During his 10-year NFL career, Martin Gramatica kicked for four different teams.
Gramatica last appeared in an NFL game in 2008, the second year of a two-year stint with the New Orleans Saints.
Gramatica, 49, opened up about his past when he spoke with TMZ about his memoir, Beyond The Uprights: The Intimate Memoir Of Martin Gramatica.
Grammatica spoke about his childhood experiences, especially his strained relationship with his father.
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Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica watches a pregame ceremony during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium on December 15, 2013 in Tampa, Florida. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images))
Super Bowl-winning kicker described father as 'abusive'
“I had a very abusive father, and I'm talking about that,” Grammatica told the magazine.
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But he stressed that he does not talk or write about his past to seek sympathy.
“I don't want people to read this book and say, 'Poor me,' because everything I've been through has made me a better person and a better father.” Grammatica said.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica jumps out of the tunnel before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium on August 29, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Kim Clement/USA Today Sports)
Grammatica said it provided an example of the type of relationship a father would not want to have with his children.
“After reading this book, I knew what not to do to my children. If someone reads this book and realizes, 'I have to break this,' they will be more aware than I was when I realized that.” I wish someone realized that sooner. I did. I didn't realize how bad it was until I had my first son.”
Nico Gramatica is a placekicker for the South Florida Bulls.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica makes a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter on August 23, 2003 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Martin's difficult relationship with his father led to an agreement between Martin and his brother.
“I love him so much that I'm thinking, 'How can I do what my father did for me?'” So I talked it over with my brothers. , we made an agreement that we had to break,” Martin said.
“We haven't spoken to[the father]since then, because we don't want that kind of abuse to happen around our family. I have three children. . My brother Santiago has two children, so we don't want them to suffer that kind of abuse.'' That's what this book is about. ”
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Gramatica kicked for Kansas State University and made the leap to the NFL in 1999. He spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won a Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2002.
He finished his professional soccer career with a career field goal percentage of 76.4%.
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