Bill Gramática

Guillermo C. "Bill" Gramática (born 10 July 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.

Bill Gramática
No. 5, 7, 10, 11
Position:Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1978-07-10) 10 July 1978
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Career information
High school:LaBelle (FL)
College:South Florida
NFL Draft:2001 / Round: 4 / Pick: 98
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Field goals made/attempted:37/48
Field goal %:77.1%
Extra points made/attempted:60/61
Extra points %:98.4%
Total points:171
Longest field goal:50
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life

Gramática was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Laura and William Gramática. Bill is the younger brother to fellow placekicker Martin Gramática and older brother to Santiago Gramática. Laura and William Gramática decided to move their family from Argentina to LaBelle, Florida, in 1983.[1] Bill graduated from LaBelle High School, as did his two brothers.

“As a kid in Argentina, the first thing you get is a soccer ball and a jersey, and you play ALL the time, you love it so much, it’s a passion. My brother, Martin, was like a father to us; he gave up his childhood for us. I decided to pursue college football instead of soccer because of him. I wanted to be successful, and I wanted to follow in my brother’s footsteps and not disappoint him.”

Bill Gramática on what motivated him to pursue an NFL career

College career

Gramática 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, Gramática had broken many field goal records at USF, among them, the longest field goal made (63 yards) in USF.

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 15 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 Cardinals ended up losing the game 17–13.[2] 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.[3]

Arena Football League

In 2006, Gramática 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 on 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, Martin Gramática witnessed the devastation Hurricane 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; joined by former USF kicker Santiago Gramática, the Gramática family founded SIPS International in 2009, providing a full line of services involving Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS). Such panels provide an environmentally friendly protection against extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, earthquakes, and other hazardous weather. The family has built resistant, affordable houses in cities like New Orleans and Tampa, along with countries like Israel, Argentina, and Haiti.[4] "It's really been rewarding to help out," Bill stated in an article for AZCentral.com. "We're doing our best to find people to donate one building, one school, one village. 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."

While in the Tampa Bay area, the Gramática 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 Gramáticas have founded the Gramática 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.[5]

References
  1. Barrero, Jim (3 December 2001). "Over Time, Gramatica Brothers Love This Game". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  2. "5 Infamous Injuries Suffered in Celebration". CBS Chicago. 22 September 2014.
  3. "Bill Gramatica, K at NFL.com".
  4. "Welcome to Gramatica SIPS International". Gramatica SIPS International. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  5. Somers, Kent (24 March 2010). "What's Up: Onetime Cardinals Kicker Bill Gramatica". AZCentral.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
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