There would be no Patriots dynasty without this guy.
As the story goes, Tom Brady was the 199th pick in the sixth round back in the spring of 2000. However, a few years prior, another key factor in the New England Patriots' dynasty would not even be drafted by the team on draft night and still went on to be key to the team's early success over the next 20 years.
With the NFL draft approaching, it's always good to look back and see the success stories of players whose names either got called late on day two or three or didn't even get called at all.
NFL writer at CBS Sports, Tyler Sullivan, put Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri fifth on his list of top ten standout undrafted free agents in the modern era.
"Vinatieri finally got his knock on the door and will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, going in as arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history," Sullivan wrote on Saturday. "After spending time with the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football, Vinatieri joined the New England Patriots in 1996. He remained with the franchise through the 2005 season and established himself as the most clutch kicker in the league, booting numerous kicks, including multiple playoff/Super Bowl winners. He joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 and maintained his superb play up until his final season in 2019."
A decade in New England saw Vinateri play in four Super Bowls (XXXI, XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX). Two of which saw the game put in his hands (or feet) as he kicked game-winning field goals to win it all.
He'd get to two Super Bowls with the Indianapolis Colts after leaving the Patriots and win one of them (XLI).
The now 53-year-old NFL legend will be immortalized later this summer as he is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Who would have thought that 30 years ago, if Vinatieri had even made it into the NFL?
Sullviain wrapped up his write-up on the Patriots kicker by stating that the stats made the future Hall of Famer who he is.
"In all, Vinatieri has four Super Bowl titles, three first-team All-Pro nominations, is a part of the 2000s All-Decade Team, and the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team," Sullivan wrote. "His 2,673 points scored are the most in NFL history, and he also holds records for the most consecutive field goals made (44), most combined regular season and postseason games played (397), and most career field goals made (599)."
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