As the popular saying says, Gillette Stadium has to be on fire. The most recent player lost to free agency, Adam Vinatieri, defiantly stings the most. You don’t loose possibly the most clutch kicker whom over the past 4 season has kicked 19 game winning field goals without raising a few eyebrows in confusion in this smoke filled room.

Up until this point I have able to apply rational thought to each player whom left the patriots; Big Willie was rapidly aging veteran with only a few years left, David Givens was a river of talent running through the desert which was wide receivers in free agency, Tyrone Pool has been very injury prone for the past 3 seasons never putting more than 5 consistent starts together but Adam left me scratching my head.

It could have been said about Givens – He was (and still is) an up-in-coming superstar – but on the patriots he is a #2 wide receiver. If we would have signed Givens, there would be no way that we would be able to afford Deion Branch next year (we may not be able to anyway if he decides he’s going to try to test free agency to “cash in”).

There are a few things to keep in mind about the Patriot’s situation – first we need to be saving our pennies. Richard Seymour whom has mentioned before that he’s going to want to get paid top dollar – is one of the concrete pillars of the heart of the patriots. As we saw last year when he was injured – his size 14 shoes are very hard to fill even with the Patriot’s depth chart.

Also – with the new era Patriots – I can’t seem to remember a free agent signing or a draft pick of a player whom was considered a superstar at time of signing. The patriots seem to generate them and then send them elsewhere. They do this to spread the talent out rather than concentrating it on 1 wide receiver, a quarterback and a single running back as most teams do. (see rest of NFL)

The one thing I don’t want to see is the Patriot’s sign Mike Vander-JERK. He’s probably looking for a payday so he may have to look elsewhere and I don’t think his mentality fits in with the Patriot way. But the field of kickers available is light – and if they can sign him for only one year while they look for their new kicker I would agree to that (as we know the Patriots are looking for my seal of approval)

Back to Adam – I wish him the best and implore Nicole to go out and buy a Vinatieri jersey so she can cheer on and support the man from South Dakota as soon as possible. The deal that he signed defiantly was for much more than he’s worth – but whom are we to think that any of these players should be taking a hometown discount. They have already all done that for 4 or 5 years – played their hearts out and won 3 super bowls.

Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick will find some more diamonds in the rough – they always do.

In Bill We Trust. (I remember saying that about this time last year) -- but Adam will be sorely missed.