INDIANAPOLIS -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Roberto Aguayo was only 2 years old when Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri made his NFL debut with the New England Patriots in 1996.
That was the same year Vinatieri experienced some of the troubles Aguayo is currently going through. The Buccaneers' rookie kicker has missed two field goals and an extra point through the first two preseason games. Then he went 3 of 6 on field goal attempts during a joint practice against the Cleveland Browns this week.
Vinatieri noted the pressure Aguayo faces because he was a second-round draft pick, which is not common for kickers. The 43-year-old Vinatieri said he is open to talking to Aguayo, 22, if the rookie reaches out.
"He can give me a call anytime he wants to," Vinatieri said. "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 missed three field goals in Week 2 during his rookie season. Another in Week 3 and another in Week 4. He thought he would have been released had he missed the game-winning field goal against Jacksonville in Week 4. Vinatieri was 8-of-13 on field goals after the fourth week of the season. He missed three extra point attempts through the first eight weeks of that season.
Vinatieri was so inconsistent that then-Patriots coach Bill Parcells had a message for him.
"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."
There’s a reason why Vinatieri is still effective as the oldest player in the NFL. He has managed to overcome any mental obstacles that have come his way during his 21-year NFL career. He is 495-of-585 (84.6 percent) on field goal attempts in his career since his "rough" start.
ESPN.com Tampa Bay reporter Jenna Laine reported this week that Aguayo is working with a mental coach to help him during this trying time.
"This happens to a lot of players," Vinatieri said about 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."