Vanderjagt's coaching job in question after he's accused of grabbing student by throat

Posted: 10:08 PM ET May 25, 2012

By Josh Katzowitz | NFL Blogger

This was the kick Mike Vanderjagt missed in the 2005 playoffs, but he yanked it wide right. (Getty) You probably remember Mike Vanderjagt as one of the best place-kickers in NFL history, and you might also recall that Peyton Manning referred to him as an “idiot kicker” after Vanderjagt criticized the then-Colts quarterback and coach Tony Dungy.

You might not know, however, that Vanderjagt lives these days in Marco Island, Fla., where he is a restaurateur and coaches middle school football at Marco Island Charter Middle School. Well, you probably discovered that recently because of the news Vanderjagt has helped create for himself after he was accused of grabbing a student by the throat after the boy teased Vanderjagt for missing a pressure-packed field goal from seven years ago.

According to the Naples News, the alleged incident occurred two months ago when Marco Island police responded to a call that an adult male had grabbed a student by the throat. Apparently, one student yelled “wide left, wide left” at Vanderjagt (strange because the last-minute field goal Vanderjagt missed against the Steelers in the 2005 playoffs was wide right). Vanderjagt allegedly walked up to the boy, grabbed his throat and began cursing at him.

Vanderjagt told police he placed his hand on the child's shoulder near the back of his neck in order to hold him in place while he talked to him. He also said he did not mean to hurt or threaten the student.

Vanderjagt said he talked to the boy's parents two days later, and both sides apologized to the other.

Police have not charged Vanderjagt, but he's been suspended by coaching from the school and it's unclear whether he'll return.

“Mike Vanderjagt wants to coach, and I don't think that should be taken away,” Roger Raymond, the athletic director at the middle school, told the paper.

The principal will make the ultimate decision on whether Vanderjagt will keep his job. Either way, hopefully he'll stop allegedly making decisions that would vindicate Manning's nickname.

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Tags: Peyton Manning, NFL

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