kicking it with Gostkowski

Kickers usually only end up in the headlines for the wrong reasons. But Stephen Gostkowski showed Sunday just how much of an impact a kicker can have by aiding both the offense and defense with his leg.

Gostkowski booted four field goals and boomed five touchbacks as part of the Patriots' 19-10 triumph over the New York Jets in the sweltering heat at the Meadowlands.

Drawing a crowd of media Wednesday, while speaking for the first time since Sunday's win, Gostkowski didn't bask in the glow of his performance. If anything, he was self-depreciating, calling a kicker's job "monotonous" while detailing his weekly preparation.

"We only kick 5-10 (field goals) with the team in practice," explained Gostkowski. "But when we go up on the field by ourselves, we probably do 30-40 kicks with operations every day, every practice. Sometimes, if my coach doesn't think I'm doing something right, sometimes you just call it quits then because, if you're doing something wrong, you don't want to develop bad habits."

An offseason award winner, given out for a number of factors including attendance and improvement over the prior year, Gostkowski has made all five field goals he has attempted this year. What's more, teams are averaging only a shade over 24 yards per kickoff return on the five that have been returnable this season.

Gostkowski only recorded 15 touchbacks in 16 games last season, a low number considering the number of kickoffs he participated in with the Patriots' offense setting NFL records for points scored.

"There's a fine line between not kicking enough and kicking too much," he said. "I think (special teams coach) Brad (Seeley) and coach (Bill) Belichick do a pretty good job of monitoring that and they realize that, when you get tired, you start doing different things, (including) trying to kick the ball too hard and that's when you start getting in trouble.

"It's a routine, like everybody else. We'll kick one way with the wind, and one way against the wind the same amount. We'll only practice short ones versus long ones or vice versa. It's so monotonous what I do. Kick 15 field goals this way, then go back so-and-so yards and do it again. It's the same thing everyday and that's what you have to do."

Gostkowski also fielded questions on whether he had ever had a similar performance dating back to high school, and if he envied kickers who always kick in warm weather or domes.