Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica, a fan favorite during his years with the team, did a guest spot on the Ron & Ian show on the Sports Animal this morning, and he offered up a couple of tidbits that most fans weren't aware of.
Before Gramatica came on, the hosts talked about how he could've benefited from a sports psychologist. During his last phase with the Bucs, Gramatica missed a lot of kicks, some of them routine ones.
Gramatica informed the hosts that his kicking woes in Tampa Bay were not mental but physical. He's had three groin surgeries in recent years. The problem started in the Super Bowl year of 2002, and then worsened the following season. Gramatica said the Bucs misdiagnosed his injury, and that he kept rehabbing but the injury persisted. He kicked the following season in significant pain and was released in 2004.
Gramatica last kicked for the New Orleans Saints in '08, but ended the season on Injured Reserve. He told Ron & Ian that he has no plans to return to the NFL, that he didn't think his groin would hold up. He's 33. He considers himself a lifelong Tampa resident.
Gramatica also touched on the subject of recently deposed Bucs coach Jon Gruden. Like other players who are coming out of the woodwork now that Gruden's gone, he had less than flattering things to say. The former kicker allowed that Gruden's rah-rah approach might've worked early on, but that it quickly grew old.
Gramatica also relayed a more personal story: When Gruden cut him, he hugged Gramatica and said he loved him. When Gramatica encountered the coach not long after at a golf tournament, Gruden acted like he didn't exist.
In other Gruden news, Bucs QB Jeff Garcia came revealed more details about his rocky relationship with Gruden. Check it out.
