How do you replace a legend like Adm Vinatieri?  You work on becoming one yourself.

Stephen Gostkowski was the 2005 Conference USA Special Team Player of the Year, and he was the first Kicker taken in the next NFL Draft (118^th Overall), taken specifically with the belief that he could replace Vinatieri, who departed to Indianapolis as a Free Agent.  

Gostkowski never had the signature kick that Vinatieri had, but he was very good, very consistent, and became a five-time league leader in Points Scored.  A steady presence on dominant Patriots teams, Gostkowski won three Super Bowls with New England, was named to the 2010s All-Decade Team, and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  

He retired after one year (2020) in Tennessee, and had he played on almost any other NFL team, he would have been regarded as the best Kicker in that franchise’s history.

A 3rd Round Draft Pick in 2005 by the St. Louis Rams, Incognito would crack the roster in the 2006 season and he would start every game albeit at three different positions (Center, Left Guard and Right Guard). He would settle in at the Right Guard slot and fared well, however he was one of the most penalized players in the league in 2009, many of which were silly penalties due to his inability to control his anger. This was not a surprise to many who had followed the Offensive Lineman throughout his career as he was involved in numerous fights during his time at the University of Nebraska and was kicked off the team. The Rams and their coach, Steve Spagnuolo grew tired off Incognito and would be placed on waivers. The Buffalo Bills would claim him and he played the last three games of the season there.

Incognito would sign with the Miami Dolphins for one season and after a respectable performance as their starting Left Guard and would promptly be signed to a three-year deal shortly after. In that timeframe he would earn his first Pro Bowl Selection (2012), though he made more headlines by being accused by teammate Jonathan Martin of excessive bullying and he was suspended by the Dolphins midway through the 2013 season.

After sitting out the 2014 season, Incognito would resign with the Buffalo Bills and would arguably go on the best run of his career. From 2015 to 2017, Incognito would be named a Pro Bowler and would start every game for the organization.

Incognito signed with the Oakland Raiders, soon to be the Las Vegas Raiders where he played his final three years.

While the legacy of Incognito is strained, he was a more-than-solid Offensive Lineman who had a good career.  The Hall won’t call his name, but he was not as far off as people think.

Drafted in the Second Round from California in 2012 by the Cleveland Browns, Schwartz won the starting Right Tackle job as a rookie, and started every game for Cleveland for his four years as an NFL player.  Schwartz signed with Kansas City in 2016 as a Free Agent, and it quietly became one of the best signing in franchise history.

Schwartz took his play to the next level with the Chiefs, earning four consecutive All-Pros (three Second Team and one First Team), and was instrumental in the protection of Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who led Kansas City to a Super Bowl win in LIV.  Kansas City’s running game was also stellar with Schwartz anchoring the line.

A back injury in 2020, put him on the shelf after six Games, and he was released after the season.  After sitting out 2021, Schwartz elected to call it a career.  Schwartz may never have made it to the Pro Bowl but four All-Pros certainly show that he should have.  This could be one of the best players in recent memory to have never earned a “PB” beside his name.

One of the most successful Wide Receivers in the history of Pro Football, Larry Fitzgerald played his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals, where there was no doubt who was the top player in the desert.

Fitzgerald was highly coveted in the 2004 NFL Draft, having dominated in two years at Pittsburgh where he would later have the honor of having his jersey retired.  Taken number 3 Overall that year by the Cardinals, Fitzgerald paid immediate dividends as after a solid rookie year, he took the expected step to greatness as a sophomore

In that second season, Fitzgerald had his first 1,000 Yard season, and he would have eight more after.  While Fitzgerald never led the NFL in Receiving Yards, he was a two-time leader in Receptions and Receiving Yards, and setting every receiving record worth having in Cardinals history.  An 11-time Pro Bowl Selection, Fitzgerald set numerous records, and would have twice as many had it not been for the existence of Jerry Rice.  Fitzgerald was the top star in Arizona for years, and a huge reason that the Cards advanced to their first Super Bowl.

Fitzgerald was named to the NFL 100^th Anniversary Team, a sure sign that he will enter Canton quickly. At the time of his retirement, Fitzgerald was second all-time in Receiving Yards (17,492) and Receptions (1,432) while being sixth in Receiving Touchdowns (121).  As great as he was on the field, Fitzgerald was even held in higher regard off of it, as shown by his 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

There is no doubt that Larry Fitzgerald is one of the great ones.