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Whenever Adam Vinatieri rides off into a golden-colored sunset, the Colts will need a new kicker. They might be able to fill the role internally, since punter Pat McAfee wants the gig and apparently can bomb field goals.
Per the Indianapolis Star, McAfee claims he's been making 60-plus-yard field goals in practice.
"If I keep making 66-yard field goals in practice every day that'll help out a lot," McAfee said. "I think it's going to get to the point it's going to be very hard for them to say 'No,' whenever that time comes, whenever Vinny leaves."
Mike Chappelle of the Star writes McAfee "converted wind-aided 66-, 68- and 72-yard attempts" while "kicking off of turf" last week and hit 65- and 68-yard kicks before missing a 72-yard kick during team drills.
The coaching staff sounds cool with it.
"Yeah, I don't blame him," Colts special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said. "I love his competitiveness. If I had that ability, use the ability.
"So I'm going to have him keep developing it if that's what he wants to do."
So too is Vinatieri ...
"If there's a guy that could do (both), I'd put my money on Pat," Vinatieri said. "It would come down to a wear and tear on your body."
... Provided it doesn't affect his workload.
"Hopefully he won't get a chance to do it here for a little while," Vinatieri said. "I'm still here."
McAfee has a history of banging down big-yardage kicks. He kicked for four years in West Virginia and made 58 of 79 kicks (73.4 percent) while with the Mountaineers.
"I think we could legitimately go from 75 yards. Not even a question about it," McAfee said. "I think in warmups I'd be able to hit from 80, like full strain. Probably try it a couple of times."
There's precedent here, so don't rule it out:
