“This Poor Kid Is Two Months Away From Hurling Whiskey Bottles Against The Wall”
May 28th, 2017
Doomed, says former Philly sports columnist.
Liquor bottles may not be safe in the Roberto Aguayo household late this summer.
That is the suggestion from John “Gonzo” Gonzalez. The former Philadelphia sports columnist and, more importantly, husband to NFL Network’s gorgeous Colleen Wolfe (well done!), made a guest appearance on the “Around the NFL” podcast hosted on NFL.com, joining co-hosts Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal and Wolfe.
The subject of Aguayo’s kicking struggles came up and Hanzus, who Joe greatly appreciates, read the Tueseday story Joe wrote on Aguayo’s struggles with the narrow field goal posts.
Gonzalez is convinced, like many people, that Aguayo’s days with the Bucs are numbered barring a dramatic turnaround. Gonzalez hinted Aguayo will react to his alleged soon-to-be-departure from the Bucs the same way Joe reacted to Bucs tacklers not wrapping up during lazy Lovie Smith’s reign of terror in Tampa Bay.
“Oh, it matters,” Gonzalez said of kicks at the skinny posts in OTAs. “This is the most matter of all the matters that we’ve had. It is a kicker conversation of this poor guy who was drafted way too high and stumbled through various concerns last year. Now, [he] can’t even make [kicks in OTAs] without any pressure on him.
“This poor kid is two months away from hurling whiskey bottles against the wall. It’s coming up fast on him.”
Wolfe added that it is clear Aguayo’s confidence “is shot.”
You can listen to the Aguayo chatter at the 1:00.55 mark in the podcast dated May 25 on this page.
There is still plenty of time for Aguayo to redeem himself but he has but three months. As Joe has stated, Aguayo better be perfect in training camp and the preseason.
If you are into dead cap ramifications on Aguayo’s contract, you can read about it here on Spotrac.com.
May 28th, 2017 at 12:13 am
Once again. I repeat. As a Nole.
Aguayo was cooked before he was drafted.
Preached it to my nephew (FSU student) all last summer.
I haaaaaaaated that pick.
May 28th, 2017 at 1:09 am
Hope he bounces back with a different team. Sorry it didn’t work out Berto. Folk is our man
May 28th, 2017 at 1:12 am
This sucks, homeboy could have been our kicker for the next 20 years.. I guess I understand rolling the dice, but dam
May 28th, 2017 at 1:14 am
And wtf, wasn’t this kid practicing all offseason. Dam, I could be making kicks w 5 months
May 28th, 2017 at 1:23 am
Buc87, one of the few if not only Nole fan that doesn’t let his college blinders blind him to the inevitable. We’ve been saying since he was drafted , loss his mojo before the last year at Talllahasee
May 28th, 2017 at 2:21 am
Watch his kickoffs.
He falls off balance every time.
He has a terrible swing.
Tucker from the Ravens has a perfect swing.
Bailey from the Cowboys has a perfect swing.
Aguayo has a terrible swing!!
Licht should have consulted kicking experts instead of swinging on Aguayo.
Damn, we really could have used another DE with that 2nd round pick.
Oh well.
Trade back next year and pick up another 2nd rounder.
May 28th, 2017 at 3:13 am
He’ll go to another team and he won’t have as much pressure on him and he’ll become their franchise kicker. He still might have a problem with important kicks like game winners though, since he can’t take pressure.
May 28th, 2017 at 4:42 am
“NFL Network’s gorgeous Colleen Wolfe”
My son started dating a very close member of her family a little more than a month ago. Can’t speak for Colleen, but this girl is super nice. Very smart!
Hoping the relationship works out.
As to Aguayo, just part of the drama. These are the same people who fail miserably at mock drafting for the bucs. They have no real inside info, and merely base their opinions off what they read elsewhere (probably here)
May 28th, 2017 at 5:13 am
Aguayo will be fine.
May 28th, 2017 at 5:19 am
So far as 3 months, it is plenty of time. After 2 days of OTAs half his supporters have given up on him…even though he improved on the second day.
Personally, unless Aguayo totally bombs during preseason, I think the smart move is to keep both on the roster if Aguayo starts looking good. Have a solid backup plan. Wouldn’t be the first time a team kept 2 kickers.
May 28th, 2017 at 5:39 am
Well, you never know, knock on wood…Nick Folk might get injured and then what? Aguayo can still be on the roster and back him up. Uhhh. Not. The Bucs would not waste a roster spot on Aguayo and would find a veteran kicker not currently employed if that time comes and he will be better than Aguayo. Sad, because we have no idea who that might be but can be sure he’d be better. TAquayo was not reliable last year, and so far, he’s not shown any improvement. Yup, his days are numbered.
