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Flasback: Manning Calls Vanderjagt An 'Idiot Kicker'
ESPN ^ | February 3, 2005 | Website Column

Posted on 01/15/2006 1:29:41 PM PST by mcg2000

HONOLULU -- Peyton Manning called teammate Mike Vanderjagt an "idiot kicker" at the Pro Bowl on Sunday, three days after Vanderjagt apologized for making disparaging remarks about the Indianapolis Colts quarterback.

Some Colts officials are almost as surprised by Peyton Manning's comments about kicker Mike Vanderjagt as they were by Vanderjagt's original statements.

The Colts have not said publicly whether Vanderjagt will be welcomed back to the team after his criticisms of Manning and head coach Tony Dungy. One thing is certain: There are no cap implications that would prevent the Colts from releasing or trading Vanderjagt.

In fact, they would save money.

Vanderjagt is signed through 2005 on a $7.75 million, five-year extension he received in 2000. That deal made him the NFL's highest-paid kicker at the time.

If Vanderjagt were to be released before June 1, the Colts would actually save $900,000 against the cap for 2003. That would also be true if here were traded at any time. If he were to be released after June 1, the Colts would save $1.4 million against the cap. The team also would save significant money against the cap in 2004 and '05.

The Colts do have another kicker signed. Even before Vanderjagt opened his mouth, the Colts had signed Brett Conway for two years with a $50,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $530,000 in 2003 and $535,000 in 2004.

Manning made the comment during a live interview on ABC. He also claimed Vanderjagt was "liquored up" at the time of the Canadian cable TV interview earlier this week in which he said Manning should show more emotion.

"Here we are," Manning said. "I'm out at my third Pro Bowl, I'm about to go in and throw a touchdown to Jerry Rice, we're honoring the Hall of Fame, and we're talking about our idiot kicker who got liquored up and ran his mouth off.

"The sad thing is, he's a good kicker. He's a good kicker. But he's an idiot."

A message from The Associated Press was left at the office of Vanderjagt's agent, Gil Scott, on Monday.

Vanderjagt also criticized Colts coach Tony Dungy in the interview with The Score, a Toronto-based cable sports network.

"I'm not a real big Colts fan right now, unfortunately. I just don't see us getting better," Vanderjagt said during the interview.

"Coach Dungy, he's just a mild-mannered guy. He doesn't get too excited, he doesn't get too down and I don't think that works, either. ... I think you need a motivator, I think you need a guy that is going to get in somebody's face when they're not performing well enough."

Dungy said late last week that Vanderjagt's future with the Colts rested with the veteran kicker.

"It's not in doubt because of what he said," Dungy said.

Vanderjagt, the most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history, apologized Thursday to Dungy, Manning and the rest of his teammates. He signed a $7.75 million, five-year contract extension with the Colts in November 2000 -- at the time making him the league's highest-paid kicker.

"When I get home, I'll deal with it," Manning said. "If he is still a teammate, we'll deal with it. That remains to be seen."


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: colts; indianapolis; manning; nfl; sports; vanderjagt; vanderjowned
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To: mcg2000

I'm just tired of Manning this and Manning that. If he was half as good as he thinks he is, he wouldn't have needed the refs to try to bail him out several times TODAY. The Colts are where they are because of defence, not Manning or any one player.


21 posted on 01/15/2006 2:30:38 PM PST by right right
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To: jocon307
More Cowbell!!!!!
22 posted on 01/15/2006 2:44:47 PM PST by mcg2000 (New Orleans: The city that declared Jihad against The Red Cross.)
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To: Plumberman27
Had to be the worst job of a ref ever.

Have to say the refs had a bad day, but I think the bad calls evened out. On the first 4th and inches Ben R. did not make a 1st down and before that the Steeler lineman moved which would have made it 4th and 5 and on the last indy drive, there should have been a pass int call on pitt.

Still both sides had plenty of chances to win the game on the field, the Bettis fumble, the missed field goal, etc.

23 posted on 01/15/2006 2:55:13 PM PST by staytrue (Annoy the Media. Vote Republican.)
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To: mcg2000

Sign language for "Manning Brothers"


24 posted on 01/15/2006 3:00:28 PM PST by oyez (Appeasement is death!)
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To: mcg2000; GraniteStateConservative

Bears repeating.

25 posted on 01/15/2006 3:34:37 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: martin_fierro
Do you think maybe...maybe...Vanderjagt had it in his mind that, "You know, I'm not coming back here next year anyway... if this kick went, say wide to the right, it really wouldn't bother me."
26 posted on 01/15/2006 6:16:01 PM PST by TheBigB (I long to meet that special female...one to whom I can say those three magic words....."are you 18?")
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To: mcg2000; All

VANDERJAGT IS A CANADIAN who doesn't even live in America in the offseason. Perhaps, he hates Manning more than he wants to win a Super Bowl.


