Without a Leg Up, It’s Hard to Get Your Kicks

From Bill Gramatica’s celebratory antics after a routine field goal landing him on the injured list, to Kris Brown’s continued struggles as the leg of a Super Bowl contender, 2001 hasn’t exactly been a banner year for NFL kickers.

Even Martin Gramatica, Bill’s older brother who kicks for Tampa Bay, must have been feeling sympathy pangs when he injured his leg on an extra-point attempt Sunday.

Considered to be glorified soccer players by many, kickers rarely are noticed until they do something wrong.

That may explain all the attention the position seems to be receiving this season.

But it isn’t only bad teams that showcase marginal kickers. Sure, there’s Cincinnati’s Neil Rackers (12 for 21), Buffalo’s Jake Arians (12 for 21), Jacksonville’s Mike Hollis (16 for 24), San Diego’s Wade Richey (21 for 32) and Seattle’s Rian Lindell (19 for 29).

Even the NFL’s elite isn’t immune to the problem.

On Saturday, the Oakland Raiders watched helplessly as Sebastian Janikowski missed field goals of 40, 33 and 42 yards in a 13-10 loss to Tennessee (which features 21-for-29 Joe Nedney). OK, so Janikowski was suffering from a groin strain all week. Perhaps, he was due for an awful outing.

What about the 12-2 Pittsburgh Steelers?

Sure, Brown leads the league with 29 field goals, but he also has missed 14, including two more in a 47-14 win against Detroit. Earlier this season, Brown missed four against Baltimore, leading to one of Pittsburgh’s losses. Are the Steelers wondering in silence what might happen if it comes down to a kick in a close playoff game?

It doesn’t end there.

Ryan Longwell of the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers is only 17 for 26. Even the St. Louis Rams and their unrivaled offense aren’t safe. Jeff Wilkins, who is 22 for 27 this season, missed two from 45 in a victory against Carolina.

He Got Lion’s Share

If not for a disagreement over a few hundred thousand dollars, Jeff Hartings might still be a Detroit Lion, licking his wounds from a 1-13 season.

Instead, Hartings is playing in Pittsburgh at a position--center--that long has been a cornerstone for a proud franchise that has a chance to play in the Super Bowl again.

Before this season, Hartings spent five seasons as Detroit’s starting right guard and was twice chosen the Lions’ best lineman. Now he has followed Hall of Famer Mike Webster and Dermontti Dawson--the only centers the Steelers have had in the last 25 years--onto a team that is 12-2.

Last February, Hartings was close to signing a $24.034-million, six-year contract extension, but Lion management balked, fearing the big contract might hinder its ability to sign other players.

“I told my agent [Ben Dogra] to do everything he could to make sure I got back to Detroit,” Hartings said. “But when they changed coaches [from Gary Moeller to Marty Mornhinweg], it was basically no different than coming here. It was all new coaches and all new management.”

And it resulted in a new contract for Hartings, a $24.25-million, six-year deal that included a $5.75-million signing bonus, slightly less than the $6.5 million the Lions offered.

“I’m very happy how it’s worked out,” said Hartings, who helped the Steelers rout the Lions, 47-14, Sunday. “I feel sorry for some of my friends back in Detroit ... but I’m happy here.”

Back to the Tundra

Chris Akins would have loved nothing more than to cost the Green Bay Packers another victory.

Akins was the scapegoat for the Packers’ shocking loss to Atlanta last month after his personal foul jump-started the Falcons’ decisive touchdown drive. He was yanked from the game and got into a sideline shouting match with Coach Mike Sherman, who fined him $21,611, a game’s pay.

Three days after drawing two interference flags in punt coverage at Jacksonville, Akins was cut Dec. 7 after publicly criticizing Sherman.

Three days later, the injury-decimated Cleveland Browns, who played at Green Bay on Sunday, claimed Akins off waivers.

“The fact that we play Green Bay ... does nothing but add fuel to the fire,” Akins said, who promised to spice his reunion with a pinch of revenge.

It turned out to be more talk than action in the Browns’ 30-7 loss.

Akins was jeered on the few occasions he made a tackle on defense or special teams, but he was the last Cleveland player off the field after shaking hands with several of his former teammates.

Hoop Dreams

Tony Gonzalez, who plays football for a living and basketball for a passion, is once again making noises about giving the NBA a try.

A report on CBS television Sunday quoted unnamed sources saying that Kansas City’s all-pro tight end from Huntington Beach hired a special trainer and hoped to be in contact with NBA teams after the season.

After the Chiefs’ 20-17 victory against San Diego, Gonzalez uncharacteristically snubbed reporters afterward, but agent Tom Condon confirmed they still are interested in the NBA.

“He’s been seen by a lot of teams already and he’s pretty well made his intentions known that he’d be interested in at least getting an opportunity to try to do something,” Condon said.

“We’ll be contacting them after the season’s over.”

Nothing in Common

What does David Terrell think of David Terrell?

“I don’t know the guy,” said Terrell, the Chicago Bear rookie receiver. “He’s probably using my name to pick up girls.”

The other Terrell, the Washington Redskin defensive back, didn’t think much of that.

“This is coming from a guy who has more drops than receptions,” he said. “Anyone who sees this cat definitely won’t think I’m him.”

After Chicago’s 20-15 victory at Washington, it doesn’t appear either Terrell knows the other any better. Neither had much of an impact.

Chicago’s Terrell had one reception for four yards and Washington’s Terrell had three tackles.

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Compiled by Jim Barrero