Adam Vinatieri scored the game-winning points in three Super Bowl victories for the New England Patriots, and Bill Belichick still has plenty of praise for his former kicker.
Prior to the Week 5 matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the Patriots, per Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan, Belichick congratulated Vinatieri for setting the NFL’s all-time record in field goals made.
“Congratulations to him and the great career he has. Honestly, there’s doesn’t seem like there’s much sign of him slowing down. … He just has an unbelievable level of consistency.”
Vinatieri was a crucial member of Patriots teams that lifted the Lombardi Trophy during the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons.
In addition to his last-second game-winning kicks during the first two Super Bowl wins, Vinatieri’s fourth-quarter field goal in the third contest provided the difference in a 24-21 victory. He is, without a doubt, a Patriots legend.
Vinatieri, who is 8-for-9 this season, set the career record with a 42-yard field goal during the Colts’ recent loss to the Houston Texans.
Given all that respect, Belichick would probably like to avoid seeing Vinatieri lining up in a clutch moment Thursday night.