By Fred Goodall
The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - Tampa Bay's Martin Gramatica and Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski have more in common than strong, accurate legs and a background in soccer. They're also the first foreign-born kickers to face each other in the Super Bowl in 24 years.

Similarities probably stop there.

Gramatica is 5-foot-8, 170 pounds and grew up in Argentina.

Janikowski is 6-foot-2 and 255 pounds and grew up in Poland.

"He's a very strong kicker," Gramatica said. "He can use his leg and get the ball there. I have to use my whole body. I don't have a choice."

Janikowski may have the bigger, stronger body, but Gramatica has plenty of range, too.

The Bucs figure any time they cross an opponent's 35-yard line they can count on getting at least three points. That's the attitude you develop when you've got a kicker who's so dependable his nickname is Automatica.

"We have the best kicker in the league," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "His consistency speaks for itself."

The last time foreign-born kickers were showcased in the Super Bowl was 1979 when Pittsburgh's Roy Gerela (Canada) competed against Dallas' Rafael Septien (Mexico).

In four pro seasons, Gramatica actually has proven to be more than just one of the most reliable scoring threats in the NFL. He and brother Bill, who plays for the Arizona Cardinals, also have a reputation for being excitable.

Martin has toned down his act since Bill suffered a season-ending knee injury celebrating a field goal two years ago. He no longer hops up and down or jumps into the arms of teammates after extra points.

But, hey, this is the Super Bowl and not even Martin is sure how he'd react if he were to boot the game winner in Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

"Hopefully it doesn't come down to that," Gramatica said. "I want to win by a lot."

Gramatica's family moved to the United States when he was 10, eventually settling in LaBelle, Fla., a small town about two hours south of Tampa.

Although Gramatica didn't play organized football until his senior year in high school, he showed enough promise to win a scholarship to Kansas State, where as a senior he kicked a 65-yard field goal - longest in NCAA history without a tee.

The Bucs selected him in the third round of the 1999 draft, and his 110 career field goals already rank second in club history. He converted 32 of 39 attempts this season, including five-of-six beyond 50 yards.

Janikowski, meanwhile, was 26-of-33 - missing just twice from inside 40 yards and making both of his tries longer than 50.

Janikowski moved to Daytona Beach, Fla., and later headed to Florida State, where his arrival prompted Bill Gramatica to transfer to the University of South Florida.

A first-round draft pick in 2000, Janikowski had a solid season after struggling on and off the field the past two years. He's converted five of six field goal attempts during the playoffs and said he's no longer the wild man he was in college.

"People make their own choices and (make up) their own minds. If you want to say I'm a bad guy, OK," Janikowski said. "It's not people who know me or live with me for a year or two. They're going to see what's inside, not what's outside."

Coaches and teammates also believe Janikowski has changed his ways.

"Sebastian is a really misunderstood person. He has matured. He knows he had some faults. He has worked extremely hard at overcoming those faults," Raiders special teams coordinator Bob Casullo said.

"In order for us to get where we are, we needed him to be good because we've got a good offense, a good defense, a good punter, good returners. We needed a good kicker, and that's what we've got," he said.

Return to Bengals front page...