By Mike Chappell

mike.chappell@indystar.com

One of those guys has crashed the room.

When the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee determines the Class of 2014 Saturday in New York, it will debate the merits of Morten Andersen. He piled up an NFL-record 2,544 points during a career that spanned 25 seasons and included stints with five teams.

Andersen's numbers aside, his inclusion in the process is a rarity.

He's a placekicker, and just the third pure punter/kicker to be included among the annual 15 modern-day finalists since 1970. Punter Ray Guy reached the final 15 seven times and is a senior nominee this year. Placekicker Jan Stenerud was inducted in 1991, his first year of eligibility, and remains the only pure specialist with a bronze bust in Canton.

"For me, it's a little disappointing," Indianapolis Colts plackerkicker Adam Vinatieri said of the lack of attention given to specialists. "But you hear some of the analysts on ESPN or wherever and they say we don't deserve to be in there, that we don't do anything and blah, blah, blah.

"Every player on a team plays his own role in helping his team be successful and win championships. Kickers and punters do their share. At the end of the day, we can have a big influence on the outcome of a game."

Andersen, 53, retired following 2007 season after playing in an NFL-record 382 games. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and attended Ben Davis High School as a senior exchange student.

In an interview with The Star last summer, Andersen conceded it takes a unique mentality to do what he did for as long as he did it.

"A lot of hard work and tremendous will. The will to want to do it," he said. "You have to be a little twisted. It's a very single-minded journey. You have to be real focused and selfish and a lot of things that are not really great traits but important for high achievers.

"High achievers sometimes are not the nicest people. They're really focused and disciplined. They can be (jerks)."

Vinatieri acknowledged "not every punter or kicker deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, even if you've played a long time. But I think a guy like Morten Andersen who played 25 years and with 2,500 points set himself apart and should be considered very strongly."

Vinatieri was 10 when Andersen debuted with the New Orleans Saints in 1982. As his athletic career began drifting toward kicking, he considered Andersen the standard to chase.

"He was the guy I looked up to," Vinatieri said. "I thought he was head and shoulders above everybody else. He did what he did not only at such a high level, but to do it for as long as he did was very, very impressive. That put him at the top of my list."

Once his career is over, Vinatieri will draw serious consideration for Hall of Fame induction. He ranks No. 5 in league history in scoring (2,005 points), No. 7 in made field goals (448) and No. 9 in attempts (540).

Vinatieri, 42, becomes an unrestricted free agent March 11, but hopes to re-sign with the Colts. Negotiations have not begun for what will be his 19th NFL season.

"It's funny. I thought (playing) 18 years was unattainable when I was a rookie," he said. "I don't feel old. I know I can still do it.

"I've now been a Colt for eight years and that's gone by in the blink of an eye. I'd like to sign another two- or three-year deal, play that out and see what happens after that."

Greatly bolstering Vinatieri's resume is his postseason successes. He's considered the best clutch kicker in NFL history, in large part on the strength of delivering two last-second Super Bowl-winning field goals for New England and a pair of pressure kicks in the 2003 "tuck game" overtime win over the Oakland Raiders.

Vinatieri has been part of four world championship teams — three with the Patriots, one with the Colts — and holds NFL playoff records in points (213), and field goals made (51) and attempted (61). He has appeared in 27 postseason games, trailing only Jerry Rice (29).

"I know the experts always say winning championships and having 'those moments' carry a lot of weight," Vinatieri said. "I guess I've had a handful of those opportunities and that's worked out for me well. I try not to look at it. But sure, (Hall of Fame induction) would be nice.''

Measuring up

A look at the regular-season careers of placekickers Morten Andersen and Adam Vinatieri, including how each ranks in NFL history:

Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830. You can follow him on Twitter at @mchappell51.