, the Pats most likely will just let him go and sign someone like Todd Peterson. If not, he should return.