Vinatieri turns Super Bowl winner again
Published on February 2, 2004 under National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
FOR the second time in the past three seasons, former Amsterdam Admirals kicker ADAM VINATIERI (1996) has booted the New England Patriots to Super Bowl victory in the dying seconds of the game.
Vinatieri ended a thrilling Super Bowl XXXVIII at Houston's Reliant Stadium on Sunday night when he kicked a 41-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to give the Patriots a 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers in one of the best NFL title games of all-time.
Vinatieri, who earlier missed a 31-yard field goal and had another effort blocked, kicked a game-winning 48-yard field goal in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams two seasons ago. This time he capped a wild 37-point fourth quarter in Texas.
Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK said: "Nobody makes them all but if you have to have one kicker with everything on the line, he is the one you want. It was an awesome kick - a great kick. That's what Adam is here for."
Vinatieri said: "You know you might have a chance to win it at the end of the game. When I looked up the ball was heading right down the middle. I felt like the team fought so hard all the way that my role was to help them hoist the trophy."
Super Bowl XXXVIII featured a number of former NFL Europe League stars and none shone brighter than Panthers quarterback JAKE DELHOMME (Amsterdam 1998/Frankfurt 1999), who was a genuine candidate for the game's MVP award.
Delhomme dragged the Panthers back into the game when they trailed by 11 in the final period and ended the contest having completed 16 of 33 passes for 323 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Delhomme, who won a World Bowl with the Galaxy in 1999, drew praise from his own head coach and members of the opposition for his glittering display. Delhomme was the third NFLEL quarterback in a row to start in the Super Bowl and the fourth in the past five years.
Panthers head coach JOHN FOX said: "I thought Jake Delhomme kept us in the game. He never ceases to amaze me as far as being on the biggest stage and coming through with the big plays."
Patriots linebacker TEDY BRUSCHI added: "Jake Delhomme showed me he is a player. It would have been easy to pack it in early but he kept coming. I think if you are a Carolina fan, you have to feel you have a good one at quarterback there."
Also contributing to New England's second Super Bowl victory in three years were starting offensive lineman JOE ANDRUZZI (Scotland 1998), defensive end BOBBY HAMILTON (Amsterdam 1995-96) and defensive back CHRIS AKINS (Rhein 2000), who joins an elite group of World Bowl and Super Bowl winners.
Andruzzi provided protection for Super Bowl MVP quarterback TOM BRADY, Hamilton recorded 4 tackles and Akins chipped in with 1 stop.
National Football League Europa Stories from February 2, 2004
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