Post by The Razor Roman Empire on Oct 3, 2014 18:49:50 GMT
The Denver Broncos have released veteran kicker Matt Prater, who is coming off a four-game suspension, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported and the team confirmed Friday, meaning that rookie Brandon McManus keeps the job.
Prater, 30, will count $4.1 million against Denver's cap next season. He was scheduled to make $2.5 million this year.
In August, Prater admitted to his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The NFL made it official the next day.
Prater was originally signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida in 2006. He holds the NFL record for longest field goal (64 yards), which he set last Dec. 8 against the Titans.
McManus, a 23-year-old first-year player out of Temple, has made all three of his field goal attempts this season, though none has been longer than 24 yards.
The Broncos expressed their confidence in McManus via Twitter:
"Parting ways with Matt Prater -- the longest-tenured player on our roster -- was a very difficult football decision," Broncos executive vice president/general manager John Elway said on the team's website. "On behalf of our entire organization, I want to thank Matt for his seven seasons with the Broncos and wish him well going forward."
Prater appeared in 96 regular-season games for Denver from 2007 to '13, connecting on 141 of 170 (.829) field goal attempts and 259 of 261 (.992) extra points for 682 total points. He registered 262 touchbacks on 497 kickoffs (.527) for the Broncos while also posting eight special-teams tackles.
He was suspended for drinking alcohol, a violation of terms of the NFL's drug policy, which Prater found himself under after a DUI arrest earlier in his career.
ESPN.com
Prater, 30, will count $4.1 million against Denver's cap next season. He was scheduled to make $2.5 million this year.
In August, Prater admitted to his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The NFL made it official the next day.
Prater was originally signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida in 2006. He holds the NFL record for longest field goal (64 yards), which he set last Dec. 8 against the Titans.
McManus, a 23-year-old first-year player out of Temple, has made all three of his field goal attempts this season, though none has been longer than 24 yards.
The Broncos expressed their confidence in McManus via Twitter:
@broncos
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"Brandon McManus has earned the opportunity to continue kicking for our team … .” Broncos EVP/GM John Elway
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"Brandon McManus has earned the opportunity to continue kicking for our team … .” Broncos EVP/GM John Elway
"Parting ways with Matt Prater -- the longest-tenured player on our roster -- was a very difficult football decision," Broncos executive vice president/general manager John Elway said on the team's website. "On behalf of our entire organization, I want to thank Matt for his seven seasons with the Broncos and wish him well going forward."
Prater appeared in 96 regular-season games for Denver from 2007 to '13, connecting on 141 of 170 (.829) field goal attempts and 259 of 261 (.992) extra points for 682 total points. He registered 262 touchbacks on 497 kickoffs (.527) for the Broncos while also posting eight special-teams tackles.
He was suspended for drinking alcohol, a violation of terms of the NFL's drug policy, which Prater found himself under after a DUI arrest earlier in his career.
ESPN.com
