INDIANAPOLIS -- Chicago Bears kicker Roberto Aguayo was only 2 years old when Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri made his NFL debut with the New England Patriots in 1996.

Vinatieri's perseverance and commitment has him headed into his 22nd season in the league while playing with just two teams. Aguayo is in just his second season and he's already on his second team after he was released last week by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that selected him the second round in 2016.

Vinatieri, who is currently third on the NFL's all-time scoring list with 2,376 points, has never met or talked to Aguayo, but he believes he has the talent to make it in the NFL.

"Obviously if you're a second-round pick you've done some great stuff in college," Vinatieri said Wednesday. "Kickers don't get drafted high unless they've done some amazing stuff. It's in him. He clearly is talented enough to do it. I hate speak on this or that technique wise because I haven't spoken to him, but I think for him I think it's a matter of being able to do it. Obviously he's good enough to do it."

The Buccaneers made an eyebrow-raising decision to trade into the second round to select Aguayo last year. He made only 71 percent (22-of-31) of his field goal attempts and missed two extra point attempts during his rookie season. Aguayo's struggles carried over to training camp this year before eventually being released after missing an extra point and a 47-yard field goal attempt against the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

Aguayo is competing against Connor Barth for the Bears' kicking job after Chicago claimed him off waivers on Sunday.

"Now it's a matter of going out there from Day 1 and just building consistency," Vinatieri said about Aguayo. "I think consistency is what this league is built on from my position or any other position. That's what your coaches and the league want to see. For him it's taking it a day at a time and getting back to what people expect out of him."