September 10, 201214 yr Just too add to Akers argument: Longest Field Goal in NFL history (shared): 63 yards Consecutive postseason field goal conversions: 19 Points in a single decade (2000–2009): 1,169 (Vinatieri played in that decade) Points in Pro Bowl History: 57 Most points in a season, no touchdowns (2011): 166 Most games 4+ field goals in a season (2011): 6 Most games 10+ points in a season (2011): 10 - tied with four others Field Goals in an NFL Season: 44 Based on your logic, you can't fault the other kickers that didn't make it to the post season as much or get as many kicking opportunities as Akers. You, if you were not an Akers fan, might argue that it's not Vinatieri's fault that Brady got the ball in the endzone more, thus leaving him less scoring opportunities.
September 11, 201214 yr Akers can't help it that his team wasn't in the Super Bowl to make those clutch kicks like Vinatieri, so he can't be penalized for it. Quarterbacks should have the number of champsionships involved in their discussion of greatness...Kickers should not in my opinion. You can't make the arguement that Akers is any less clutch than Vinatieri, can you? Did Akers miss the game winning field goals in games? No, so how can you say Vinatieri is better just because he had the opportunity? The clutch arguement usually comes into play when players you are comparing "is not clutch" (see Lebron James before this year). You can't say Akers is not clutch, so I dont' believe that should push Vinatieri ahead of him. So quarterbacks should have how many titles they won in the discussion when talking about the greatest of all time. Even though those QB's may need a kicker to make a clutch field goal at the end of the game for them to win the Super Bowl? Yet for kickers it dosen't count? Makes perfect sense haha. Shoot I don't think Tom Brady should even be in the discussion for even top 5 QB of all time, because if he had a kicker who wasn't clutch he might never have won a Super Bowl then. You say its not Akers fault he hasn't been there, which is true. However it is not Vinateri's fault that he has, shoot it was actually Vinateri for why they even made one Super Bowl and it was Vinateri for why they won a couple of them. It sucks for Akers that he didn't get the chance to kick those, however we do know that Vinateri has got to kick them and we do know that he did make them. We have no idea if Akers would have or not. Maybe he would have but there is a chance he would have missed. So since we know Vinateri did make them, that gives him the edge.
September 11, 201214 yr Author I might be the only person to think it, but I'm fine with that. I just think he needs to definitely be in the conversation especially after setting the record for points in a season last year and now tied for the longest in history. Combining that with how consistent he's been, I think he definitely need to be in the conversation.
September 11, 201214 yr Author So quarterbacks should have how many titles they won in the discussion when talking about the greatest of all time. Even though those QB's may need a kicker to make a clutch field goal at the end of the game for them to win the Super Bowl? Yet for kickers it dosen't count? Makes perfect sense haha. Shoot I don't think Tom Brady should even be in the discussion for even top 5 QB of all time, because if he had a kicker who wasn't clutch he might never have won a Super Bowl then. That's what all ESPN Analysts due when they compare Quarterbacks, they discuss the number of titles they won. They really don't do that for any other position. And honestly, this is probably the only place you'll find a discussion on Greatest Kicker of All-Time because usually no one cares haha!
September 11, 201214 yr I might be the only person to think it, but I'm fine with that. I just think he needs to definitely be in the conversation especially after setting the record for points in a season last year and now tied for the longest in history. Combining that with how consistent he's been, I think he definitely need to be in the conversation. The thing with kickers and points is this...you need a team good enough to move the ball down the field to get you into FG range...but one that's not good enough to punch it into the end zone more often than not (because if they do, then you only get one point for the PAT, instead of the 3 for the FG). So, unless you're talking Fantasy Football, a kicker and points don't mean much to me. Bottom line for me, is does the kicker make them when you need him to make them? Shayne Graham with the Bengals had a very good %, but missed two in that game against the Jets. And, as futurecoach has already said, we know that Vinetieri HAS made those type of kicks...so he gets the nod over those who haven't (Graham), and even those who may not have had the opportunity.
September 14, 201214 yr If I have to pick one kicker to win a game I'm taking the big lefty from the Raiders.
September 14, 201214 yr If I have to pick one kicker to win a game I'm taking the big lefty from the Raiders. No doubt that Janikowski is one of the greats too.
September 14, 201214 yr Author No doubt that Janikowski is one of the greats too. The way some of these guys are acting, his name shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath because he's never really had a kick that matters.
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