K Stephen Gostkowski

He filled big boots: Gostkowski on cusp of own legend By: Adam Kurkjian Sunday, December 21, 2014

FOXBORO — Stephen Gostkowski’s pure numbers depict a kicker who epitomizes clutch. But in terms of pure emotion, the picture gets cloudier for many Patriots fans.

Unlike his predecessor in Foxboro, Gostkowski doesn’t have that signature moment to elevate him to legendary status. When it comes right down to it, he simply hasn’t had the opportunity.

For , there was the January 2002 “Snow Bowl” kick against the Oakland Raiders that helped the team reach XXXVI. Vinatieri then booted the game-winner against the St. Louis Rams for the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy.

Gostkowski has played in two Super Bowls, but didn’t attempt a in the 2008 loss to the Giants. (In fact, famously eschewed a 49-yard attempt by his then-second-year kicker for an ill-fated punt on a third-quarter fourth-and-12.) In the 2012 loss, Gostkowski made his only field goal attempt against the Giants, a 29-yarder in the second quarter.

What Gostkowski has lacked in drama, he’s made up for in consistency.

“I just feel so comfortable when he goes to kick the ball and he does it in such a fashion that he makes them all,” former Patriots kicker and radio analyst said. “He’s going to pump it through there.”

The numbers bear that out. Currently, Gostkowski sits fourth all-time in field-goal percentage at 86.6. He’s 71-of-74 in fourth-quarter attempts (one was blocked) and 3-of-3 in overtime. In kicks that could either tie the game or put the Patriots ahead in the fourth quarter or overtime, he’s 20-of-21.

The only time he’s blown a late kick that cost the Pats a game came two years ago in a 20-18 loss to the Cardinals, when he missed a 42-yarder with five seconds to play. Even in that game, he hit four field goals.

As Cappelletti said, “He’s automatic.”

Keeping the task routine

Gostkowski describes his approach to making a pressure-filled kick the same matter-of-fact way others may characterize their daily routine at any other job.

“I really don’t think too much about it,” he said. “I try to just treat it like a normal kick. It’s hard to do, but I don’t worry about the consequences. I just worry about what I have to do to make the kick.

“I’m not a big celebrator so I just try to act like I’ve been out there and done it before. I just don’t want to show any kind of nervousness or any kind of panic. I just try and make everything look like I know what I’m doing.”

It’s safe to say he knows what he’s doing. Last weekend, he passed Vinatieri for the franchise lead in career points, now with 1,165 — three weeks after surpassing Cappelletti for second place.

Gostkowski maintains as much humility as accuracy when it comes to his accomplishments.

“We have a good offense,” he said. “We kick a lot of field goals. Other teams don’t. I don’t worry about that stuff. I’m just trying to make as many kicks as possible. When I do miss, I try to make sure that one miss doesn’t lead to two and two to three. I try to just make as many as I can.”

When opportunity knocks

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Devin McCourty remembers the first time Gostkowski earned his trust as a big-game kicker. It was during McCourty’s rookie season of 2010 and Gostkowski nailed the overtime winner against Baltimore.

“I just remember running on the field and everybody trying to run up to him,” McCourty said of the 23-20 win in which Gostkowski both made the tying field goal with less than two minutes left in regulation and a 35-yarder to win it. “I think that might have been the first game I’ve ever been in where time’s gone and it’s all up to the kicker to make the field goal and Steve came through.

“Every time after that . . . I don’t think there’s (been) doubt in any player’s mind. If we give it to Steve with any amount of time — to tie, to win, whatever it is – I think it’s complete confidence throughout the whole team that he’s probably going to win the game for us.”

Gostkowski has his personal favorites, too.

“There’s definitely ones that stick out: The game-winner I had my rookie year in San Diego,” Gostkowski said of the 31-yarder with 1:10 to play that gave the Patriots the 24-21 divisional-round win in the 2006-07 season.

“I had a go-ahead in the AFC Championship my rookie year that (the Colts) unfortunately came back and scored.”

He actually kicked two go-ahead field goals in the fourth quarter of that 38-34 loss.

“That was cool,” he said. “Having some big kicks in the playoffs kind of helped me feel like I belonged here. I would say that my rookie year, any time you kick a bunch of fourth-quarter kicks, game-winner, tying, stuff like that, those are special.”

But befitting a player whose hallmark is consistency, Gostkowski doesn’t define himself by game-winners. He takes the most pride in converting the next attempt after a missed one.

“That kind of sets the tone for my mental toughness to where I’m not going to let one bad game lead to two or three bad games,” he said. “That’s what I try to pride myself on.”

The Patriots, currently the AFC’s top playoff seed, are among the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl. Presumably, Gostkowski could find himself in the same position Vinatieri did against the Rams.

“It was right down the middle,” Cappelletti said of Vinatieri’s winner. “I can see Stephen doing that as well.”

Still, Gostkowski maintains he doesn’t get caught up visualizing the type of kick.

“No, I don’t think about that stuff,” he said. “I just worry about what’s going on. You can’t make your opportunities. I’m ready for any opportunity that I get. I don’t worry about that stuff.”

When the time comes, his track record shows that maybe Patriots fans won’t have much to worry about, either.

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