Martin Gramatica
Encyclopedia
Martín Gramática is an Argentine-American
former football
placekicker
.
Gramática was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft
after playing college football
at Kansas State
, and has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts
, New England Patriots
, Dallas Cowboys
and New Orleans Saints
. He is the older brother of professional placekickers Bill Gramática
and Santiago Gramática
.
in LaBelle, Florida
. but did not play football until senior year after growing up playing soccer in Argentina. He hit 8 out of 10 field goal
s (longest 52 yds), 22 PATs, and sent 38 of 49 kickoff
s out of the end zone for touchback
s.
where he made 54 out of 70 field goals and 187-192 PATs gaining a school record of 349 points in four seasons. He also set the single-season school record with 135 points. This earned him the nickname "Automatica." In 1996 he was granted a medical redshirt
. Gramatica was a first-team All-America choice by the Associated Press
both his junior and senior years and received the Lou Groza Award
in 1998. Notably, he was 3-3 on field goals from 50+ yards his junior year, and as a senior kicked a phenomenal 65-yarder against Northern Illinois
– the longest field goal in college and professional football history kicked without a tee. He received his Bachelor of Science
degree in social science in May 1999. Also of note was his characteristic jumping in celebration after every successful field goal. However, he stopped this after his brother Bill tore his ACL while playing for the Arizona Cardinals and celebrating in a similar manner after kicking a field goal.
He has been inducted into Kansas State's Ring of Honor.
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and played there for five seasons. He was the starter for the NFC
Pro Bowl
team in 2001. In 2002 he won Super Bowl XXXVII
with Tampa Bay, becoming the first Argentine-American in history to do so.
In 2003, Gramática had a noticeable drop in accuracy with field goals of 40 yards or longer - a trend that continued in 2004 until he was ultimately released by the Buccaneers.
in December 2004 and was used exclusively for kickoffs. Gramatica later revealed in an interview in September 2005 with news-press.com that he believed the reason for his struggles was because of torn muscles in his lower abductor and lower abdomen, which he had surgically repaired during the offseason. However, his rehabilitation was not completed until after the season started, and did not sign with a team for the 2005 season
.
, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Gramática competed with fourth-round draft pick Stephen Gostkowski
for the position; on August 23, the Patriots gave the job to Gostkowski and released Gramática.
and was released on October 4, but re-signed on four days later, and yet again subsequently released.
on November 27, 2006 when they released Mike Vanderjagt
.
On December 3, in his debut with the Dallas Cowboys, Gramática kicked the game-winning field goal from 46-yards out against the New York Giants
, leaving 00:01 on the clock and the Dallas team celebrating on the sideline.
Before the start of the 2007 season, Gramática signed a two-year extension with the Cowboys. After being placed on injured reserve for the 2007 season
on September 2, 2007, he was released on September 25.
after kicker Olindo Mare
was injured. Shortly after returning to the game, on December 23, he matched his last personal long field goal of 55 yards just before halftime in a pivotal game against the Philadelphia Eagles
.
In the 2008 preseason, Gramática was challenged by sixth-round draft pick Taylor Mehlhaff
for the team's placekicking job. Gramática retained the job as Mehlhaff was waived by the Saints on August 30 during final cuts. Gramática was perfect in field goals with the Saints until September 21, 2008, when he missed two critical field goals in a loss to the Denver Broncos
. On October 6, he had a blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown and a missed 46-yard field goal just before the two-minute warning in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings
. Just two days after the game against Minnesota, Gramática was placed on season-ending injured reserve
. The team re-signed Mehlhaff as a replacement. The Saints used two other kickers that season. Gramatica was released at the end of the year.
He and his wife, Ashlee, have two sons, Nicolás and Gastón.
Martín is in business with brother Bill, as a part of the Gramatica Group LLC. Gramatica Group, LLC provides architectural designs, engineering services, and complete design turnkey installation capabilities throughout the southeastern United States.
Argentine American
Argentine Americans are citizens and residents of the United States whose origins are in the South American nation of Argentina.The profile of the Argentine American population is generally similar to the overall U.S. population's. Among the key differences, however, is educational attainment...
former football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
.
Gramática was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
after playing college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
, and has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He is the older brother of professional placekickers Bill Gramática
Bill Gramatica
Guillermo C. "Bill" Gramática is a former American football placekicker of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft and last played for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League in 2006. He played college...
and Santiago Gramática
Santiago Gramática
Santiago Gramática is a former American football placekicker in the Arena Football League. He played college football at South Florida. Santiago is the youngest brother of NFL kicker Martín and Arena League kicker Bill.-High school and College:Santiago played his high school football in the small...
.
Early years
Gramática went to LaBelle High SchoolLabelle High School
LaBelle High School is a high school located in LaBelle, Florida. It is operated by the Hendry County Schools District. The school was founded in 1915 and has been accredited since 1921. A new, larger school was finished in 1979 in its current place. Edward A. Upthegrove Elementary is in the place...
in LaBelle, Florida
LaBelle, Florida
LaBelle is a city in and the county seat of Hendry County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,210 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,480 . It was named for Laura and Belle Hendry, daughters of pioneer cattleman Francis A...
