Colts have no regrets on handling Adam Vinatieri in 2019

Frank Reich spoke about handling Adam Vinatieri in 2019.

Whether it was dealing with inconsistent production or dealing with a knee injury, Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri endured what is likely going to be his worst season in the NFL.

Over the span of 24 seasons, Vinatieri set a career-high in missed kicks (14) and was only able to play 12 games. The trend started early in the season, but the Colts felt it was right to stick by the future Hall of Famer.

Now that the season has ended, head coach Frank Reich still believes the Colts made the right move when it came to keeping Vinatieri on the field as long as he was healthy.

“I wish it would’ve worked out better numbers wise. But when I look back on it – I think I am being pretty honest with myself – given all the factors, given his history, given what we were seeing out at practice and given the fact that he started out a little bit slow and got into a little bit of a groove for three or four games, he had earned it,” Reich said Monday. “I think he had earned it and I think he had earned the right to play that thing out until the end with the injury. So no I don’t have any regrets on it.”

The entire league has been dealing with a kicking problem for the last few seasons. It wasn’t just the Colts in 2019. But Vinatieri’s decline—whether due to injury or otherwise—came about extremely quickly and proved to be a major detriment to the team.

Vinatieri’s struggles weren’t the only reason the Colts wound up missing the playoffs, but even Reich admitted it was understood that the 47-year-old’s lack of consistent production hurt the team.

“It goes without saying that any missed kick, missed throw, missed block or missed tackle hurts the team. So yes, that is understood,” said Reich.

Vinatieri just underwent knee surgery to repair the injury that forced him to the injured reserve list. The Colts signed Chase McLaughlin to a one-year extension on Monday so there is a chance Vinny’s time in Indy is over.

It would be in the best interest of the team to move on from Vinatieri this offseason, but the Colts still feel they made the right choice early in the season to stick by the veteran.

6 objectives Colts must accomplish this offseason

What do the Colts need to do this offseason?

The offseason is officially here for the Indianapolis Colts and while the majority of the moves to be made won’t happen for a few months, there is still a lot to be done before the 2020 season arrives.

As the Colts try to get back to being a perennial playoff team, there are several objectives they must accomplish beginning this offseason. From adding players in free agency to potentially drafting a new quarterback, general manager Chris Ballard should be a busy man this offseason.

Here are six objectives the Colts must accomplish this offseason:

Re-sign LT Anthony Castonzo

This is becoming the top priority quickly. It was already high on the list but with the news that Castonzo might be considering retirement, there is a certain level of panic that the Colts could lose one of their most valuable players on the offensive side of the ball.

Castonzo is coming off of the best season of his career holding down the blindside. At 31 years old, his career is certainly passed its prime. However, he proved to be a borderline elite left tackle during the 2019 season. Finding a way to convince Castonzo to stay for one or two more years is vital.

That would give Ballard enough time to find a potential replacement while also keeping a highly talented option on the offensive line. The Colts will respect Castonzo’s wishes—whatever they may be—but if there’s any way to keep him playing, they must do so.

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Studs and duds from Colts’ 2019 season

Who stood out in 2019?

The Indianapolis Colts officially finished the 2019 season with a losing record and in third place in the AFC South. Before looking too much ahead to the offseason, we have to look back at what the season was.

Taking a look at the whole season, we must examine some of the players that stood out—both in a good way and in a bad way. Now, we see who were the biggest studs and the biggest duds from the 2019 season for the Colts:

STUD: RB Marlon Mack

Even with missing two games due to a broken hand, Mack was electric all season. Though he didn’t see a ton of work in the passing game, Mack joined the list of Colts running backs to finish with more than 1,000 rushing yards. He’s the ninth running back in Colts history to do so and it was the 21st time in franchise history a season ended with a 1,000-yard rusher.

Mack finished the season with 247 carries for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and 77.9 rushing yards per game. With a commitment to the run, Mack truly thrived behind the Colts’ elite offensive line.

If Mack can put a full season together in 2020, there’s a chance he gets his first Pro Bowl.

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5 Colts who may be playing final game for Indy on Sunday

Which Colts might not return after Sunday’s game?

The Indianapolis Colts (7-8) are visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) for the regular-season finale on Sunday at TIAA Bank Field.

As the regular season comes to an end, the Colts will have plenty of decisions to make when the offseason arrives. Among them includes who to re-sign and which players to let walk into free agency.

Here are five Colts who may be playing their final game for Indy on Sunday:

TE Eric Ebron

So technically Ebron won’t be playing on Sunday, but there is a chance he doesn’t return to Indy this offseason. After a career season in 2018, Ebron’s production dipped massively in 2019. Then he elected to have surgery on both of his ankles, which ended his season.

The Colts have shown that they love Ebron’s talent as a move tight end, but there is a chance they look to more of a consistent option as a pass catcher to work alongside TE1 Jack Doyle. Ebron is still a talented tight end, but his injuries and reduced role in 2019 could be reasons he doesn’t return.

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Colts should move on from Adam Vinatieri this offseason

Colts shouldn’t re-sign Adam Vinatieri.

