Bill Gramática

Guillermo C. "Bill" Gramática (born July 10, 1978) is an Argentine former American football placekicker of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft and last played for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League in 2006. He played college football at the University of South Florida. Gramática is perhaps best known for tearing a knee ligament in a celebratory leap with the Cardinals in 2001.

Early life

Gramática was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Laura and William Gramatica. Bill is the younger brother to fellow placekicker Martin Gramatica and older brother to Santiago Gramatica. Laura and William Gramatica decided to move their little family from Argentina to the LaBelle, Florida in 1983. Bill graduated from LaBelle High School in the small town of LaBelle, Florida, as did his two brothers.

He made a culturally defiant decision, along with his brothers Martin and Santiago, to leave Argentina to pursue a career kicking field goals in American football. Despite their lack of proven skill, the brothers collectively decided to venture off the path of a promising soccer career to begin the somewhat unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous life of professional NFL players.

College career

Bill was the starting placekicker for Florida State in 1997 until being replaced by Sebastian Janikowski midway through the season, eventually leading to his transfer to the University of South Florida. At USF he was a 1998 All American award recipient. By the end of his college career, Bill had broken many field goal records at USF, including that for the longest field goal made (63 yards).

Professional career

National Football League

Gramática was drafted in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. His NFL career with the Cardinals was promising until the 15th of December 2001 in a game against the New York Giants. After completing a 42-yard field goal early in the game, Gramática jumped up in celebration and tore his ACL upon landing. Not only did the injury end his season, but the Giants went on to win the game 17-13.^[1] Gramática finished his rookie year with 16 field goals in 20 attempts. After two more seasons with the Cardinals, he signed with the New York Giants in the 2004 offseason, but was released during the preseason. He signed with the Miami Dolphins later that year and played one game for them when kicker Olindo Mare was injured, but was cut from the team after his first career miss on an extra point kick, which came in a one-point loss. In the NFL, he made 37 of his 48 field goal attempts and 60 of his 61 extra point attempts.^[2]

Arena Football League

In 2006, he returned to football as the kicker for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League. In contrast to his NFL start, Gramática's Arena Football Career was lackluster in comparison; he made 65 of 71 extra points attempts and was just 8 for 18 in field goal attempts.

Career accomplishments

• Two time All-American
• East West Shrine All Star game player
• Blue Grey All Star game player, where he was voted 'Offensive MVP.'
• 5-time NFC Player of the Week

Post-football career

During his time with the New Orleans saints, his brother Martin witnessed the devastation Katrina left and wanted to give back once his career came to an end. Together, Martin and Bill searched for a product to build houses out of that could withstand the forces of a hurricane. Together they have built resistant, affordable houses in New Orleans, Israel, Argentina, Tampa, and now focusing on Haiti. “Its really been rewarding to help out…We’re doing our best to find people to donate one building, one school, one village.” Bill stated in an article for AZCentral.com. “There is no better feeling than knowing you've made a positive impact in someone's life. It is our responsibility and privilege to help provide a safer, more energy efficient product that will reduce the cost of ownership.” - Martin, Bill, and Santiago Gramatica

The Gramatica family founded SIPS International in 2009, providing a full line of services involving Structural Insulated Panel Systems also known as SIPS. These Structurally Insulated Panels provide an environmentally friendly protection against extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, earthquakes, and other hazardous weather. SIPS International was founded by the Gramatica brothers; consisting of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Martin Gramatica, Bill Gramatica, and former USF kicker Santiago Gramatica.

While in the Tampa Bay area, the Gramatica brothers saw the need to support deserving members of their community, especially combat wounded veterans. Through partnerships with other organizations they raise awareness and support bay area veterans returning from combat duty that may face health and financial challenges.

In order to assist a greater number of worthy local residents, the Gramaticas have founded the Gramatica Family Foundation; a non-profit whose mission is to provide energy efficient housing initiatives and development assistance to disabled military veterans, the underprivileged and the ailing.^[3]

References

Somers, Kent. "What's Up: Onetime Cardinals Kicker Bill Gramatica." What's Up: Onetime Cardinals Kicker Bill Gramatica. AZCentral.com, 21 Mar. 2010. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.

Berrero, Jim. "Over Time, Gramatica Brothers Love This Game." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 2001. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.

Notes