. but did not play football until senior year after growing up playing soccer in Argentina. He hit 8 out of 10 field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
s (longest 52 yds), 22 PATs, and sent 38 of 49 kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
s out of the end zone for touchback
Touchback
In American football, a touchback is a ruling which is made and signaled by an official when the ball becomes dead behind or above a goal line and the team who is attacking that goal line is responsible for the ball being there. Responsibility is determined by which team gave the ball the impetus...
s.
College career
In college, he attended Kansas State UniversityKansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
where he made 54 out of 70 field goals and 187-192 PATs gaining a school record of 349 points in four seasons. He also set the single-season school record with 135 points. This earned him the nickname "Automatica." In 1996 he was granted a medical redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
. Gramatica was a first-team All-America choice by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
both his junior and senior years and received the Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
in 1998. Notably, he was 3-3 on field goals from 50+ yards his junior year, and as a senior kicked a phenomenal 65-yarder against Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois is a region generally covering the northern third of the U.S. state of Illinois.-Economics:Northern Illinois is dominated by the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Rockford, and the Quad Cities, which contain a majority of Illinois' population and economic activity, including...
– the longest field goal in college and professional football history kicked without a tee. He received his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in social science in May 1999. Also of note was his characteristic jumping in celebration after every successful field goal. However, he stopped this after his brother Bill tore his ACL while playing for the Arizona Cardinals and celebrating in a similar manner after kicking a field goal.
He has been inducted into Kansas State's Ring of Honor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gramática was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and played there for five seasons. He was the starter for the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
Pro Bowl
2001 Pro Bowl
The 2001 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 4, 2001 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 38, NFC 17. Rich Gannon of the Oakland Raiders was the game's MVP.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Offense:-Defense:...
team in 2001. In 2002 he won Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
with Tampa Bay, becoming the first Argentine-American in history to do so.
In 2003, Gramática had a noticeable drop in accuracy with field goals of 40 yards or longer - a trend that continued in 2004 until he was ultimately released by the Buccaneers.
Indianapolis Colts
Gramática was signed by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in December 2004 and was used exclusively for kickoffs. Gramatica later revealed in an interview in September 2005 with news-press.com that he believed the reason for his struggles was because of torn muscles in his lower abductor and lower abdomen, which he had surgically repaired during the offseason. However, his rehabilitation was not completed until after the season started, and did not sign with a team for the 2005 season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
.
New England Patriots
On April 6, 2006, the New England Patriots signed Gramática as a replacement for Adam VinatieriAdam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Gramática competed with fourth-round draft pick Stephen Gostkowski
Stephen Gostkowski
Stephen Carroll Gostkowski is a placekicker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
for the position; on August 23, the Patriots gave the job to Gostkowski and released Gramática.
Indianapolis Colts
On September 22, he signed with the Colts to back up Adam VinatieriAdam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
and was released on October 4, but re-signed on four days later, and yet again subsequently released.
Dallas Cowboys
Gramática was then signed by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
on November 27, 2006 when they released Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
.
On December 3, in his debut with the Dallas Cowboys, Gramática kicked the game-winning field goal from 46-yards out against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, leaving 00:01 on the clock and the Dallas team celebrating on the sideline.
Before the start of the 2007 season, Gramática signed a two-year extension with the Cowboys. After being placed on injured reserve for the 2007 season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
on September 2, 2007, he was released on September 25.
New Orleans Saints
On December 12, 2007 Gramática was signed by the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
after kicker Olindo Mare
Olindo Mare
Olindo Franco Mare is an American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
was injured. Shortly after returning to the game, on December 23, he matched his last personal long field goal of 55 yards just before halftime in a pivotal game against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In the 2008 preseason, Gramática was challenged by sixth-round draft pick Taylor Mehlhaff
Taylor Mehlhaff
Taylor Mehlhaff is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin....
for the team's placekicking job. Gramática retained the job as Mehlhaff was waived by the Saints on August 30 during final cuts. Gramática was perfect in field goals with the Saints until September 21, 2008, when he missed two critical field goals in a loss to the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. On October 6, he had a blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown and a missed 46-yard field goal just before the two-minute warning in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. Just two days after the game against Minnesota, Gramática was placed on season-ending injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. The team re-signed Mehlhaff as a replacement. The Saints used two other kickers that season. Gramatica was released at the end of the year.
Personal
Martín and his brothers, Bill and Santiago, currently host Gramática Kicking Camps (American football place kicking and punting) in Tampa, Florida and surrounding areas. He also actively supports the efforts of Football Americano Argentina, a starting league in his home country.He and his wife, Ashlee, have two sons, Nicolás and Gastón.
Martín is in business with brother Bill, as a part of the Gramatica Group LLC. Gramatica Group, LLC provides architectural designs, engineering services, and complete design turnkey installation capabilities throughout the southeastern United States.