Bucs Sign A Kicker
March 17th, 2017
Has competition.
Roberto Aguayo, you are hereby on notice!
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is fond of saying the smartest thing he has learned as an NFL suit came while working for Bill Belicheat, who told him, humans make mistake, so cut your losses, learn from your mistakes and move on.
It seems Licht is on the cusp of doing that again with perhaps his biggest gamble leading the Bucs.
Good guy Peter Schrager of FOX Sports and NFL Network twittered out that the Bucs have signed veteran kicker Nick Folk.
The 10-year veteran is the most accurate kicker in Jets history. Last season with New York, he connected on 27 of 31 field goal attempts and was a perfect 3-for-3 on kicks over 40 yards, plus 2-for-4 on kicks of 50-plus yards. Bucs kicker Roberto Aguayo was 4 of 10 in field goals over 40 yards.
Aguayo, time to buckle up, buttercup. Or out the door you go!
March 17th, 2017 at 10:10 pm
Good job Licht. It’s all about the future.
Dave jump in anytime!
March 17th, 2017 at 10:13 pm
I think Aguayo is afraid to miss when he takes the field. If he starts the preseason off bad I don’t think he’ll recover. I’m a bowler and it’s a lot like kicking. You’re standing on the approach getting ready to throw the ball and everyone is watching you. If you have negative thoughts in you’re head, and are afraid to miss, instead of knowing you’ll make it, you’ve already missed. He needs to get out of his mindset and kick with confidence or he’s gone and just doesn’t know it yet.
March 17th, 2017 at 10:14 pm
He’s got a reason to be afraid now.
March 17th, 2017 at 10:15 pm
Folk is quality.. Berto better tighten up
March 17th, 2017 at 10:18 pm
Folk is a legit kicker too. This wasn’t a move to just try to motivate Aguayo. Folk could easily win this job. I’m still surprised that the Jets cut him. He was the only guy on that team worth a darn. Anyway, smart move. We have to have a kicker that can actually make field goals.
March 17th, 2017 at 10:28 pm
Eric 75 is right.
He became afraid to miss. Too tight. As a golfer, that’s a bad way to play.
He starting getting it together though. I agree that he needs to have a good pre season and first couple games or he isn’t recovering (this season at least). It’s too much of a mind game like golf. He needs to start fresh and clean and swing the leg freely.
I’m never going to trash the guy though, like some of you. It’s not his fault he was drafted high.
I’m rooting for him to be great
March 17th, 2017 at 10:30 pm
Yesssss. As much as I like Roberto, I’m a Buccaneer fan first and loudly applaud this move. No window dressing here, Folk is real competition, and may the best kicker win!
March 17th, 2017 at 10:36 pm
This signing makes perfect sense, BRAVO Jason Licht. NOW, go show us some more good sense and that you’re serious about competing this year by signing Mangold or trading for Kelce. I love Joe Hawley the person, but hate seeing him pushed into the back field like a rag doll by anyone 300pounds or over which constitutes what, atleast 90% of starting interior D linemen in the NFL; if not more.
March 17th, 2017 at 10:36 pm
Great signing. Show us something aguayo
March 17th, 2017 at 10:37 pm
No free rides
March 17th, 2017 at 10:39 pm
You guys are idiots if you think this second round, the most accurate kicker in college football is actually worried about not having a job. Nick folk really? Dare I say even Warren Sapp rookie season was forgettable. The way a rookie is judge just because he’s a kicker. I wonder about you guys sometimes when you expose yourself with opinions that seem like they are clicks. I thought you’ve come further than that. Not one single article about the possibility he actually is the long term answer. Your not fans because it’s better for you if he fails
March 17th, 2017 at 10:45 pm
I feel both a tight hamstring and collar coming on for Oh No Aguayo. Plenty of room on IR…
March 17th, 2017 at 10:53 pm
I don’t think Aguayo survives. He doesn’t have the leg to hit 50+ consistently. Good riddance.
March 17th, 2017 at 10:56 pm
That’s not competition, that’s a new starter. I have to see the contract numbers first, but you don’t sign a kicker that kicked that well the year before and not expect him to win the job.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:04 pm
This proves Licht is true to his word. He’s not afraid to move on from a mistake. He’s not going to saddle the team with an inferior player because of his investment in the pick. I think it’s fair to say that he’s one of the few GMs in the league who operate this way. Every GM makes mistakes (and Aguayo was a big one), but a good GM removes his ego.
Good job Jason Licht!
March 17th, 2017 at 11:04 pm
I agree with you Dave..
March 17th, 2017 at 11:08 pm
Two men enter one man leaves…
In JL I trust… Could bethe best signing of FA either way it goea… Brovo from a guy that supported the trade and pick of a kicker!!!!
March 17th, 2017 at 11:13 pm
Joe I read somewhere Aguayo trashed his hotel room in Cancun. I think schefter tweeted it… any truth to that?
March 17th, 2017 at 11:22 pm
Those that thought or think Roberto’s going to straighten out are wrong.
@Dave it ain’t about hate. He’s gettin’ paaaaid…to miss FG’s and extra pts.
