Mark Gagliano was getting ready to tee off for a round of golf when he got a message to call his mother because there was an emergency.

Thinking the worst, the former Saluki All-American punter returned the call.

I just knew dad had a wreck, Gagliano said. But sure enough, she said, The Cincinnati Bengals have a flight for you at 5 p.m.’

Advertisement

Gagliano received that call Dec. 17, and that afternoon, he reported to the Bengals as a member of the team. Although he is not on the active roster, Gagliano is on the payroll and is practicing with the team.

The trip to Cincinnati is Gagliano’s third attempt to make an NFL squad since graduating from SIUC in May.

Through hard work and discipline, Gagliano used his summer of working out with the Indianapolis Colts to learn from Pro Bowl punter Chris Gardocki. The Colts released Gagliano Aug. 14, preferring to go with Gardocki.

While he was with the Colts, Gagliano played in an exhibition game against the Bengals Aug. 1. The punter had a 53-yard punt and a 31-yard pooch punt to bury the Bengals deep in their own territory. Gagliano also had to make a tackle after he kicked off.

Gagliano later had a tryout with the Carolina Panthers, but he did not get the job. Since then, Gagliano spent the majority of his time working out and practicing his kicking at his home in Collierville, Tenn.

Being on an NFL roster in Cincinnati during the regular season will increase Gagliano’s chances of becoming an active player next season.

This is the time to make it happen, he said. This is a great situation. It is the greatest job in the world.

Advertisement*

Gagliano has received these chances after a standout career at SIUC from 1993 to 1996. The 6-foot-4 punter earned Division I-AA All-American honors in 1996 after leading the nation in punting with a 45 yards-per-punt average.

SIUC assistant football coach Cap Boso, who coached Gagliano in 1995 and 1996, said Gagliano was someone who provided the kind of discipline and example that other members of the team could follow.

For Boso, it is no surprise that Gagliano has made an NFL team during the regular season

I think he is the kind of guy who will be in the league for awhile, Boso said. I think every day from here on out, he’ll be more prepared. He was a great example for our football team.

Boso said he knew Gagliano would do the kind of work that it takes to succeed in the NFL.

The call from the Bengals took Gagliano by surprise because there are only 30 punters in the entire league, and it is rare for rookies to play on an NFL team unless they win the job during training camp.

As a Bengal, Gagliano has spent his time working out with the team and learning the Bengals’ system. The Bengals’ punter, Lee Johnson, has been with the Bengals for 13 seasons and is nearing retirement.

But even though Johnson may be nearing the end of his career, Gagliano has no idea what his future with the team includes.

Your job can be gone tomorrow, Gagliano said. You never know what the coaches are thinking. I really have no idea what the coaches have planned.

He said the Bengals’ special teams coach, Al Roberts, is working on a new strategy for next season, but so far he has not received much feedback from the coaches about his performances in practices.

Nonetheless, the level of play Gagliano has witnessed continues to impress him.

Everyone is so good, Gagliano said. It is almost like the coaches play Sega from the press box.