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Gramatica cut; Rookie will be the team's kicker

The New England Patriots released veteran kicker Martin Gramatica, who was signed four months ago as a possible replacement for Adam Vinatieri.
Gramatica's release leaves rookie Stephen Gostkowski as the only kicker on the Patriots' roster.
Gramatica, 30, made both of his field goal attempts during the team's first preseason game. Gostkowski, 22, made his only attempt in the opener and was 3-of-3 on field goal tries in last week's exhibition win against Arizona.
Gostkowski joined the Patriots as a rookie out of the University of Memphis, where he kicked three field goals of more than 50 yards during his senior season.

--- Bloomberg News

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 5:27 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Kicker Situation cleared up

It's official: Stephen Gostkowski will replace Adam Vinatieri as the Patriots kicker.
The Patriots released veteran Martin Gramatica this afternoon. The move was made with an eye on freeing Gramatica up to chase another kicker's job in the final few weeks of the NFL pre-season.
Here is the official release.

Martin Gramatica, 30, was signed by the Patriots as a veteran free agent on April 6, 2006. The 5-foot-8-inch, 170-pound kicker is in his seventh NFL season after spending his first six years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1999-2004) and Indianapolis Colts (2004). He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2000 season. Gramatica has converted 137-of-179 career field goals (76.5 percent) and 181-of-183 career extra points (98.9 percent). In seven career playoff games, he has converted 11-of-12 field goals (91.7 percent) and all 15 extra point attempts. The Kansas State product was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the third round (80th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He holds Tampa Bay’s all-time career records for scoring (591 points), field goals made (137) and field goals attempted (179).
Gramatica participated in one game for the Patriots this preseason, converting both of his field goal attempts and his only extra point try against Atlanta on Aug. 11, 2006

KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Kevin  at 5:19 PM | Permalink

Caldwell gets open

FOXBORO -- Wide receiver Reche Caldwell has been the silent wideout since training camp began. With Deion Branch holding out and rookie Chad Jackson injured, Caldwell has been the team's most talented and experienced receiver. But he hasn't talked. Today, for the first time since the start of camp, Caldwell weighed in on his role so far.

"I’ m just trying to learn (the offense) as best I could," said the free agent signee from San Diego. "I just want to do everything I can do so I can help the team.""

Caldwell dismissed the notion he was feeling pressure as the team's No. 1. "No…I just go out there do my best and do what I can do. I don’t feel no pressure. I don’t feel it or worry about it all. I enjoy playing football. I go out there and play and I block out all distractions."

Caldwell had two catches last week against the Cardinals, but a drop is what lingers from his preseason performance to date. On a slant from the Atlanta 7 two weeks ago, Caldwell had a pass by Tom Brady glance off his elbow.

"I definitely should have caught that," said Caldwell. "Every ball that comes my way, I try to catch it no matter what."

Caldwell's gotten plenty of praise from quarterback Tom Brady during camp. And the Patriots are confident he's going to be fine.

As for his month-long media silence, Caldwell said no harm was intended.

"I'm trying to learn as much as I can and that usuall means I am studying, watching film or on the field," he explained. "It was never me not wanting to talk. I’m just trying to learn and this (offense) is more difficult than what I came from."

ALSO NOTED...

OLB Mike Vrabel with a Minnesota Gophers hat in his locker .strong safety Rodney Harrison giving himself a pseudo-massage by lying on a baseball and rolling back and forth to knead his muscles....Rookie wideout Chad Jackson peeking out of the trainer's room at 11:54 to make sure the media had departed. ... Corey Dillon power-walking (seriously) through the locker room while balancing his lunch on his forearm. ... Ultimately, he reached up into his locker, grabbed a Playstation console and disappeared through the curtains into the team's private rooms and training areas.

Posted by   at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Practice

Hey all --

Just in from practice and there wasn't too much to see -- especially since most of the media access time was watching the players stretch. Anyway, kicker Martin Gramatica was one of the players not on the field, along with receiver Chad Jackson, linebackers Chad Brown and Freddie Roach, defensive linemen Jarvis Green, Marquise Hill and LeKevin Smith, and of course Tedy Bruschi (wrist surgery), Patrick Pass (PUP list) and Deion Branch (foolish holdout).

On the field for the first time in two weeks was receiver John Stone; tackle Nick Kaczur, off the PUP list yesterday, safety Rodney Harrison and linebacker Monty Beisel also were on the field.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments 0