Colts bring in Gramatica as kickoff specialist

[wilheim]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indianapolis Colts signed Martin Gramatica to be their new kickoff specialist Wednesday.

Gramatica replaces Jason Baker, whose locker was empty Wednesday. The Colts have not yet officially announced how they made room on the roster for Gramatica.
Gramatica spent his entire six-year career with Tampa Bay until the Buccaneers cut him Nov. 30. He was chosen as the NFC's Pro Bowl kicker in 2000 and had been one of the NFL's strongest kickers, having made 78.8 percent of his field goal attempts before this year and 15 field goals from longer than 50 yards.

This year, Gramatica struggled. He made just 11 of 19 attempts and had not made a field goal longer than 22 yards since Oct. 10.

But the Colts, who already have the NFL's most accurate kicker in Mike Vanderjagt, don't need Gramatica to place- kick. After working out for the Colts on Tuesday, Gramatica said he could be kicking off Sunday against Houston.

"It's going to be different," Gramatica said. "I think I'm going to kick off Sunday, but I don't know for sure yet."

 

[TheGeneral+]

Right as we entered the playoffs last year I called Bill Polian and said we have to get a new kickoff guy because we are allowing opponents to start each posession from their 30 on most all kickoffs. Bill said he didn't want to mess with chemistry heading into the playoffs, but he would address in 2005. Baker has not been the man we wanted. Hope this move helps some.