Vinatieri tells struggling Aguayo to call him 'anytime'
Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri has put together a Hall of Fame resume over 21 seasons in the NFL. But his time in the league got off to a rocky start, meaning the veteran is empathetic to the struggles of Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo.
The second-round pick has missed two field goals and an extra point through the first two preseason games, while going 3-for-6 during practice this week, fueling an onslaught of criticism from fans and media.
Vinatieri also struggled adjusting to the professional level, missing five field goals in the first four weeks of his rookie season in 1996. The 43-year-old said he's available if Aguayo wants to reach out.
"He can give me a call anytime he wants to," Vinatieri said, according to ESPN's Mike Wells. "There's a brotherhood with the specialists. There's not many of them and we don't get any respect, so we have to show a little respect for each other. We have to help each other out if we have the opportunity."
Vinatieri believes he was another miss away from being cut by then-New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells, but managed to get on track with a game-winning kick against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"He said I was week-to-week," Vinatieri recalls. "I kicked the five field goals against Jacksonville and the game-winner. Thank goodness it kind of catapulted me after that. The next half of the season was pretty good."
The Bucs traded up to grab Aguayo in the second round of this year's draft, piling pressure on the rookie to instantly excel. The kicker is reportedly working with a mental coach to help him out of the rut.
"This happens to a lot of players," Vinatieri said of Aguayo's struggles. "He was a fairly high draft choice. They're going to give him a little bit more leeway with that, maybe. Sometimes you have to work through some things, and the mental side of kicking is definitely there.
"A lot of people can kick a ball a long way, but sometimes you get in a little funk and you work your way out of it. He wouldn't have been drafted 59th if he wasn't really, really good. I'm sure he'll figure out."