Looking forward, the Bucs should plan on Folk as the K this year, and draft a real stud kicker next year, maybe like a 2nd rounder. Trade up to get him if they have to. Oh…wait.
May 28th, 2017 at 5:40 am
The Bucs have no choice but to cut him. Suppose he hits every kick in the preseason and Foles hits 80%. So the Bucs keep him. He misses a 40 yard game winner during the regular season and the Bucs miss the playoffs by one game. Foles kicks 85% for his new team and hits a couple of game winners too. The fans and the Glazers will be pissed!!! Hmmm, do you think Licht can recover from the same big mistake (drafting and keeping Aguayo) twice? I don’t think he will take that chance. I think it is a forgone conclusion.
May 28th, 2017 at 6:33 am
Agree WillieG … foregone conclusion. For the same reason Bucs signed Fitzpatrick instead of rolling on blindly with Griffin. Folk (and Fitzpatrick) are experienced & you pretty much know what you’re getting. Aquayo (and Griffin) are both still inexperienced & have a big question mark hanging over their head. It’s obvious IMO that the Bucs feel they can make a run at the playoffs this year, and question marks won’t cut it. In both their cases though, have a hunch Bucs will put them on the practice squad, hope no one grabs them & see how they further develop.
May 28th, 2017 at 6:42 am
Defense Rules…the Bucs have carried three QBs for a while, so I think one of the backups is a #3. Sure, maybe practice squad. However, no way do they waste a roster spot or even a practice squad position on an extra K in my opinion. If Aquayo isn’t the guy in the K spot, he won’t be on the Bucs…and likely, NO TEAM will pick him up as he’s a clear bust.
May 28th, 2017 at 6:52 am
Not sure what happened but probably time to.move on. Cant they resivn him to the praxtice swuad if.nibody else picks him up?
May 28th, 2017 at 7:00 am
As an FSU fan, I also did not like Bert going where he did in the draft. He did not look good his final year of college. Don’t feel too bad for him, he’s already made close to 2 million dollars (20 years at 100k/yr, still doing better than most every other American household), and from what I hear, has a pretty good head on his shoulders outside of football.
May 28th, 2017 at 7:21 am
Bye Bye Berto…
You cost us the playoffs last year…Folk’s our guy…if we’re in Green Bay in January and need a 43 yard Field Goal in the Snow to get to the Super Bowl, give me Folk over Aguayo all day…
Go BuCs!
May 28th, 2017 at 7:32 am
Fred E. Bucs, I think the Bucs carried 3 QBs because of Glennon’s situation (never sure how that was going to play out?). I don’t think anyone would grab Roberto from the PS either, but are Bucs really ready to give up on him is the question (Folk will whoop him in this preseason’s competition I’m convinced barring injury). Now that the PS has been expended a little, I think there’s a good chance that Licht will stash him there for a year.
May 28th, 2017 at 7:44 am
I think Aguayo will be gone–but reports like this are a tad laughable. Translation: “I’ve never met or probably even seen this kid in person, but let me tell you exactly what his problem is and what he’s gonna do in the future.”
OK man.
May 28th, 2017 at 8:08 am
Wow… just saw a picture of Colleen Wolfe. Waking up to her is almost as good as waking up to Joebucsfan!
May 28th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Two considerations for a kicker….% made…and range. Roberto was awful in both categories. I can at least imagine a guy getting his head together and improving his %…but how does he increase his range that much. Could Roberto start ingesting roids and growth hormone because his distance is not impressive.
But I do not feel sorry for Roberto. He’s going to walk with a million and half for an interesting year of his life. People here love to talk about Sweezy “stealing” money because his back went out…Sweezy may be back…Sweezy earned his bad back from years in the trenches….Roberto…some mental stress but a million and a half richer. He doesn’t have a difficult life ahead.
May 28th, 2017 at 8:45 am
Graham Gano who was a pretty good kicker for FSU bounced around before he found his footing. Dustin Hopkins another FSU kicker had to move around before he found a home. I guess no matter how good you were coming out of FSU and all these guys were great kickers award winners and record setters it just goes to show nothing is just handed to you. Some times you need that failure to make you better. Sorry Roberto its your time to go through the struggle.
May 28th, 2017 at 9:06 am
Licht may go down as THE best Bucs GM of all time…while also having made the absolute worst draft pick in team history.
