Colts announce that kicker Vinatieri will have season-ending surgery

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri will finish this season on injured reserve with an injured left knee.

The 46-year-old Vinatieri hopes his stellar career ends differently.

The Colts announced Monday that Vinatieri will have season-ending surgery for an injury he attempted to play through all season after first experiencing soreness in the knee at training camp.

Coach Frank Reich said team doctors had monitored Vinatieri throughout the season and that it didn’t affect Vinatieri’s performance at practice. And the NFL’s career scoring leader repeatedly refused to say that the injury played any part in an uncharacteristic season in which he missed a leaguehigh 14 kicks – six extra points and eight field goals.

Vinatieri has played in the fourth-most games in Colts history, trailing only Reggie Wayne, Peyton Manning and the Johnny Unitas.

Vinatieri holds the league4 scoring record with 2,673 points.

Ohio State at No. 3 while MSU drops from No. 11 to 16 in AP Top 25

Louisville and Kansas stayed at Nos. 1 and 2 in what has been a volatile AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll this season, while perennial bluebloods Michigan State and North Carolina continued to tumble after another wave of defeats.

The Spartans continued their fall from preseason No. 1 after losing to Duke, this time dropping from 11th to No. 16. The Tar Heels tumbled 10 spots to No. 17 after getting crushed by Ohio State and losing to No. 9 Virginia.

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Wire services