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri has been in the league longer than a handful of players have been alive and even though he’s battling a season-ending injury, there’s a chance he might want to continue playing.

After the Colts placed Vinatieri on the injured reserve list, the 46-year-old has a decision to make about his future. He can hang it up and retire as the greatest kicker of all time. Or he can try to recover from knee surgery to return in 2020.

Regardless of what Vinatieri decides to do, the Colts should move on and find a new kicker.

First, Vinatieri’s career accomplishments should be acknowledged. He’s the greatest kicker of all-time—recording the most points scored and field goals made in a career. He leaves behind a legacy of consistency that might not ever be seen again.

He’s a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer and a guarantee to be in the Colts Ring of Honor.

However, his struggles in 2019 are exactly why the Colts should move on. Battling injuries throughout the season and recording what was his worst campaign by far, Vinatieri was a part of the reason the Colts find themselves out of the playoff race.

It’s harsh but true. If the Colts had a more consistent kicker—one that didn’t miss 14 kicks in 12 games—there is a high chance they would still be competing for a playoff spot with three games remaining. His 14 missed kicks are the third-most in a season ever.

The good thing is, the Colts don’t have to worry about a contract. Seeing as Vinatieri was on a one-year deal, there are no obligations for the Colts to have him on the roster unless general manager Chris Ballard believes it is the right move for the team, which would be a questionable move, to say the least.

Finding a consistent kicker isn’t an easy thing to do. Only a handful of teams truly have a kicker they can rely upon week in and week out. The Colts used to be that kind of team. Now, they aren’t.

It will be an interesting situation to watch this offseason, but if the Colts truly want to be competitive in 2020, the plans shouldn’t include re-signing Vinatieri.

WATCH: Colts place Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve

The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 46-year old will reportedly have surgery to repair his ailing knee that’s been causing discomfort throughout the season.

The injury had led to the worst kicking season in his career, with an NFL-leading 14 missed kicks this season. It’s not the way we want to remember the NFL’s all-time leading scorer (2,673 points) and perhaps the greatest placekicker in league history is over.

From Week 3 to Week 8, he made 11 of his 12 extra points and 10 of his next 12 field goals, including a 45-yard game-winner against the Denver Broncos.

Colts head coach Frank Reich said last week Vinatieri’s knee flared up during practice and pregame warmups Sunday leading into the Titans game, but he “gutted it out.”

However, the team medical personnel decided it was in his best interest to call it a season.

The Colts now turn to Chase McLaughin.

The team claimed the 23-year-old rookie from Cypress, Texas off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers last week and he booted 5-of-6 kicks through the upright during Sunday’s 38-35 loss in Tampa.

If this was his last season in the NFL, we’ll all remember the memorable kicks he made in his five Super Bowl appearances and 29 game-winning kicks.

Colts place Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve (Coltswire)

The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Colts place Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve

The Indianapolis Colts have placed Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury, according
to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Colts place K Adam Vinatieri, WR Parris Campbell on IR

Vinatieri and Campbell are done for the season.

The Indianapolis Colts placed kicker Adam Vinatieri and wide receiver Parris Campbell on the injured reserve list, the team announced Monday.

It was expected that Vinatieri would be placed on the season-ending injured reserve list after the report that surfaced Monday morning, but the news surrounding Campbell is a bit of a surprise.

With three games remaining, the 2019 season has effectively ended for both players.

The injury-marred season continues for the Colts but with three games remaining, it doesn’t really matter as Indy is currently the No. 10 seed in the playoff race. A loss Monday night in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints will officially end their playoff hopes.

The struggles of Vinatieri have been well documented. The 46-year-old has missed a career-high 14 kicks in 12 games this season. It isn’t clear if he will be back after this season.

Filling in for Vinatieri at kicker will be Chase McLaughlin, who made five of six kicks in the 38-35 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Campbell’s rookie season will be one defined by injuries. The second-round pick dealt with several ailments from a nagging hamstring injury to a fractured hand that kept him off the field for the majority of the second half of the season.

In seven games this season, Campbell caught 18 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown.

5 takeaways from Colts’ 38-35 loss vs. Buccaneers

Takeaways from the Week 14 loss.

Well, it was fun while it lasted. As the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) entered Sunday’s game, their dimming playoff hopes were depended on their efforts to win out and receive much help along the way. While one of their main competitors did lose at home, the Colts couldn’t help themselves as they ultimately lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-35.

It was another week consisting of blown second-half leads and costly mistakes as the Colts fell below .500, for just the second time this season. With only three games remaining, this AFC South competitor now has a 2% chance of making the playoffs and will need even more help in order to do so.

Here are five takeaways from the Colts’ Week 14 loss:

Leonard possibly had the best game of his career

I know this headline can be considered a little crazy since linebacker Darius Leonard has had plenty of memorable performances, but I don’t believe it is far fetched. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year made history in Sunday’s game while also taking it over at times.

For the first time in his pro-playing career, Leonard came up with multiple interceptions and returned one for a touchdown, his first pick-six ever. Lastly, the man who’s better known as “Maniac” entered his name in the record books. Since 1982, Leonard is the one and only defensive player who has recorded 10+ sacks and over five interceptions in his first 25 career games.

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