How Adam Vinatieri is inspiring Bengals K Evan McPherson ahead of Super Bowl LVI
If Bengals kicker Evan McPherson looks like he’s doing an Adam Vinatieri impression this postseason, kicking Cincinnati to victory in each of the last two rounds, there’s a reason for that.
Vinatieri has been inspiring the 22-year-old for a long time.
“Adam is definitely a guy I have looked up to and watched a lot of videos on. Growing up as a kid, and shoot, still today, I love to watch his run with the Patriots when he was kicking game-winners in the Super Bowl,” McPherson told reporters Monday. “I think that is every kid’s dream, to kick a game-winner in the Super Bowl.”
Vinatieri is the only player in NFL history to hit a game-winning field goal as time expires. His 48-yarder at the end of Super Bowl XXXVI started the Patriots dynasty and lifted them to what was then the greatest upset in the game’s history. McPherson was only two and a half years old when Vinatieri delivered that kick, but he later saw Vinatieri make a 41-yard game-winner in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXVIII and a 22-yarder to help clinch a win over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
McPherson has re-watched Vinatieri’s game-winners several times over. He said the two have never met, but still holds great appreciation for the future Hall of Famer.
“(Vinatieri)’s done a lot for me, even not knowing me, and for my career. Just to see somebody else make those kicks, kind of gives you the confidence to make them. It’s super weird, I don’t know how to explain it,” McPherson said. “But I just love watching him go out there and hit the only walk-off, game-winning field goal in Super Bowl history.
“It’s super cool, and if we get the opportunity to do that, I hope we come through with it. But I love Adam, everything he did in his career and he’s helped me out a lot.”
McPherson is currently 12-for-12 in the playoffs, just two makes shy of tying Vinatieri’s record for most made field goals over a postseason. Vinatieri set the record in the 2007 when he won a fourth Super Bowl ring, his first and only the Colts. Vinatieri officially retired last year with 599 field goals and 2,673 extra points made over his career, both NFL records.
The Bengals took McPherson in the fifth round of last year’s draft.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/xdPmiRo
Post a Comment