http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dolnb08nov08,0,4351800.story?coll=sfla-sports-front
Kicker Gramatica at a loss over his first pro miss
By Harvey Fialkov
Staff Writer
Posted November 8 2004
MIAMI GARDENS -- Bill Gramatica picked a dramatic time Sunday to miss his first extra-point kick since his college days at the University of South Florida.
"It doesn't matter if I came the day of the game or a year ahead, I've got to make it. There's no excuse," said Gramatica, who had made 60 of 60 extra-point kicks while playing with the Cardinals from 2001 to 2003. "I just turned on it too quick. It's an extra point. You have to make all of them."
Gramatica did kick three field goals and the Dolphins were able to compensate for his missed extra point by converting a 2-point conversion pass from quarterback A.J. Feeley to tight end Randy McMichael, which is a play that gave the Dolphins a 23-17 lead with 1:56 remaining.
But Gramatica, who never had a practice with the Dolphins, couldn't help but feel responsible for the loss.
"I don't care that I was playing against my old team," said Gramatica, who was a 2001 fourth-round draft choice by Arizona. "I just want to win. It was a perfect snap, a perfect hold. It was just me."
When Gramatica made a 30-yard field goal on the Dolphins' first series, they became the fifth NFL team to have four kickers making at least one field goal in a season. Bryant, Olindo Mare and kick-return specialist Wes Welker also converted earlier this year.
Injury report
Quarterback Jay Fiedler was knocked from the game with a pinched nerve in his neck.
Other injuries occurred to left guard Jeno James, who had tailback Sammy Morris land on his left knee after diving for a 1-yard touchdown run, and wide receiver Marty Booker, who left the locker room on crutches and in a walking boot on his right ankle. Booker fell awkwardly as he tried to stretch the football over the goal line on a 35-yard catch that preceded Morris' touchdown.
Boys will be boys
The Dolphins and Cardinals had an informal scrum at midfield before the game in which a phantom punch was thrown and shoves were exchanged.
Some of the main combatants were Randy McMichael, Patrick Surtain, David Bowens and Jason Taylor for the Dolphins and Renaldo Hill, Quentin Harris and Darnell Dockett for the Cardinals.
"Emotions came into it," Bowens said. "They had a player come out and try to call out one of our players while we were warming up, and I take that personally, no matter what our record is. I'm not going to sit here and lay down for these people."
No penalties were assessed.
Dockett, a rookie tackle from Florida State, enjoyed the tiff.
"It actually pumped me up. I live and die for stuff like that," he said.
McMichael disgusted
McMichael, who had one catch for 16 yards after entering the game with a team-leading 42 catches and 535 yards, was disgusted with the loss.
"We lost to the two worst franchises in football this year, so what does that say about us right now?" McMichael said, referring to the Cardinals and Bengals.
Dolphins debuts
Second-year linebacker Eddie Moore, who is filling in for injured linebacker Junior Seau, made his first NFL start and finished with three tackles and a recovered fumble on the opening kickoff, just the second of the season for Miami.
"I had fun ... but I just wanted to have a good day, walk in here, hold my head up, but to lose the way we did ...," Moore said.
Defensive end Ronald Flemons, who has been on the practice squad for five games this season and inactive in two others, made his Dolphins debut when he gave Bowens a one-series rest midway through the third quarter.
"It's good to actually play, but I can't talk about me or how I played," said Flemons, who had one tackle. "We lost."
Cards off to good start
Cardinals backup running back Troy Hambrick ran for 62 yards in their first series to set up a 29-yard field goal by Neil Rackers. That was the longest run of the season allowed by the Dolphins, surpassing the 52-yard run by Titans back Chris Brown in the season opener. ... Emmitt Smith scored on a 5-yard run to give the Cardinals a 17-12 lead in the fourth quarter, marking his first career touchdown against the Dolphins in his fourth game.
Minor hits career high
Sammy Morris and Travis Minor alternated series at tailback, but it was Minor finishing with a career-high 90 yards on 11 carries, eclipsing his previous best of 71 yards on Nov. 11, 2001 against the Colts.
