Vanderjagt Getting a Look in Denver

[WARHORSE]

Broncos take close look at Vanderjagt, Berger

By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 04/13/2008 11:23:54 PM MDT



http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2008/0413/20080413__20080414_B07_SP14FBNBRONX~p1_200.JPG (http://www.denverpost.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=1904432 ) Place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt (13) has been unemployed since a stay with Dallas in 2006.


Familiar names with Canadian upbringings and once-booming legs will attempt to bring kicking depth to Dove Valley.
The Broncos will work out free-agent kicker Mike Vanderjagt and former University of Colorado punter Mitch Berger today at the team's headquarters.
Vanderjagt, 38, of Oakville, Ontario, would compete with Matt Prater for the Broncos' place-kicking job vacated when Jason Elam signed as a free agent with Atlanta. Even though Vanderjagt remains the most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history (86.5 percent, making 230-of-266), he has been unable to land a job since November 2006.
It's possible his enormous success has been offset in recent years by character concerns that have stuck with him since Peyton Manning's Pro Bowl diatribe after the 2002 season.
After the Indianapolis Colts lost a playoff game that year, Vanderjagt said Manning, the team's quarterback, needs to show more emotion and that coach Tony Dungy was too mild-mannered.
Manning responded a few days later during a Pro Bowl interview by saying, "We're talking about our idiot kicker who got liquored up and ran his mouth off."
Vanderjagt apologized profusely for his comments, and he and Manning later made peace. Vanderjagt stayed with the Colts until he badly missed a field goal against Pittsburgh in a second-round playoff game that cost the Colts the chance to host the Broncos in the 2005 AFC championship game.
Vanderjagt caught on with Dallas in 2006 but was released after 10 games and has been out of a job since. Berger, 35, of Kamloops, British Columbia, has punted for six organizations, most recently in the final five games of the 2007 season with the Arizona Cardinals. Mike Barr, whom the Cardinals released to make room for Berger, also is expected to try out at Dove Valley. Berger and Barr would compete with Sam Paulescu for the Broncos' punting job.

[DenBronx]

This is the part I like

Vanderjagt remains the most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history (86.5 percent, making 230-of-266)

Bring in Vanderjerk I suppose. He should cost half of what Elam was going to cost.

[shank]

yuck

[sneakers]

That's a wonderful Idea. Exchange one high priced veteren kicker for another, but let's not keep the one who is a known commodity.

[CoachChaz]

At least Vandy can kick-off AND kick field goals. I hate wasting a roster spot for someone to kickoff.

[Nomad]

Seeing Shanny is real forgiving of dope smokers, maybe he find it in his heart to bring in a another drunken kicker for the right price as long as he doesn't use steriods and beat up cab drivers.

Also seeing that Denver couldn't score touchdowns last year (oline of course), if it's the same scenerio this year a reliable seasoned veteran kicker would be nice for those tight games and inability to score touchdowns. But as I have said before Jay Cutler will have a great year. I have no quarrels with Vanderjagt coming here but he doesn't need to be overpaid and only get a big payday when he can prove self worth

IMO they should get rid of field goals all together and go to the two point conversions. It makes the game a little more exciting.

[EastCoastBronco]

You gotta be kidding me...

[claymore]

I bet he has a huge chip on his shoulders......... :rolleyes:

[Superchop 7]

Vanderjagt was a horrible fit in Dallas.

He went from one of the nicest guys in the NFL (Dungy) to a complete hard-ass in Parcells.

Parcells really screwed him up.

If he is embraced by the team he will get back to his old form.

and, yeah, he has a huge chip on his shoulder, I like it.

[Medford Bronco]

I would not want that loser on my team. i would rather a rookie than that bum
who choked in Indy and sucked in Dallas.

[BOSSHOGG30]

Well, just like the waffle houses and Ihops enjoyed Sam Adams business... I'm sure the local bar will enjoy Vanderjagt in town.

It will be real interesting when the Chiefs visit.... Vanderjagt & Jared Allen.......better get their early if you plan to drink... you'll want to beat these two to the bar.

[jrelway]

mug crumbles under pressure..we dont need edward the longshank on this team. id rather have mare.

[Medford Bronco]

mug crumbles under pressure..we dont need edward the longshank on this team. id rather have mare.

amen to that:salute:

[tubby]

:tsk:

[Italianmobstr7]

mug crumbles under pressure..we dont need edward the longshank on this team. id rather have mare.

Well, Mare is a Seahawk. Best guy to go with now is Vanderjagt. Either him (the most accurate kicker in NFL History, although a known choke artist) or an unproven rookie. I'd be happy with either.

[lex]

Anyone remember when Grammatica used to be good? Once these guys hit hard times, they often dont find their way out of it. Theyre often like Humpty Dumpty. Not only that but hes a little too much like Todd Sauerbrun in running his mouth--if not worse. No thank you.

[jrelway]

we should just forget field goals and go for it on every 4th down. hehe

[r8rh8r]

Vanderjagt is a cancer. Maybe he can sign in Oakland with the rest of the overrated, idiot primma donna's in the NFL.

