What a way to end the season. Mike Vanderjagt please stand up. You officially are the goat of the 2006 NFL Playoffs. The Colts down 21-3 battled back and came within 21-18 when Vanderjagt was called on to kick the game tying field goal. Just before this kick I look at the television and something was definitely wrong with the approach of this kicker. Vanderjagt was warming up kicking into his net on the sideline with his hat on backwards and a diamond stud twinkling out of his right ear. The attitude of this kicker was nonchalant. I send a friend a text message immediately. I knew he was going to miss this one it was clear what was going on here. He was in his own mind Mr. Automatic. Suddenly, without warning Mike Vanderjagt had appeared as the character we all knew, Mike Vanderjackass.

 

   You might recall the previous appearances by Mike Vanderjackass. He was the guy who got ripped and called a local sports radio show insisting that the Colts attitude was their reason for not reaching the Super Bowl. He specifically named Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy as the reason for not going further and insulted the heart of his team in great Owensesque fashion. Manning the usual cerebral figure when asked about it at the Pro Bowl that year gave the automatic response, "Are you kidding me, we are talking about a kicker here". Or the image of Vanderjackass trying to pump up his teammates and acting like he is the stud of the team.  I for one should have seen it coming prior to Vanderjagt warming up. Earlier in the game he was whipping his towel around on the sidelines trying to pump up the crowd with his team down 14-3. Obviously, Vanderjagt should have been sitting on the bench concentrating on his performance.

 

   Well out trotted Vanderjackass. A 46 yard field goal for the tie. In this instance I can only imagine the pain of the Colts faithful. "Oh God, its Vanderjackass!" "We are all doomed!" Yes Colts fans you were doomed. Vanderjackass that one figure who will inevitably cost your franchise a game. The moment the ball was kicked Indianapolis let out the collective groan. Wide right. So far wide right that this ball was not even in the right universe. Lets face it with the trajectory of that ball Vanderjackass would have missed an extra point. That was one helluva slice. Then to complete the play Vanderjackass took off his helmet and muttered some words at Steelers players. They probably said, "Vanderjackass, we knew you would miss that kick. You are such an idiot!" Of course they were right and if the Colts don't cut Vanderjackass soon he will inevitably find a way to cost the Colts another game.

 

Feel Free to E-Mail Me CHarris382003@yahoo.com.