The mojo’s been gone and one’s it’s gone. It’s not often it comes back.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:23 pm
once it’s gone*
Damn JD.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:27 pm
Doesn’t that make three kickers for us now?
March 17th, 2017 at 11:30 pm
I wish Roberto well. But, I’ll be very surprised if he can beat out Folk!
March 17th, 2017 at 11:32 pm
I think Aguayo is afraid to miss when he takes the field.
He’s got a reason to be afraid now.
Loved this JOE.
P.S how do you guys quote in here?
March 17th, 2017 at 11:33 pm
We’ve been saying it 87 since his last year at FSU. Some of you won’t acknowledge it, ypu blame it on rookie nerves. He’s been mediocre since hus last year at State. Folk is really good, he can hit beyond 50, Bertos one attempt from 50 looked like my 10 year old daughter kicked it. Hat tip to Licht, ypu are not sfraid to cut a mistake.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:35 pm
They’ll hide him on IR before they cut him but I think he’ll bounce back.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:45 pm
Thank the sweet baby Jeebus
March 17th, 2017 at 11:48 pm
He was actually 3-3 from 40-49, 2-4 from 50
March 17th, 2017 at 11:50 pm
Licht is reading my comments, clearly!
March 17th, 2017 at 11:51 pm
Maybe the Glazers signed him while Licht was out getting more donuts.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:54 pm
Good point.
March 17th, 2017 at 11:58 pm
Supersam:
Um, if Schefter did Twitter that out, would have been all over the map.
March 18th, 2017 at 12:06 am
THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!
March 18th, 2017 at 12:08 am
Shake and bake baby!
March 18th, 2017 at 12:10 am
Smart move. I do hope that Aguayo can get his shlt together and win the job, but my confidence is obviously not high for him. I’m glad Licht has kept to his word and is doing what it takes to be as competitive as possible on Sundays. Hats off to you Mr. Licht. And good luck to both kickers, may the best man win.
March 18th, 2017 at 12:14 am
Lol, his ass is going to be so tight, you won’t be able to jackhammer a needle in it.
March 18th, 2017 at 12:14 am
That is a load of crap. When the Bucs win traffic goes up; when the Bucs lose traffic goes down.
To suggest Joe wants a player to fail is saying Joe wants the Bucs to lose so traffic can sink, which kicks Joe right square in the wallet.
March 18th, 2017 at 12:29 am
Am I wrong or isnt Carpenter>Folk?
March 18th, 2017 at 12:39 am
I would love Aguayo to win this we used tons of drafts picks on him and looked like dumb nuts doing it! But if he can’t at least we have a plan ! Plan as that!
March 18th, 2017 at 12:42 am
About damn time
March 18th, 2017 at 12:43 am
Wish we still had Bryant? Or Bennett? Strange stuff or Penn? Ect
March 18th, 2017 at 12:51 am
Couldn’t be more wrong NTY
March 18th, 2017 at 1:06 am
Love licht. Hate the pick. Good riddance
March 18th, 2017 at 1:42 am
Roberto will beat out Folk, remain the starter and be a quality kicker for many years to come imo …
March 18th, 2017 at 1:43 am
Roberto is just A guy yo.
March 18th, 2017 at 2:16 am
Interesting to me that traffic goes down after losses.
I would have thought it is like talk radio, when people have nothing to bitch about they don’t call.
Live and learn.
March 18th, 2017 at 5:23 am
At first I thought this was more “managed competition” for Aquayo like the other kicker they signed to “compete” with him a couple months ago. But the more I looked into it it seems this isn’t just theater, this is legitimate.
Folk has hit at least 82% of his kicks the last four years, he’s only missed two extra points since the rule was changed (less than most kickers), and he’s hit 10 of 15 from 50+ yards since 2013.
Aguayo seems mentally weak to me, so I have to say the odds are probably in favor of Folk winning the training camp and preseason battle.
I honestly think Licht will turn out to be the best GM this franchise has ever had, but the Aguayo pick is his worst moment by far. It’s a bumbling mistake straight out of Dominik’s instruction manual on how to be an incompetent GM.
March 18th, 2017 at 6:04 am
Doubt that Folk would’ve signed with Bucs unless he was convinced that he had a legitimate shot at unseating Roberto. Great move by Licht, and shows me that Bucs are REALLY serious about winning now. Every position on the team needs competition, no exceptions. And Nick Folk is legitimate competition for Roberto.
March 18th, 2017 at 6:47 am
Awesome move. He was given a free pass last year. Now he has pressure which is similar to pressure in a big game. Aguayo has no more excuses now cause they do kick from different spots in college to pros. With that said , he better have figured it out in offseason. I’m sure he is working really hard and I do hope he wins cause he has opportunity to be our kicker for next 10 years
March 18th, 2017 at 6:58 am
Sign Colin Kapp…..we do need a back up………we all know the second round pick ain’t going no where!!.
March 18th, 2017 at 7:43 am
JonBuc Says
‘I feel both a tight hamstring and collar coming on for Oh No Aguayo. Plenty of room on IR…”
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but if the idea is to keep him but buy him time to improve, how would IR accomplish that? He would not be able to practice at all.
