WESTFIELD, Ind. - Adam Vinatieri is headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and for Colts kicker Blake Grupe, the moment hits close to home.
Grupe said Vinatieri was back around the Colts building on Sunday, a reminder of the standard the longtime Indianapolis kicker set over 14 seasons with the team. Vinatieri, who won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts, will be enshrined next weekend.
For Grupe, the connection is bigger than just sharing an organization. He grew up watching Vinatieri and now finds himself trying to follow in the footsteps of one of the game’s most accomplished kickers.
"I think he played 24 years, a guy that I grew up watching since I was a kid," Grupe said. "It really means a lot to be able to put on the same helmet he did and walk the halls like he did as well.
He's done it for a long time. I was just telling Rigo (Rigoberto Sanchez) yesterday.
I was like, ‘I need a day where you have him on the field behind you, just kind of looking over stuff’ and I'm sure he's got a couple tips and tricks, playing 24 years. But yeah, I mean that guy's done it at the highest level for a long time.
So, it's awesome to be able to see him. I think it's next weekend he goes into the Hall.
I know we'll all be paying attention. It's an incredible honor for him, and he deserves every bit of it.”
Grupe is in a battle with Spencer Shrader for the Colts kicking job this season, and Vinatieri’s name still looms large in that room. The former Colts star remains the franchise leader in field goals made, extra points made and points.
His numbers go even further than Indianapolis. Vinatieri is the NFL’s all-time leader in field goals made with 599, points with 2,673 and field goals attempted with 715.
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