Panthers put a hex on Gramatica Tom Sorensen, The Charlotte Observer, published 29 November 2004 Martin Gramatica, who at 170 pounds has never been fined for missing his weight limit, missed three field-goal attempts Sunday. He was wide left from 37 and 39 yards and had a 26-yard attempt blocked. If Gramatica makes all three, the Buccaneers do not lose 21-14 to the Carolina Panthers. The Bucs might even win. So why did Gramatica, who was 6-for-6 this season from 20 to 29 yards and 3-for-4 from 30 to 39 yards, miss? An examination of the turf from which Gramatica kicked reveals he can't blame Bank of America Stadium. The grass is in great shape. There are a few post-game divots, a few clumps of grass and a watermelon Jolly Rancher wrapper, but no watermelon Jolly Rancher. Did the pressure applied by Carolina's defensive line undo Gramatica? The most important of the field goals, a 37-yard attempt with 1 minute, 53 seconds left in the game, was clean, as was the 39-yard attempt Gramatica missed in the first quarter. Why then, did the usually reliable Gramatica, whose nickname is "Automatica," fail? I tell you why. Todd Sauerbrun. Sauerbrun said he had put a hex on him. "Mentally," Sauerbrun said. Your mental hexes usually are the best kind. He wasn't specific about the type of hex. But Sauerbrun went to college at West Virginia. They know secret mountain stuff up there. Sauerbrun stood on or near the 47-yard line and let the hex fly as Gramatica kicked. That was as close as they came to a conversation. They were among the first players onto the field when the teams ran out about 15 minutes before the game, and they passed within five yards of each other. But they refused to even consider acknowledging each other. Sauerbrun has long engaged in a feud with Gramatica and all of his kicking brothers. "I'm glad I'm not him," Sauerbrun said. Sunday ended a huge week for Sauerbrun. The Panthers won their third straight game, Sauerbrun averaged 47.8 yards a punt and, despite Thanksgiving, he made weight and therefore avoided a fine for being too fat. The fine, incidentally, is unfair. Sauerbrun is the best punter in football despite what the statistics say. Although childhood obesity is a major problem in the United States, I believe two groups of people should be heavy. They are, of course, punters and ex-wives. Did Sauerbrun win the game all by himself? No. Julius Peppers helped. Peppers returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown, had a sack and combined with Sauerbrun's hex to block a second-quarter field goal. The defense limited Tampa Bay to an average of 2.2 yards per rush. Jake Delhomme hit Keary Colbert for the 40-yard, game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds left. But if I'm the Panthers, I award the game ball to Sauerbrun, master punter, underpaid field-goal kicker and one of the great hex deliverers in the history of Mountaineers kicking. Sauerbrun, who has blasted all things Gramatica in the past, was surprisingly understated after the game Sunday. Maybe it was because Delhomme yelled, "That's a wrap!" every time Sauerbrun began to cut loose. Sauerbrun said he would not rip Gramatica unless Gramatica ripped him first. "I can't say anything else or they'll fine me," Sauerbrun said. "If you want to pay my fines, I'll go off. Let me know. I'll have a press conference." I had $152 in my wallet (which might be a record for my wallet). How much you think the fine would be? "At least $5,000," Sauerbrun said. Quotes are overrated.