No. If he does that badly again, I see the Bucs keeping 2 kickers or trting to put him on the practice squad, which is a risk because he would have to clear waivers
Buc1987 Says
“The mojo’s been gone and one’s it’s gone. It’s not often it comes back.”
It sure didn’t come back for Mike Evans when people here were calling him a bust after 2015, did it?
Oh, wait…
March 18th, 2017 at 7:50 am
Certain people on this site keep talking about Licht and his big ego. This is clearly egg in your face. Good GMs need to be like good Corner Backs. Quick with short memories. He is not afraid to admit he may have made a mistake or to plug a possible hole. I hope Roberto pulls it together but if not, at least we have it covered.
March 18th, 2017 at 7:55 am
Great move by Licht and my favorite thing about him is he is not afraid to show that he was wrong. Most GMs would never admit that so soon for fear of losing their job. I still think Roberto wins the job but this will def make or break him.
March 18th, 2017 at 8:00 am
I think everyone is missing something key.
At every other position, rookies have had a veteran influence to help bring them along. Aguayo did not have that benefit. It was basically ‘go out there and find a way to fix the problem’!
I believe Jason and Dirk are NOT giving up on Aguayo yet. My belief is that they brought in Nick Folk to work with him this off season in order to help them decide if they should move on or not.
Keeping two kickers is practically unheard of, so Aguayo has the ball in his court. If he can convince them he just needs a little time, then I can see them doing the unthinkable…keeping both.
Nick Folk would become their backup plan. If Aguayo convinces them he should start this off season, but stinks it up, then Nick Folk could come in and finish the year.
OR, Nick Folk could start from game one and they might ease Aguayo in during the season, like many other positions are handled.
They key thing that everyone seems to be missing is Nick Folk’s age, which will be 33 during these season. While that does not rule him out from starting, it also does not scream long term fix.
More likely he is insurance. If the Bucs find themselves in the midst of a run this season, the last thing they can do is risk a young kicker blowing it while under playoff pressure.
So I think we do the rare thing and keep 2 kickers this year IF Aguayo can convince them not to give up on him.
March 18th, 2017 at 8:03 am
Great move- every player needs help from a mentor- I really wish the Bucs would reach out to Martin Gramatica and have him coach Aguayo. Everyone needs a mentor, Martin was great for us (until the end). JMO
March 18th, 2017 at 8:07 am
Defense Rules Says
“Doubt that Folk would’ve signed with Bucs unless he was convinced that he had a legitimate shot at unseating Roberto.”
i don’t know what sort of person Folk is, but many aging players want to help younger players as they near the end of their careers. I’m not saying that is the case here, but it’s possible.
Plus, the scenario above work work.
Was it a one year deal?
March 18th, 2017 at 8:17 am
No Bonzai, they have made it clear they aren’t happy with him and his performance.
He will either prove his worth and beat out Folk or get benched.
Very Simple.
Sure they can keep him as he matures or whatever until his rookie contract runs out to see if he gets better, but make no mistake, if Folk does better it’s his job.
And the length of the contract means nothing, they just don’t wanna commit to Folk for the longterm in the case that Aguayo does somehow find his confidence and wins the job. That longterm commitment comes later if Aguayo falls on his face this coming season and loses to Folk.
March 18th, 2017 at 9:23 am
PRBucFan Says
“No Bonzai, they have made it clear they aren’t happy with him and his performance.
He will either prove his worth and beat out Folk or get benched.
Very Simple.”
That is EXACTLY what I said. lol
March 18th, 2017 at 9:24 am
I don’t think he has until his rookie contract runs out to prove himself though. Two years would seem more reasonable, and one year is already passed.
March 18th, 2017 at 10:04 am
@ Bonzai
I think you are dead wrong. First, when kickers go into a funk like he did, many times they don’t come out. Don’t compare it to a WR who funk ed his way into 1000 yards but dropped a couple balls.
If Roberto can’t make a kick beyond 40 yards, he is absolutely worthless to the NFL.
Koetter and Licht want to win, even if Roberto somehow beats out Folk, and he wont, his leash will be so short that he’ll get yanked after he misses his 2nd kick of the year.
March 18th, 2017 at 10:20 am
Capece is kaput, pero Aguayo no esta acabado todavia. Let the best kicker win!
March 18th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
More pressure for Roberto. HE does not do well under pressure. HE will BUCKLE.
Bucs will take a 3rd thru 6th rounder for him. Somebody will bite.
March 18th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Best move of the offseason ! Can not have a problem child kicker if you are wanting the playoffs and more ! Let the competition begin !
March 18th, 2017 at 1:55 pm
Roberto hurt his groin during his junior year at FSU. He hasn’t been the same since. Not even close to his first 2 yrs of college. Love the kid, but he ain’t the old Roberto. Folk is good. Real good. Nails long ones in the Meadowland wind tunnel more often than not. Great signing.
March 18th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
Somebody posted a comment on here saying, “sign Kap as a backup” and instantly I thought, wow that’s got to be the most stupid thing I’ve heard us Bucs fans say! Then I looked at the name and it was BigHog and it all made sense lol