Kicker Gramatica at a loss over his first pro miss
By Harvey Fialkov
Staff Writer
Posted November 8 2004
MIAMI GARDENS -- Bill Gramatica picked a dramatic time Sunday to miss his first extra-point kick since his college days at the University of South Florida.
"It doesn't matter if I came the day of the game or a year ahead, I've got to make it. There's no excuse," said Gramatica, who had made 60 of 60 extra-point kicks while playing with the Cardinals from 2001 to 2003. "I just turned on it too quick. It's an extra point. You have to make all of them."
Gramatica did kick three field goals and the Dolphins were able to compensate for his missed extra point by converting a 2-point conversion pass from quarterback A.J. Feeley to tight end Randy McMichael, which is a play that gave the Dolphins a 23-17 lead with 1:56 remaining.
But Gramatica, who never had a practice with the Dolphins, couldn't help but feel responsible for the loss.
"I don't care that I was playing against my old team," said Gramatica, who was a 2001 fourth-round draft choice by Arizona. "I just want to win. It was a perfect snap, a perfect hold. It was just me."
When Gramatica made a 30-yard field goal on the Dolphins' first series, they became the fifth NFL team to have four kickers making at least one field goal in a season. Bryant, Olindo Mare and kick-return specialist Wes Welker also converted earlier this year.
Injury report
Quarterback Jay Fiedler was knocked from the game with a pinched nerve in his neck.
Other injuries occurred to left guard Jeno James, who had tailback Sammy Morris land on his left knee after diving for a 1-yard touchdown run, and wide receiver Marty Booker, who left the locker room on crutches and in a walking boot on his right ankle. Booker fell awkwardly as he tried to stretch the football over the goal line on a 35-yard catch that preceded Morris' touchdown.
Boys will be boys
The Dolphins and Cardinals had an informal scrum at midfield before the game in which a phantom punch was thrown and shoves were exchanged.
Some of the main combatants were Randy McMichael, Patrick Surtain, David Bowens and Jason Taylor for the Dolphins and Renaldo Hill, Quentin Harris and Darnell Dockett for the Cardinals.
"Emotions came into it," Bowens said. "They had a player come out and try to call out one of our players while we were warming up, and I take that personally, no matter what our record is. I'm not going to sit here and lay down for these people."
No penalties were assessed.
Dockett, a rookie tackle from Florida State, enjoyed the tiff.
"It actually pumped me up. I live and die for stuff like that," he said.
McMichael disgusted
McMichael, who had one catch for 16 yards after entering the game with a team-leading 42 catches and 535 yards, was disgusted with the loss.
"We lost to the two worst franchises in football this year, so what does that say about us right now?" McMichael said, referring to the Cardinals and Bengals.
Dolphins debuts
Second-year linebacker Eddie Moore, who is filling in for injured linebacker Junior Seau, made his first NFL start and finished with three tackles and a recovered fumble on the opening kickoff, just the second of the season for Miami.
"I had fun ... but I just wanted to have a good day, walk in here, hold my head up, but to lose the way we did ...," Moore said.
Defensive end Ronald Flemons, who has been on the practice squad for five games this season and inactive in two others, made his Dolphins debut when he gave Bowens a one-series rest midway through the third quarter.
"It's good to actually play, but I can't talk about me or how I played," said Flemons, who had one tackle. "We lost."
Cards off to good start
Cardinals backup running back Troy Hambrick ran for 62 yards in their first series to set up a 29-yard field goal by Neil Rackers. That was the longest run of the season allowed by the Dolphins, surpassing the 52-yard run by Titans back Chris Brown in the season opener. ... Emmitt Smith scored on a 5-yard run to give the Cardinals a 17-12 lead in the fourth quarter, marking his first career touchdown against the Dolphins in his fourth game.
Minor hits career high
Sammy Morris and Travis Minor alternated series at tailback, but it was Minor finishing with a career-high 90 yards on 11 carries, eclipsing his previous best of 71 yards on Nov. 11, 2001 against the Colts.