May 28th, 2017 at 9:26 am
Being cut is in Aguayo’s best interest. I dont fault Licht but it will be a black spot on his record. I dont know the answer but once he’s cut instead of hurling whiskey bottles (btw I’m thinking more so tequila) he needs to do get himself in order.
May 28th, 2017 at 10:17 am
Some picks are crap shots, every team rolls a loser every now and then.
May 28th, 2017 at 11:21 am
The Bucs should bring another kicker to camp to compete with Nick Folk.
May 28th, 2017 at 11:43 am
It’s hard to sugar coat the whole thing, but with all the talk about using a second round pick on a kicker, it’s easy to forget that essentially all we did was use the pick that we would have had in the third round on him and then gave up our fourth round pick. So when you look at it with a little objectivity it’s not exactly what people make it out to be.
All the “experts” around the country try make it sound like the world has come to an end because of this pick.
I love Licht, but as I mentioned, Aguayo had a target on his back the moment his name was annnounced by moving up to get him.
May 28th, 2017 at 11:48 am
Mr. Fitzpatrick OTA’s play so far is looking how in your eyes DefenseRules? Mr. Griffin and Mr. Liufau? I see Mr. Fitzpatrick as a veteran set of eyes to help share his visions before during and after the snap with Mr. Winston. He has seen plenty of pre read snap and post read snap looks. Has seen a lot of both what works and what does not work. If he has to come in for a game or two or four, we have a backup QB who can and has shown in his past he can play. 50/50 in 4 games. Mr.Griffin no Regular Season experience but much more familiar in the offense. Has skills of his own from his college display at Tulane. Mr. Liufau has only his college tape to show what might be, He has shown some running and passing abilities.
We have a good QB group of young and veteran players here IMO, there is much to build with to support Mr. Winston & co.
Go Bucs!
May 28th, 2017 at 11:54 am
Still rooting for Agyuaryo. Think you guys are overacting. It’s not even train camp next.
May 28th, 2017 at 11:58 am
Rusty. It can’t hurt that Fitz. came from the AFC East and we play that division 4 times. He can probably show Winston what those defenses did to force him into so many picks.
May 28th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
My question is that since his mechanics are off on kickoffs as well as FG’s, who the hell is coaching him? He obviously is mental not able to cope with the pressure and probably need psychological therapy and some solid fundamental kicking coaching to perhaps ever be an average NFL kicker. Just not for our Bucs. We are being built to win now and can’t afford to try to develop a reliable kicker. Licht made a mistake by drafting Aguayo but at least he swallowed his pride and brought in Folk. I am not concerned now about the reliability of our kicker. Now we may not be leaving points on the board that can cost a game or two and possibly the difference between winning the division, a wildcard or watching the playoffs yet a gain from home.
May 28th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
🙂
May 28th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
You guys give up too cast.
I thought the whole idea of bringing in competition is to make him get better? You guys look at one bad day, balance with a better day, and have given up. What happens if Folk has a couple bad days? You’ll give up on him too?
‘Competition ‘ means nothing is decided yet. Nothing.
We must trust in the process and hope for the best…and Folk is NOT the best possible scenario. The best is that Aguayo starts making most of his kicks, becomes automatic, and he remains with the Bucs for 15 years.
Folk is a 1-2 year plug at best. And don’t think he cannot miss a game winner that costs us the playoffs.
May 28th, 2017 at 1:22 pm
@’79 Defense. The bottom line is they DID take a kicker in the second round and they could have traded up to get something else. That said, I don’t fault the Bucs GM at all…all indications were Aguayo has what it takes and given past kicking struggles where the K actually lost games, it was sensible gamble. He just lost is all. He’d only be in trouble if he kept him around and actually let Aguayo LOSE a game. That said, some above said Aguayo cost the Bucs the playoffs. Not so. He did not lose any games by a kick. And if the Bucs lost a game because they went for it and failed (because they didn’t trust Aguayo…I don’t remember that either where it mean the game), it would have been the offense’s fault for not scoring. The Bucs didn’t go the playoffs because the offense couldn’t score even just one more TD when they needed to given several opportunties. OAK, DAL, and NO come to mind.
May 28th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
Joe, please explain your choice of the pejoritive word “LAZY” to describe our former HC, Lovie Smith.
While I’m pleased with our current (Falcons?) HC/DC and the acquisition of a MUCH higher level of talent acquired by our GM, let’s be consistent and compare apples to apples.
I seem to recall Lovie showing up every day prepared without a day off or time in the IR.
I also am aware of the difference in the talent level of our current squad vs the personal that Lovie had to work with, including the prolonged absence, due to poor health, of his chosen OC.
IMHO, No QB and No OC should never be twisted into anything other than a failure of the GM to provide him with SB level talent fans seem to think we had on his roster.
Yeah, I Know…”Ifs and Buts” but clearly there was MUCH more at play than what you claim was (laziness?).
It is clear that Lovie is being (fairly??) judged because he couldn’t get a roster of limited talent (especially at QB?) to play at a higher (Super Bowl) level. It is also clear that the difference in talent alone is worth considering when making a judgement about (potential vs demonstrable) success.
I would also find it remarkable that everyone is suddenly blind about the difference in talent on the previous squad vs our current squad. Same GM, different talent.
Hmmmmm..???
It’s also worth noting that he was fired by Chicago after posting a 10-6 record and replaced by another “QB Guru/offensive-minded HC” who never replicated his success..,reaching the Super Bowl, EVER. Now, the Bears are coached by John Fox, another successful coach and he hasn’t replicated Lovie’s success and, considering the Bears’ current lack of talent, won’t be doing that before he’s fired.
So, please explain how Lovie was LAZY..??
Which FA/QB was available to propel the Bucs into the playoffs..??
Which CB(s) was available to solidify the secondary..and power the Cover-2..??
Revis..??
Could Revis cover the entire secondary or just 1-player..??
With all due respect…”LAZY” is just WRONG..!!
We don’t have to continually throw Lovie under the bus to define the brilliance of our current team vs the absence of key pieces (QB/OC) during Lovie’s tenure.
I’m reminded of the old adage about running a race with both hands tied behind your back and watching the victor’s claim of superiority.
Oooooh, Brother..!!
May 28th, 2017 at 2:41 pm
@ Bonzai: you don’t guarantee $750k to a guy with an 87% FG% for just “competition.”
You sign him to improve and impact your team.
May 28th, 2017 at 2:49 pm
The guy kicked at fsu , he had perfect weather most of the time and i doubt he really ever had a real high pressure kick. The noles are usually leading big late in the game , right?
May 28th, 2017 at 5:25 pm
Rayjay 1122:
Would you please elaborate on the poor mechanics on Aguayo’s kickoffs and field goals? Compare and contrast or…well.. offer any type of cogent thought at all.
May 29th, 2017 at 12:02 am
Wouldn’t coach up players. Wouldn’t try to craft a defense to highlight the talents of the players. Wouldn’t try to work with vets like Revis and Penn. Had no interest in offense at all and admitted he got very bored with offense.
And that’s just a few examples of what Joe can share.
Let’s just say if Lovie was working for Al Davis he would have been fired with cause and Davis wouldn’t have honored the rest of the contract.
May 29th, 2017 at 1:23 am
Mo_Downs…I’ll bet you my entire 3 bedroom house Lovie never has a winning season at Illinois.
Don’t let the color blind you.
You asked Joe. Did you get the response you were looking for?
May 29th, 2017 at 11:10 am
“This Poor Kid Is Two Months Away From Hurling Whiskey Bottles Against The Wall” Kickers come and go like clouds in a Tampa Bay rainstorm. Nick Folk may be our next kicker, but he is not exactly delivered from heaven. He was let go by the……Jets. Is that how far down we are, treating a former Jet as our savior?
As for John “Gonzo” Gonzalez, shame on you. You want to criticize the kid, okay, but your whiskey bottle comment shows you, not Roberto, have hit rock-bottom.
May 29th, 2017 at 1:07 pm
I sincerely hope Roberto stashed some of that big money he stole ….from the Bucs away. HE can start himself a nice little fast food drive thru and be happy. Because guys, he’s done. Stick a fork in’em. We took a gamble and lost. Now, some team might pick him up but its not looking good right now. I like the kid. But this is the NFL. And its..Not For Long for Roberto. Good luck to him.
May 29th, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Joe et 187,
Thanks for your thoughtful and measured response……
May 29th, 2017 at 8:00 pm
When Georgia Tech housed the blocked FG he was ruined
May 29th, 2017 at 8:02 pm
poor kid hasn’t recovered from that
May 29th, 2017 at 8:34 pm
BB- i think your post on kickers may be the single most stupid things I have read on this site and that is saying something! REALLY, your arguments for RA are embarrassing. Stop posting. You are hurting your brand.
May 29th, 2017 at 8:40 pm
RA NEVER was sen NEVER will be worth what the Bucs paid for him. Time to move on. By all accounts Folks strikes the ball much better. RA will be cut.