[freedumb2003]

Why in the world would NE let him go?

IIRC, they can keep him (I assume he is a free agent) if they match the highest offer.

A great kicker is good for 2 or 3 games + at least 1 playoff game.

[Publius Valerius]

I think that the thinking in NE was that he was too much of a hit against the salary cap. He was making a lot of money, and I think the prevailing thought--true or not--is that kickers are a dime a dozen.

[Dysart]

A great kicker is good for 2 or 3 games + at least 1 playoff game

Exactly! Now, would you please fire off a memo to Parcells to that effect? Olindo Mare, Vanderjagt, and Josh Brown are all possibilities for the Cowboys, and they must ink one imo.

[SamAdams76]

The New England Patriots let Vinatieri go because they are a very smart football organization. Vinatieri just priced himself out of a job. Sure, he's a great kicker and while he did have two Super-Bowl winning kicks, it took the rest of the team to get him into that position. The Patriots recognize the fact that you need more than just a good kicker and a great quarterback to win Super Bowls.

And if Tom Brady ever gets Peyton Manning disease, you can bet that the Patriots will let him go as well.

The Indianapolis Colts are already paying Peyton Manning an obscene amount of money (relative to the percentage of salary cap). By adding the high-priced Vinatieri, there will be that much less money to pay the rest of the players. As a result, the Colts will likely never get past the 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs.