Within a decade of his life NFL careerMartin Gramatica kicked for four different teams.
Gramatica last appeared in an NFL game in 2008, the second year of his two-year stint with an NFL team. New Orleans Saints.
Now 49, Gramatica opened up about his past during an interview with TMZ to discuss his memoir, “Beyond The Uprights: The Intimate Memoir Of Martin Gramatica.”
Grammatica spoke openly about what he experienced during his childhood, especially the tense relationship he had with his father.
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Retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Martin Gramatica watches pregame celebrations during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 15, 2013, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Messerschmitt/Getty Images))
Super Bowl-winning kicker described his father as 'abusive'
“I had a very abusive father to talk about,” Grammatica told the outlet.
But he stressed that he did not speak or write about his past in order to seek sympathy.
“I want to make sure people don't read the book and say, 'I feel sorry for me,' because everything I've been through has made me a better person and made me a better father,” Grammatica said.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers basketball player Martin Gramatica exits the tunnel before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2015. (Kim Clement/USA Today Sports)
Grammatica said his father set an example of the type of relationship he did not want to have with his children.
“It made me know what not to do with my kids. I want to make sure that if someone reads the book and realizes, 'I have to break this,' I want someone to realize that sooner than I did.” “I didn't realize how bad it was until I had my first son when Nico was born.”
Niko Gramatica is an alternative to South Florida Bulls.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica makes a 24-yard first-quarter field goal on August 23, 2003, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Messerschmitt/Getty Images)
Martin's difficult relationship with his father led to an agreement between Martin and his brothers.
“I love this child so much that you think: How can I do what my father did to me?” “This is how I feel. I talked to my brothers, and we came to an agreement,” Martin noted.
“We haven't spoken (to our father) since then because we don't want that kind of abuse around our families. I have three children. My brother Santiago has two children. So, we don't want that around our children.” That's what the book is about.”
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Gramatica began his career at Kansas State before making the jump to the NFL in 1999. He spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersHe won the Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2002.
He finished his professional football career with a 76.4% field goal shooting percentage.
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