Former New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri turned his Hall of Fame induction speech into a roast of his former teammates and coaches in Canton on Saturday. The four-time Super Bowl champion and NFL all-time leading points scorer was officially enshrined alongside Larry Fitzgerald, Roger Craig, Luke Kuechly and Drew Brees.
While the other four gave heartfelt tributes and even revealed some devastating personal news, Vinatieri took the chance to mock those he shared fields and sidelines with.
Vinatieri saved his biggest shot for his old coach in Foxborough, Bill Belichick, by mocking his relationship with the much younger Jordon Hudson. "Unfortunately, Bill couldn't make it here today," Vinatieri said Saturday during his speech.
"There's a lot going on at UNC right now," he added, just days after UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on administrative leave following a human resources complaint.
Belichick cheerleading joke
Vinatieri continued: "He might be on a recruiting trip right now looking for the next Lawrence Taylor. I thought it was because training camp had already started. But in truth, it's because he's judging his girlfriend's cheerleading competition."
The joke led to laughs and shock among the crowd as an unapologetic Vinatieri continued through his speech without delay, calling Belichick the greatest coach of all time. "Thank you for demanding excellence every single day," Vinatieri said of Belichick. "Your preparation, discipline and attention to detail shaped far more than my football career."
Jabs at McAfee and Manning
Belichick was not the only victim of Vinatieri's jabs. He also took a shot at Pat McAfee, the former Colts punter who was Vinatieri's place holder for field goals. In a rather explicit jab, Vinatieri joked that McAfee is "the only person who enjoyed holding my balls more than my wife."
The kicker also mocked Peyton Manning, thanking the quarterback for "generously donating your forehead" to be used as a teleprompter. "A gigantic forehead means a big brain, and your football IQ is unmatched, buddy," Vinatieri said of Manning. "The way you managed the offense, the team, everything in the entire organization, was incredible. Your leadership led this team to greatness."
