“That Might Determine Their Entire Team”
June 20th, 2017
Punter talks Bucs kicker.
The trolls killed the kicking star.
That’s the word from former NFL punter Pat McAfee on the state of embattled Bucs kicker Roberto Aguayo.
McAfee, who is now a full-time comedian for something called “Barstool Sports,” hung up his kicking shoes this offseason to pursue his post-football life. And short of kickers, no one understands kickers like punters, who pretty much hang with kickers all day long.
McAfee appeared on “Pro Football Talk Live” Monday, hosted by the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, the great Mike Florio, which intelligent football fans enjoy weekday mornings on NBC Sports Network.
The subject of the Bucs came up and McAfee seems to believe choosing the right kicker between the incumbent Aguayo and challenger Nick Folk very well could determine if the Bucs make the playoffs this winter.
“Big kicker battle happening in Tampa, let’s not leave that out,” McAfee said. “Big time kicker battle happening down there. That might determine their entire team. Nobody even thinks about that.
“[Being a second-round pick], that’s a lot of heat on a kid. Especially nowadays with the way social media is. I think [Aguayo] has so much pressure on him because that was the talk of the [2016] draft, that he got drafted in the second round. There was a lot of heat. So even if he looks at social media at all, it’s a nightmare and 90 percent of kicking, just like golf, is all mental. So he kind of let that beat him.
“I think he is an incredible person who will come back. … Nowadays, if you are mentally fragile in a social media state of mind, the trolls on the internet will ruin your life. And that might be what happened with Aguayo.”
That’s an interesting element McAfee brought up, mostly because he used to hang with kickers. Just being a second round pick, Aguayo likely put too much pressure on himself and he just wasn’t ready for it. Add on the fact he was likely the most hated draft pick since maybe leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman (folks may have forgotten how, at the Bucs official draft party at the stadium, Freeman’s selection was booed by a large contingent of fans. That didn’t help matters.)
We will all find out in a matter of weeks if Aguayo has learned to shut out the noise and just worry about kicking.
June 20th, 2017 at 9:05 am
‘Artificial’ Joe’s, next time you see Roberto, tell him all Buc Fans are behind him. We are all pulling for him.
June 20th, 2017 at 9:11 am
There is plenty of upside in this entire scenario. IF Roberto survives the challenge he will have faced down the most intense pressure he is likely to ever see.
Everyday this August will be a SB winning kick…more importantly every kick for Roberto this training camp could be a make or break kick for his career!!!
June 20th, 2017 at 9:11 am
Mentally fragile and NFL player do not go hand and hand. Social media and blogs are stupid anyways!!! 🙂
June 20th, 2017 at 9:20 am
A kicker that can’t make 45 yard field goals consistently moving on
June 20th, 2017 at 9:26 am
If u have but one responsibility (put ball between upright goal posts) and you are in any way paying ANY attention to social media much less being swayed by anything coming from those platforms, you are a mental midget beyond help and should already have been handed your walking papers.
June 20th, 2017 at 9:43 am
I’m pulling for Aguayo to ditch the jitters and become money kicking.
June 20th, 2017 at 10:00 am
Just ditch Roberto. Let him rebound on another team. The kid, even when he is on his game, cannot make a kick beyond 45 yards. That is a problem on it’s own. Never mind the fact he cannot make a kick from anywhere on the field.
The pick made no sense at the time and it still doesn’t. Draft Daniel Carlsen this coming draft and move on. The Folk era will last a year.
June 20th, 2017 at 10:07 am
I honestly don’t know what to say or think of this situation…..im rooting for the kid….I want him to be our kicker for the next 12 years but damn…..
@guzzie said it best…..GO BUCS!!!!
June 20th, 2017 at 10:36 am
just like martin aquayo has proven he can not be counted on. he’s weak needs to be selling Ice cream in OK with cancer93 sooner the better.
