Gramatica to replace legendary Vinatieri

By David Wedge  |   Monday, April 24, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

New England Patriots
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The New England Patriots have completed their search to replace departed kicker Adam Vinatieri, signing veteran Martin Gramatica in an undisclosed agreement.

The Kansas State product was a third round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1999. In just his fourth season in the NFL, Gramatica was a vital part of a Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers team and was also awarded Pro Bowl honors for his achievements. During this campaign, Gramatica set new single season kicking records for Tampa, kicking 32 field goals and 128 points. Following a successful start to his career as a Buc, he then had a brief spell with the Indianapolis Colts in 2004, before spending 2005 out of football.

Now 30 years old, Gramatica enter his seventh season in the NFL and attempt to fill the boots of legendary former New England kicker and fans favorite, Adam Vinatieri.

It would be unrealistic to expect anyone to come to New England and be able to perform to the standard and consistency set by Adam Vinatieri, as Vinatieri is arguably the greatest kicker of modern times and one of the greatest kickers the NFL has ever seen. What the Patriots need from Vinatieri's replacement is a kicker with postseason experience, an ability to kick under pressure and that knowledge of what winning big games is all about.

By signing Gramatica, the New England Patriots have acquired a kicker with all the required attributes to succeed Vinatieri. In fact, other than Vinatieri himself, there are few kickers currently playing in the NFL who can boast such an impressive postseason record. In seven playoff games, Gramatica has successfully converted 11 of 12 field goals and made all 15 extra point attempts.

If Gramatica can perform to the reputation his statistics display, then the New England Patriots have made a successful signing. Patriots fans, however, may prove more skeptical and question the logic behind signing a 30-year-old kicker, who has been away from the NFL for a year. To tackle the age issue firstly, the fact that Adam Vinatieri is in his thirties didn't seem to feature in the thoughts of many Pats fans when they wanted him to stay, so it shouldn't be a cause for concern regarding the acquisition of Gramatica. The fact that Gramatica didn't play in the NFL during 2005 is a greater worry and only time will tell how long it will take him to re-adapt to the pace and pressures of NFL football.

The signing of Martin Gramatica won't hide the blunder made by the New England Patriots' management in failing to re-sign Adam Vinatieri, but it will bring to the roster a highly-experienced campaigner with the ability to produce kicking performances capable of winning the biggest games, including the Super Bowl.
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