Not Much Pressure On Aguayo
May 26th, 2016
Former Bucs kicker Martin Gramatica (red shirt) with his two sons, as well as current Bucs kicker Roberto Aguayo (19), surrounded by a gaggle of reporters after Bucs OTA practice today.
A lot of folks think second round draft pick Roberto Aguayo is under a lot of pressure with the Bucs as their new kicker. Maybe, but maybe not as much as one may expect.
The greatest kicker in Bucs history, Martin Gramatica, a former third round selection himself, showed up at One Buc Palace today to lend support to Aguayo and talk kicking with the local pen and mic club.
Gramatica talked pressure. Essentially, he said kickers put more pressure on themselves than anyone else ever could, no matter the round a kicker was drafted in.
In fact, Gramatica believes despite Aguayo being a second round pick, there are free agent kickers with more pressure than Aguayo to perform.
“A free agent, they can fire you tomorrow,” Gramatica said, noting the Bucs have too much invested in Aguayo to run him quickly if he doesn’t perform right away.
Aguayo and Gramatica have met before today and the two share a bond, Aguayo said. Both he and Gramatica come from a family of NFL kickers, both sets of siblings attending Florida-based universities.
Gramatica brought along his two sons. Joe thought it was pretty cool that instead of Gramatica’s sons wearing their dad’s jerseys, they were wearing jerseys of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
May 26th, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Good point. Aguayo has less pressure to perform near perfectly this year than just about any other kicker in the NFL. He is practically un-cuttable due to the large investment. Hopefully he performs well this year and for many years to come.
May 26th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Even kids of kickers won’t wear their jerseys lmao, but seriously Gramatica’s right. Being a draft pick in round 2, the team has given ytou their vote of confidence…a FA kicker equals prove it or lose it. GO BUCS!!!
May 26th, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Martin went to Kansas State.
May 26th, 2016 at 3:29 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo noticed Martin’s two sons wearing Haboo jerseys……Pablo also noticed that beautiful long blonde hair on dem boyz….Pablo doesn’t know if he fathered any children with blonde hair or not (certainly possible) but none of Pablo’s many known children are blondes. Pablo wonders if they may possibly be Hon Gruden’s.”
May 26th, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Gramatica’s kids got some great hair. I remember when I had a head of hair that full.
May 26th, 2016 at 5:08 pm
@Pablo:
One of your best comments ever. LMAO.
tickrdr
May 26th, 2016 at 7:24 pm
JOE,when are you going to do that piece on Doug Martin.around 2oclock u had metioned it.thanks Tampaaaa
May 26th, 2016 at 10:46 pm
All kickers have a ton of pressure on them. A kicker can lose or win you games. Not a single kicker in the NFL doesnt have a ton of pressure.
Aguayo and any rookie, or bubble kicker has added pressure because of their own inner nerves, and needing to prove themselves. Aguayo has no more expectations or pressure han any other player.
May 26th, 2016 at 10:56 pm
I’ll tell you who felt the pressure. The Lightning. That was the weakest effort all year followed by a weak effort at home in Game 6. It just shows how Bish is critical to this team. No freaking way Bish gives up that 2nd goal which cost us the game. The rookie has a very long way to go.
May 26th, 2016 at 11:06 pm
Lightning got handled easily. They couldn’t control the puck or even get into The Penguins zone. The Pens played faster and harder. I never felt they would score a second goal. It was 2-1, but it could have been 6-1 if not for a nice game by Vasilevski.
May 27th, 2016 at 12:26 am
I agree with tickrdr Pablo!!! Awesome post.
May 27th, 2016 at 7:36 am
He’ll miss his first kick probably. It won’t mean anything. He is a special kicker and barring injury we have that position bottled up for the next 10+ years. Maybe longer.
May 27th, 2016 at 7:44 am
@FartinMartin
I think he was referring to his siblings in his Brother Bill Gramatica who attended USF. a lot of ppl didn’t know he was a “Bull”. Pretty cool. And the last time he kicked was in 2006 for the Tampa Bay Storm as well.
But what he’s really known for is celebrating and tearing his ACL. LOL. only a Gramatica could pull that off. I’m pretty sure Martin got injured right after that celebrating as well if Im correct.
May 27th, 2016 at 7:52 am
When u can’t even get out of your own zone the whole game you don’t deserve to win. The pens out shot the bolts by a very large margin, and that’s why they lost. Not Bishop. Altho it wouldn’t of hurt to have him, but for the THIRD year in a row we could not count on him when we needed hi the most. U fortunately I think we’ve seen the last of Bishop in a bolts uni. He’s showed you can’t depend on him during the playoffs. Too many decisions coming up for Yzerman. Someone will have to be sacrificed. I wouldn’t be suprised if Stamkos walks as well. They showed they can do it without him. Druion can replace him imo.