June 20th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Go with Folk the guy was 89% on his FGs last year and this team has a chance to make a legit run at the playoffs don’t need a head case thinking about what “Football Guy” from Brandon is typing on Joe Bucs or Twitter about how when he starred at Polk High he kicked 10 FGs and married the homecoming queen in one night
June 20th, 2017 at 11:29 am
Even if he shuts out the noise… aguayo isn’t that good to begin with. Not a great leg outside of 40yds. Folk will hands down be the winner. Remeber all the stupid talk last year from people trying to justify the pick… well, he’s going to be great on kick offs because he will hit it high close to the goal line, lol. Great quote though … 90% of kicking is all mental.
June 20th, 2017 at 11:39 am
His podcast is awesome. Worth a listen
June 20th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
Joe that was a direct shot over the bow towards all Joe Bucs Fans!!!!!! Trolls oh now hold on here!!! We didnt miss those chip shots Roberto did 🙂
June 20th, 2017 at 1:04 pm
Man up Roberto pressure is what you put on yourself. We just need a damn kicker!!!!!!
June 20th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
I think all the misplaced noise Aguayo has caught will make him stronger…it is so sad how people with no talent can totally destroy a person. But one thing I am sure of Aguayo is one of the better kickers and because of all the haters…he WILL just like his QB and team mate learned to do ignore it and KICK THE BALL. Either way he will be a GOAT hopefully for the Bucs, but if not some other team will benefit.
They meant it for harm, but it is going to be turned around for good!
Go Aguayo…go Bucs!
Dirk and Licht KNOW what they have in a kicker and so they had to make him compete for it, like they did their #1 pick JW. They failed Aguayo by not making him compete his first season. If Aguayo wins the competition he WILL be THE KICKER, he would have gone thru the fire and I am certain Jameis and Aguayo’s dad has emphasized getting thru ADVERSITY !
June 20th, 2017 at 3:57 pm
It’s no coincidence that he is kicking better since getting his haircut to support kids cancer research. That stupid forelock was probably obscuring his vision.
June 20th, 2017 at 5:01 pm
I really hope Aguayo is able to win the job. One, that means he had a great offseason and two, it means it’s not that bad of a pick in retrospect. Regardless of if it makes the Bucs this year or not I think he kicks in the NFL for at least the next decade. Many many many very good and great NFL kickers have bad rookie years, they then follow up in general with having average 2nd seasons and then in year three they become right there with the best of the game and stay there for 10-12 years. Not sure if Aguayo is that person, but I do know you don’t forget how to kick in an offseason.
With all that said if Folk wins the job then he wins the job and so be it. He’s not that old for a kicker and heck he could still end up playing for another decade and still be good, and if that’s the case then great.
June 20th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
J 2.0 Says:
“The kid, even when he is on his game, cannot make a kick beyond 45 yards.”
Berto was 5 for 5 from 45>55 yards in OTA practice one day last week. Just sayin….
He regularly booms kickoffs through the end zone so I’m not really sure where the notion that Aguayo has a “weak” leg came from. His aim was obviously problematic at times last year – but I don’t think leg strength is a legit “problem” with this kicker. I’ve seen him hit field goals in practice/warm up from the 50 yard line with plenty of room to spare so that’s a 60 yard FG.
I’m rooting for the young man to find his mojo this year. Glad we have a reasonably reliable option in Folk to turn to if the yips continue – but it would obviously be much better for the team if Aguayo gets dialed in so we can have the kicker Jason Licht thought he was drafting for the next dozen years.
June 20th, 2017 at 7:42 pm
Well said PICKGRIN…🤗
If Folk’s win I’m ok with it👏, just prefer Licht’s draft choice and the best fit for our young team.
Ready for the young BUCS☠🤗
June 20th, 2017 at 11:25 pm
Kickers and punters are weird dudes
June 21st, 2017 at 8:02 am
@pickgrin… lol in 1 practice he was good. OK, thats great. In real games he was the worst kicker in the league. The weak leg stuff comes from he is 4 for 11 in kicks over 39 yards, has never made on past 50 and in college his final year was 50% from 40 yards or more, but in that one ota, he did look good.
June 21st, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Jameis Winston was a much more controversial pick, fans either loved him or hated him. A lesser man would have crumbled under that pressure and criticism, so kudos to Jameis for being mentally strong, being a model citizen, and winning over most of his critics. As John Madden says, “Winning is the best deodorant” so I expect unanimous fandom for Jameis when he hoists the Lombardi trophy.