Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Struggling kicker Martin Gramatica was released by the Bucs on Tuesday and replaced with Arena Football League kicker Jay Taylor.
Gramatica, the team's career scoring leader, missed three field goals in Sunday's 21-14 loss at Carolina and was 11-for-19 overall this season. He missed seven of his last nine attempts and had not made a field goal over 22 yards since Oct. 10.
Gramatica hooked a 37-yard attempt that would have snapped a 14-14 tie with less than two minutes remaining against the Panthers. He also missed a 39-yarder and had a 26-yarder blocked by Julius Peppers.
Three weeks ago, the Bucs lost 24-14 at Atlanta after coach Jon Gruden passed up an opportunity to attempt a 45-yard field goal that would have made it 17-all in the fourth quarter. The Falcons stopped a run on fourth-and-1, then scored the decisive touchdown a few plays later.
Carolina drove 73 yards for the winning TD after Gramatica's third miss Sunday.
I guess he can still go by automatica.. NOw it's just an automatica that he will miss.
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
There are 75 kickers with NFL quality legs out there but it's between the ears that seperate them. Why do you think that a guy like Gary Anderson can find a job as long as he wants it even after his leg gave up.
Scott Norwood was a heckuva kicker before one miss sealed his fate (and his infamy).
On that note, I'd love it if you guys signed him.
This space reserved for BTP......If he ever wins it.
6. An interesting postscript to the Bucs waiving kicker Martin Gramatica on Tuesday is that it highlights the only raging kicker-punter feud in the NFL. Gramatica missed three kicks on Sunday against the Panthers, who employ Gramatica's nemesis, punter Todd Sauerbrun. As SI reported in its Nov. 29 issue, the dispute stems to 2002, when Sauerbrun criticized Gramatica for his exuberant celebration of a field goal and the youngest Gramatica, South Florida kicker Santiago, taunted Sauerbrun outside the Panthers' locker room. After another '02 game Martin had to be restrained from attacking Sauerbrun. Two weeks ago the Panthers considered signing another Gramatica kicker, Bill, but Sauerbrun (who is also the team's holder) advised against it. Carolina signed Jeff Chandler instead. Still, the 10 Spot would advise Martin that he shouldn't work off his anger by attacking Sauerbrun unless his brothers are nearby. Martin is generously listed at 5-8 and 170 pounds, while Sauerbrun, a former All-America lacrosse player in high school, is 5-10 and a solid 215.