27 posted on 01/15/2006 7:25:54 PM PST by faithincowboys
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To: mcg2000

I think he has made his last FG attempt for the Colts...nice find (the article, that is).


28 posted on 01/15/2006 7:29:06 PM PST by Pharmboy (The stone age didn't end because they ran out of stones.)
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To: mcg2000

"Shut Up and Kick."


29 posted on 01/15/2006 7:31:47 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: mcg2000
Vanderjagt may be an "idiot kicker," but how do you explain the clock management and playcalling on the part of Tony Dungee and Peyton Manning in the last 2.5 minutes of this game?

The Colts should have run the ball at 3rd and 2. Any moron could have said that. Instead, they run a pass play and damn near get Manning sacked....again.

Pitiful.

30 posted on 01/15/2006 7:34:13 PM PST by cicero's_son
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To: mcg2000; MikeinIraq; mainepatsfan
Maybe Pat Robertson will tell us that God was punishing Mike Vaderjagt for his early comments, or, for committing adultery during the halftime highlights, or something like that.
31 posted on 01/15/2006 8:07:37 PM PST by Perdogg ("Facts are stupid things." - President Ronald Wilson Reagan)
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To: TheBigB

After reading this article, I had the same thoughts you did.

Is it possible he wanted to deny Dungy, Manning, and team a chance at the Super Bowl and deliberately missed the FG today?

Maybe not, but the article makes you wonder.


32 posted on 01/15/2006 8:45:01 PM PST by Cedar
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To: Cedar
I'm not sayihng he did, but it wouldn't surprise me.

"So I'm an idiot, huh, Peyton? Well, I'm gonna make sure YOU'RE still a loser!"

I mean, Vanderjagt is supposed to be one of the best in the game, and that kick wasn't even close. It looked like it was 20 yeards off. That's one of those where you go, "Wow, he couldn't have missed that one any worse if he had tried."

33 posted on 01/15/2006 8:49:44 PM PST by TheBigB (I long to meet that special female...one to whom I can say those three magic words....."are you 18?")
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Comment #34 Removed by Moderator

To: Plumberman27
Even though the ref tried to screw the STeelers they still won! If anyone out here can believe the non interception call

It wasnt an interception, it was ruled an interception on the field, after review it was overturned. Why? Because in the rules thier is a note that says , "when going to the ground the reciever must maintain possession of the ball though the entire catch. im paraphrasing. But i have NFL network and watch that show when the head referee comes on every week and talks about the "bad or missed calls" he talked about this type of play last week because Tampa had the same thing happen to them, only it wasnt an interception it was a could have been a touchdown.

35 posted on 01/15/2006 11:35:37 PM PST by Echo Talon
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To: TheBigB
"So I'm an idiot, huh, Peyton? Well, I'm gonna make sure YOU'RE still a loser!"

Exactly and Tom Brady is great because he got the Tuck Rule named after him and because he has Adam Vinatieri.. sheesh

36 posted on 01/15/2006 11:40:38 PM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Echo Talon

We all know what the NFL has tried to use as justification. A screw-up is a screw-up ... he had possession and it should have been a fumble by Troy. The other mistake was Troy not picking up the ball and running it into the endzone.

That way, national pressure would have been put on this incompetent decision maker's plate (review board).


37 posted on 01/16/2006 1:52:09 AM PST by mcg2000 (New Orleans: The city that declared Jihad against The Red Cross.)
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To: Echo Talon

It was an interception and they blew the call. The fix was in and everyone knows the fix got put out the door.
How could anyone even consider letting a high school principal ref a game. The guy should be fined for a p*ss poor job. You sound like a liberal democrat with your "by the rules", statement. It's football and he had clear possession. He caught the ball and then tried to run if you read the rules a bit futher you will see it WAS a catch. He had possession, he then tried to run. Look at it this way. A reciever catches the ball on the ground, then while getting up he fumbles the ball. oops, like i said "he catches the ball. Sounds like a catch to me.


38 posted on 01/16/2006 1:59:52 AM PST by Plumberman27
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To: Plumberman27

Watch NFL Network on wendsday, The head ref will be on and i guarantee you he is going to say, "the rule states when your going to the ground must maintain possession thoughout the process of the catch, since his knee was on the ground when he dropped it incomplete" when i saw the replay i knew it was incomplete because i heard the explanation last week from the tampa game, same thing.


39 posted on 01/16/2006 3:46:49 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Plumberman27
then while getting up he fumbles the ball. oops, like i said "he catches the ball. Sounds like a catch to me.

The tampa reciever caught the ball in the endzone 2 feet down 2 knees down, IN THE END ZONE then when he hit the ground the ball came loose. its the same thing since the steelers players knee was still on the ground.

40 posted on 01/16/2006 3:49:35 AM PST by Echo Talon
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