Adam Vinatieri hasn't made decision, but he 'can't imagine' walking away if Colts want him

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Adam Vinatieri has accomplished just about anything a kicker could want out of a career.

Four Super Bowl rings, more than two decades in the NFL, all with two teams. Vinatieri has scored more points than anybody in NFL history, made more field goals than anybody in NFL history, knocked through more clutch kicks than anybody in NFL history has dreamed of making in one career.

Vinatieri could decide to retire after his record-breaking 23rd season in the NFL, the season where he finally caught and passed Morten Andersen for the league's most hallowed kicking marks. 

But it sounds like he might be back if everything falls right and the Colts offer him another contract.

“If they’re wanting, I can’t imagine (I’d) not keep playing, you know?” Vinatieri said. “I haven’t made the decision yet. I’ll spend a week or two and just kind of see where we’re at.”

Vinatieri is coming off of a season that rarely showed his age. At 46 years old, Vinatieri made 23 of 27 field goals, an 85.2 percent clip that is ahead of his career mark of 84.3. The leg strength is still there; Vinatieri made four field goals of 50 yards or more.

He’s still going to take a little time to make sure a 24th season is in the cards.

Vinatieri has been kicking hurt, knocking kicks through the uprights even though he’s been trying to manage an injury throughout the latter half of the season.

“I never want to make a decision on a day like today, one way or another,” Vinatieri said. “That’s emotional. You’re not thinking through stuff.”

Saturday was the toughest day of Vinatieri’s season.

A man who became famous for making playoff kicks in the snow, Vinatieri missed twice in Kansas City, first on a chip-shot field goal at the end of the first half and then an extra point later in the game.

“The first one, I just didn’t get very good footing,” Vinatieri said.

A snowstorm that hit Kansas City on Friday and kept dropping precipitation all the way through the game left the Arrowhead turf torn, making kicking conditions tough.

Of course, Vinatieri has made tougher kicks than the ones he missed against the Chiefs.

“Field was in pretty tough shape, but I’ve got to do better,” Vinatieri said. “You can’t miss a kick and give them momentum back.”

Saturday night was a disappointing end to a rejuvenating season, a season that left Vinatieri excited about the young players who emerged for the Colts this season and excited about the locker room culture Indianapolis built while becoming only the third team in NFL history to bounce back from a 1-5 start to make the playoffs.

And the team around him, the way he feels about where the Colts stand right now, will play a role as he decides whether or not to return for another season in Indianapolis.

 “Absolutely, it always does,” Vinatieri said. “The fact that we’ve got a really good young team. … It’s an easy answer. Yes.”