Projo Pats Blog

Fans responding to a Projo.com survey overwhelmingly predicted that the loss of place kicker Adam Vinatieri will come back to haunt the Patriots this coming season and beyond. But in addition to his reliability as a clutch kicker, fans seemed wounded over the loss of a player who was one of the faces of the New England franchise.

"This is like losing a best friend," one person wrote. "Someone you could always turn to no matter the situation and you would just know he was going to be giving you 100% everytime."

"Adam has been dependable throughout his career, and will be that way for at least several years more," read another posting. "This is a mistake for the forseeable future."

Fans also seemed less than enthused about the possibility of the Patriots bringing in former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt, who is the most accurate kicker in pro football history but has developed a reputation for missing big kicks and clashing with his teammates, as Vinatieri's replacement. Vanderjagt is reportedly planning a visit with Patriots officials this week. "This was by far the worst thing that could have happened to NE this free agency period ... Please, just not Vanderjerk!"

Other fans said that while Vinatieri has been an essential part of the Patriots' success, he showed signs of decline last year, and that it is not wise to spend too much on a kicker.

"Money needs to be spent on the offensive line and the defensive backfield, not a field goal kicker. Thanks for the memories and move on," one fan wrote.

And others, convinced that the Pats still have Indy's number, were actually looking forward to the meeting with the Colts this season, in Foxboro at a date still to be announced.

"Adam will go to the hall as a Patriot," one fan wrote. "It will be fun to watch us beat the Colts."

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