Mare out; Saints pick up Gramatica
December 13, 2007
By Mike Triplett
The Saints signed veteran kicker Martin Gramatica on Wednesday to replace Olindo Mare, who suffered a season-ending hip injury in Monday night's 34-14 victory at Atlanta.
Gramatica, 32, has been out of work since he was released by the Dallas Cowboys during training camp. But he's no stranger to late-season call-ups. Last season, he signed with the Cowboys in late November. A few days later, he hit a 46-yard winning field goal in the final seconds against the New York Giants.
Gramatica made eight of 10 field-goal attempts in six games with Dallas, including the playoffs.
"You always think you're going to get that call, but when you don't get any calls for weeks, you think, 'OK, maybe this might be the time when it's over.' " Gramatica said. "But in the back of my mind, I always kept working out and thinking that I would get that shot again to at least show the league that I can kick. I've got the opportunity here, so hopefully I can do what I've got to do."
Gramatica was one of the league's best kickers earlier in his career. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round in 1999, and he became Tampa Bay's all-time leading scorer in the next six seasons.
He went to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season, and two years later he won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.
Gramatica's career was stalled by injury and inconsistency. He was released by the Buccaneers during the 2004 season, then he sat out all of 2005 after abdominal surgery.
He appeared in five games with the Indianapolis Colts early last season, mostly as a kickoff specialist, before moving to Dallas. Then, he lost his job this summer when he suffered a hamstring injury and got beat out by rookie Nick Folk.
"He's pretty accurate, pretty consistent when you look at his career numbers," said Saints Coach Sean Payton, who was impressed by Gramatica when the Saints brought in several kickers for workouts two months ago while Mare was fighting a groin injury. "He was on our short list if something were to happen."
Gramatica said the only bad thing about his opportunity is that it comes at Mare's expense. Gramatica said Mare is his closest friend in the league.
"I just feel really bad for him," Gramatica said. "But if somebody had to take his spot, I'm glad it's me."
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Mare out; Saints pick up Gramatica
Mare out; Saints pick up Gramatica
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