One of the most thankless jobs in sports is the professional kicker. Special teams players have always been thought of as second rate athletes but when the game is on the line, everyone looks at them to be the team’s savior. Moving into a team’s good graces can happen at the drop of a hat, something Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo found out this Monday night.
The Buccaneers infamously spent a second round pick on Aguayo, one of the most head scratching moves at this year’s draft. Aguayo was a fabulous college kicker at Florida State, winning the Lou Groza award and being a three-time All-American. However, spending that high of a pick on a kicker was always going to be a controversial move, no matter what.
The controversy only grew as soon as Aguayo took the field. As he struggled throughout the preseason and Aguayo missed kicks, it only magnified the pressure that was on the young kicker. After doinking a kick off of the uprights early on against the Panthers to fall to 2-4 on field goal attempts this season, Aguayo looked like he was going to be a dead man walking come next practice. (Via SB Nation)
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Luckily for Aguayo, he had an opportunity to completely redeem himself. With the score tied 14-14, Aguayo stepped up to slot home the game-winning field goal as time expired.
What a moment to shut up all of the haters. While he is still only 3-for-5 on the season for field goals, Aguayo definitely needed this to regain some lost confidence. He can at least rest easy tonight. His job is safe for at least one more week.
