AP News
(2009-10-14 17:18:01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Indianapolis Colts place kicker Adam Vinatieri is expected to be sidelined for four to eight weeks following a knee operation.
The Colts said on their website (www.nfl.colts.com) on Wednesday that Vinatieri had undergone successful arthroscopic surgery to his right knee to remove a piece of cartilage and they had signed Matt Stover as a replacement.
Stover has played 18 seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, kicking 462 field goals and converting 558 touchdowns.
He is the NFL's fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,944 points and set a record last season by booting his 372nd consecutive extra point.
Vinatieri is considered one of the NFL's greatest clutch kickers, helping the New England Patriots to three Super Bowls and winning another with the Colts.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto, editing by Tony Jimenez)
