Vinatieri To Test Free Agency?

Adam Vinatieri may test free agency after New England declined to protect their clutch kicker with the franchise player tag.

The designation would have forced the team to commit to a one-year $3 million offer to Vinatieri. Without the tag, the team will not be compensated if he signs with someone else. (Of course, $3 million bucks is a lot of dough for a kicker, who is going to pay him THAT?)

"It just didn't feel like the right thing to do," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We considered all our options and decided not to tag anybody."

The Patriots still have until March 3 to sign Vinatieri. But negotiations around the league have been held up because the collective bargaining agreement between the players' union and the teams is set to expire next week, and 2006 salary cap numbers remain unknown.