Former Indianapolis Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt feels he belongs in the team's Ring of Honor for the career he had with the team. Not only has the team not included him among its all-time greats, he also says they have not included him in anything since he left the franchise, including not giving him an invite to Dwight Freeney's Hall of Fame ceremony when the defensive end asked the Colts to invite all of his former teammates. Vanderjagt told all of this to The Athletic's Zak Keefer in a wide-ranging interview that discussed the two biggest moments that severed ties between him and the franchise.
The first, was when Vanderjagt gave an interview shortly after the team's 2002 playoff loss to the New York Jets where he questioned the approach and tenacity of head coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning, and whether or not they had what it takes to win a Super Bowl. That interview prompted Manning's famous "liquored up kicker" comment at the Pro Bowl. The second was his game-losing missed field goal in the 2005 divisional playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, sending the heavily favored Colts home in shocking fashion at a time when that core — led by Dungy and Manning — was still seeking its first championship.
Vanderjagt took ownership of the interview, and explained that he and Manning buried the hatchet with one another not long after that with the kicker taking responsibility for the whole thing. But that moment, as well as the missed kick in the playoffs, h.