[DenBronx]

cancer he might be but he is still the most accurate kicker in nfl history. his salary will be HALF of elams.....he has something to prove and teams are not just going to dish out huge contracts to him. id rather a rookie myself but if he can get back to form then he should be good for the next 3-4 years.

[r8rh8r]

So we put up with him for a year, maybe two, and then what? We're back to square one, only this time we are desperate for a kicker in a championship year rather than in a rebuilding year. With Prater we've got a talented 23-year-old. I see nothing but upside. He hasn't had much opportunity to demonstrate his accuracy. He's already the best kickoff specialist in the NFL. Let's give him a shot.

[lex]

cancer he might be but he is still the most accurate kicker in nfl history. his salary will be HALF of elams.....he has something to prove and teams are not just going to dish out huge contracts to him. id rather a rookie myself but if he can get back to form then he should be good for the next 3-4 years.

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall..."

[Stargazer]

his salary will be HALF of elams

Since he's been out of the league since 2006, his salary would probably be the vet's minimum.

[Ziggy]

I'm undecided on this one. Prater has been unimpressive on field goal attempts, but has great leg strength and hasn't had many attempts. Vanderweiner is the most accurate kicker in nfl history, but at his age it would be a band-aid fix, even if he did fix his kicking problems of the last couple of years. I say bring Vanderweiner in for the minimum non-guarunteed salary, keep Prater, draft a kicker in the 6th or 7th, and let the best man win in training camp!

[nevcraw]

Bring in as many kickers as they can... let them battle it out until the reg. season begins and then pick the one that sucks the least..
Next year, rinse and repeat..

[weazel]

Shanny must have read my post... heh

I think Vanderjagt is a good, cheap pickup that has always been able to kick the ball.

[Colorado4Life]

Please no.... Seriously please no, anyone but him... Bring back Micah Knorr and I swear if he sucks I will not say a word... Anyone but Vanderjackass...

[Crush05]

Oh what a mistake this could and would be if he is signed!!!!!:tsk:

[broncosfanscott]

I'll be happy with a consistent FG kicker whose majority of kickoffs are either touchbacks or deep near the goaline. Hopefully our offense will get better so we can get more XPs instead.

[Nature Boy]

Bring back Todd!

[DenBronx]

eh....i think some of you guys are failing to realize that competition never hurts. let him battle for the job in camp. if a rookie kicker can beat out the idiot kicker then more power to him. the vet minimum sounds good to me.

[Hobe]

We real need a "smiley" that demonstrated violent, projectile vomiting for threads like this.

[BOSSHOGG30]

Isn't Shaun Suisham available? What kind of tender did the Redskins give him?

[BOSSHOGG30]

In addition to free agent Mitch Berger, the Broncos had Danny Baugher in for a punting tryout on Monday.

Denver had all kinds of kicking going on with Mike Vanderjagt and one-time Lion Kenny Byrd also at Dove Valley. None has signed a contract yet.
Source: Denver Post

[BOSSHOGG30]

Don't know if this has been posted or not, but I found this interesting. From Jeff Legwold's Q&A in the RMN. Take it for what it's worth...

Q: What were the Broncos thinking when they did not take advantage of Jason Elam giving them the last chance to beat Atlanta's offer? Yes, he cannot do kickoffs and yes, he doesn't have the leg that he used to, but what other option did they have? None of the kickers left in free agency are better then Elam and none of the kickers in the draft are remotely impressive. In my opinion kickers usually win a team about three games a year, on an average. Since the Broncos have put themselves in a pickle, you can go ahead and mark them down for a least three extra losses this year. I'm scratching my head on this one. Don't you think they made a bad move by not resigning him?

A: There are certainly in a spot where it will be immensely difficult – and likely not possible -- for them to find a way to feel as comfortable in their kicking game as they were last year when Elam kicked game-winners in four of their seven victories.

But the Broncos were working under a now-or-next year assumption about Elam's future and their kicking needs after talking to Elam's representatives in the negotiations.

In short, they wanted, because of a salary cap ramifications as far as potential future dead money against the cap, Elam to sign multi-year deal with the intention he would play two or three more years.

And by the contract Elam signed, compared to the one the Broncos quietly say he turned away, it appears Elam's intention is to play just one more season. The total amount of the deal was roughly the same between the two teams, but the Falcons deal had $900,000 more of that money in the first year.

So, Elam signed in Atlanta. And because of that the Broncos took that as an indication he intends to only play one more season – his 16th – in the league. The Broncos also believe that means they would have had to deal with replacing him next year, so that they might as well do it now and try to maintain the fiscal approach they have elected to take this year.

[scott.475]

Oh, those wacky Canadians.

OK, I've heard all about his great accuracy. But, he was playing on the Colts, after all. Place kicker for the Colts has got to be the best job in the league. Seriously, how many truly clutch kicks do you need to make when you play for them? I don't remember him actually winning a whole lot of games for them, but I haven't followed him that closely either.

I'm just not sure we could handle his ego, but maybe after being out of a job a few years, his ego isn't as big anymore.

And, you know, he wears an earring. I'm not sure kickers should wear earrings...I mean, he's a kicker.