Couture exit early due to a lower-body injury suffered after bloc

INDIANAPOLIS - Adam Vinatieri savored all those New England celebrations. He made the two big field goals in the Tuck Rule playoff game and, of course, the two game-winning Super Bowl kicks. On Sunday, the longtime Patriots kicker will return to his former home, possibly for the final time. Its amazing, the 42-year-old Colts kicker said when asked about his career this week. I could never have been more lucky. If I wrote it as a book, people would never believe it. Believe it. The NFLs oldest player has played for three Super Bowl-winning coaches — Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy. Hes played with three No. 1 draft picks — Drew Bledsoe, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck — and a three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Tom Brady. And, yes, as a rookie, Vinatieri actually did run down Dallas Herschel Walker on a kickoff return. Along the way, Vinatieri filled his resume with other incredible feats. He has four Super Bowl rings, is a perfect 6-0 on championship weekend as he makes his seventh appearance Sunday at New England (13-4). Vinatieri also is the NFLs career post-season scoring leader (233 points), and this weekend, he can make history in Foxborough, Massachusetts. He will surpass Jerry Rice for most post-season games (29) in a career, if he plays Sunday, and he can break Tony Fritschs record for most consecutive post-season games with a field goal (13), a mark that was set during the 1970s — so long ago that even the NFLs oldest player doesnt remember it. A win Sunday would send Vinatieri to another Super Bowl and give him a chance to tie Charles Haley for the most individual rings (five). Teammates are astounded by Vinatieris feats. A lot of guys never make the playoffs, said return specialist Josh Cribbs, a 10-year veteran who made his playoff debut Jan. 4. For me, this is like a cherry on top of my career — just being in there. Ive seen him (Vinatieri) play in a lot of games and the Super Bowl, like its nothing, like its another day. I guess a guy like that, nothing can faze him, Cribbs added. Perhaps nothing should faze a man who is the great, great grandson of Gen. George Custers bandmaster, a distant cousin of daredevil Evil Knievel and a guy who has hunted lions and bears. Age hasnt slowed down Vinatieri, either. This season, he scored 140 points and became the first player in league history to top 900 points with two different franchises. Vinatieri has missed only two kicks all season — a 46-yard field goal at Tennessee in the regular-season finale and a 44-yarder at Denver last weekend. And at the start of next year, Vinatieri will need just seven eight points to break Mike Vanderjagts franchise scoring record (995) and 12 points to top the 1,000-point mark with two different teams. Not bad for a guy who just wanted to land a spot on the Patriots roster. It didnt take long for Bostons hard-care fans to embrace him. Back then, I was the underdog trying to find a spot on the team, Vinatieri said. But since the best clutch kicker in league history signed with Indianapolis as a free agent in 2006, Patriots fans have greeted Automatic Adam with a resounding chorus of boos each time he comes back to Gillette Stadium. Following last seasons divisional-round loss, Vinatieri told a Boston radio station that he was disappointed by the crowds reaction. After all, Vinatieri hasnt shed all of his Boston roots. He still appreciates a cup of coffee from Dunkin Donuts, he still likes the Red Sox and he still enjoys seeing some old friends at Gillette Stadium. It might be his final chance. With the Colts hosting New England during the 2015 regular season and no assurance Indy (13-5) will bring back a 44-year-old kicker in 2016, after his current two-year deal expires, Sundays game could be Vinatieris Foxborough farewell. I wont reminisce, he said. It will be business as usual. Hed just like to finish it in his trademark style — with another postgame celebration in New England. Its a special thing to be in the league for a long time, to play with franchises that win in the playoffs and go deep in the playoffs, Vinatieri said, explaining the secret to his success. You try to focus on the job at hand and not the grandness of it all. Notes: Indianapolis put backup linebacker Josh McNary on the commissioners exempt list Thursday, less than 24 hours after prosecutors filed three criminal charges including rape against him. ... Three Colts players appeared on the injury report. Cornerbacks Vontae Davis (knee) and Greg Toler (groin) were both limited participants at practice. Linebacker Erik Walden (knee) was a full participant. Linebacker DQwell Jackson also returned to practice Thursday after getting some extra rest Wednesday. All four starters are expected to play Sunday, coach Chuck Pagano said. Nike Shox Cheap Free Shipping . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation. Nike Shox Discount . Sundays race will be held at the Sepang circuit, adjacent to Kuala Lumpurs main airport where the ill-fated flight took off earlier this month. Authorities now say it is almost certain it crashed in the Indian Ocean, killing all 239 people aboard. http://www.nikeshoxdiscount.com/ . Needing to bulk up on both sides of the line, the Falcons agreed to terms with guard Jon Asamoah, defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai. Asamoah and Jackson played last season with Kansas City, where Asamoah lost his starting job. Nike Shox Clearance Sale . Aaron Hill and Cliff Pennington hit home runs in the first inning for the Diamondbacks, who beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Friday night. Clearance Nike Shox . Lupul injured the hand in a fall at practice on Thursday. He will wear a cast for a minimum of 10 days before he can put a glove back on it and get some mobility back, said Carlyle, who added the winger wont go on the teams upcoming road trip.EDMONTON - Things arent getting any easier for the Edmonton Oilers. Three days after getting routed 8-1 on home ice by the Calgary Flames, the Oilers welcome one of the top teams in the Western Conference tonight, the San Jose Sharks. You can see all the action on TSN beginning at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. Jeff Petry had the lone Edmonton goal and Viktor Fasth yielded five goals on 16 shots before getting lifted just over seven minutes into the second period against Calgary. Ben Scrivens allowed three goals on 15 shots in relief for the Oilers, who have dropped their past two after opening a six-game homestand with last Tuesdays win over Nashville. "I apologize to the fans who had to watch that," Edmonton head coach Dallas Eakins said. "It was painful on the bench and painful for our great fans." Forward Nail Yakupov missed his third straight game due to injury and is doubtful to return tonight. Scrivens will start again tonight for the Oilers. Fasth suffered a neck injury in practice on Monday when he collided with teammate Anton Lander. He had to be helped off the ice and Edmonton recalled goaltender Laurent Brossoit from the American Hockey League on an emergency basis. Fasth did not skate with the team on Tuesday. Scrivens was stellar the last time he faced the Sharks on Jan. 29, setting an NHL record for the most saves in a regular-season shutout as he turned aside 59 shots in a 3-0 win.dddddddddddd The victory by the Oilers snapped a six-game slide to the Sharks and four-game skid at home in this series. Though San Jose lost its second game in a row on Monday night, both losses came in a shootout and the point gained last night versus the Calgary Flames was enough to lock up the Sharks 10th straight playoff appearance. With 101 points, the Sharks are two ahead of the idle Anaheim Ducks for the top spot in the Pacific Division, but San Jose has played two more games. San Jose got a goal from James Sheppard in last nights 2-1 setback to the Calgary Flames, while backup goaltender Alex Stalock made 26 saves through overtime as the Sharks fell to 8-1-3 in their last 12 games. "It was probably an inevitability," said Sharks coach Todd McLellan of clinching a playoff spot. "There is satisfaction in clinching. Thats one of the goals that we set out to do and theyve accomplished that. It wouldve been nice to get the two points, obviously were in a heck of a race for other things, so thats a little bit disappointing, but we got to move on." San Jose did see forward Logan Couture exit early due to a lower-body injury suffered after blocking a shot. McLellan said that Couture is okay, but it was unknown if he will be able to play tonight. Antti Niemi is likely to return to net tonight for San Jose and is 7-1-1 lifetime versus the Oilers with a 2.27 goals against average. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '