The Indianapolis Colts narrowly avoided starting the season with two frustrating losses.
Frank Reich's team beat the Tennessee Titans 19-17 on Sunday, getting its first win of 2019 despite the ongoing struggles of veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri, whose gaffes loomed large in the Colts' 30-28 to the Los Angeles Changers loss in the season-opener. Despite the future Hall-of-Famer hinting at his potential retirement, though, the Colts aren't yet ready to move on from him.
During a conference call with reporters on Monday, Reich made it clear that Indianapolis not only still considers Vinatieri its No. 1 kicker, but a vital member of the team at large. He even suggested that the public has placed unrealistic expectations on the 46-year-old compared to other players on the roster, too.
“Adam is our kicker. We have zero concern. He's not only our kicker, he's a key leader on our team,” he said, per Stephen Holder of The Athletic. “…We understand there are high standards, but to say they're applied equally to every player isn't accurate.”
Reich went on to dismiss the notion that he has lost confidence in Vinatieri, insisting that he hoped the opportunity for a game-winning 60-yard field foal presented itself on Sunday after Vinatieri misfired on a pair of extra points. The three-time Super Bowl winner also missed an extra point in Week 1, plus two of his three field goal attempts, costing Indianapolis a likely win on the road against a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
After the game on Sunday, Vinatieri told reporters that they would “hear” from him on Monday, leading many to conclude that he was going to announce his retirement.
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