Matt Prater signed to four year deal

[Tned]

Per Elway's Tweets:


RT @johnelway: Happy to announce we have signed kicker Matt Prater to a new four-year deal. This was the final piece in setting our roster for camp, and we are thrilled Matt is going to be a Bronco for a long time. Matt has developed into one of the NFL’s elite kickers and is a big part of our team.

[Nomad]

BRONCOS need a kicker so this is good.

Has all the BRONCOS players signed?

[SR]

America!

[Denver Native (Carol)]

The Broncos have signed kicker Matt Prater to a four-year contract, according to a tweet from team executive vice president John Elway Monday morning.

"Matt has developed into one of the NFL's elite kickers and is a big part of our team," Elway tweeted.

The Broncos' strong-legged kicker missed the team's entire offseason program in protest of his $2.654 million franchise tag, which was tendered in lieu of a long-term contract.

rest - http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20990647/broncos-sign-matt-prater-four-year-contract

[shank]

very nice.

[DenBronx]

Nice!


He's the best kicker we have had since Elam so this is good. He's young and clutch with a big leg. Hope he ends up being a life long Bronco.

[LTC Pain]

Aroogadooga!!! Thanks Broncos FO!

[Traveler]

If this was the final piece, does anyone know what happened with the Clady negotiations?

[Ziggy]

Prater sucks between 40-49 yards out. The rest of his game makes up for it though. He's clutch in the 4th quarter and OT, and kickoff returns against Denver at Invesco are nearly non-existant due the cannon hanging off of his hip. Glad to see him back.

[Canmore]

Prater sucks between 40-49 yards out. The rest of his game makes up for it though. He's clutch in the 4th quarter and OT, and kickoff returns against Denver at Invesco are nearly non-existant due the cannon hanging off of his hip. Glad to see him back.

Seems to me I remember Elam having some problems from 40-49 yards at one point in his career. I'm hoping Prater just had a bump in the road. Like you said, hes clutch when the chips are down and he is the most accurate 50 yard kicker and beyond in league history.

[OrangeHoof]

That will pay for a lot of strippers and hotel rooms.

[sneakers]

Good for him

[SoCalImport]

America!

F%*£ yeah!

[MOtorboat]

Nice.

[Cugel]

4 years, $13 million, $3 million signing bonus.


Prater had four game-winning field goals last season, including three consecutive weeks in which he kicked the winner on the final play. He also led the league in touchback percentage (70.1) as 47 of his 67 kickoffs were not returned.
(http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20990647/broncos-sign-matt-prater-four-year-contract#ixzz1zW10Z83R)
Entering his sixth NFL season, Prater now ranks second in Broncos' history with an 80.4 percent field goal conversion rate, just behind Jason Elam (80.6 percent). He is also one of the league's best from long range having made 12-of-16 kicks from 50 yards or more and has converted 28-of-29 kicks in the fourth quarter or overtime.

This was an important signing. With Manning, having an effective kicker is even more important. Most of his drives will produce points. You're not going to see a lot of 3 and outs like with Tebow. For every drive that doesn't score a TD you need an accurate FG kicker like Prater.

At altitude you've got to have a great long-distance kicker because your effective FG range is greater, but you can't take advantage of those scoring opportunities unless you have a good kicker.

People underrate the value of an elite FG kicker, but its a big part of a winning team.

[OrangeHoof]

You mean like that "idiot kicker" who shanked the Colts' FG try against the Steelers in the final seconds of a playoff game a few years ago? That guy?

[pnbronco]

yeah.....:marchmellow:

[Chef Zambini]

America!Lithuania.

[Chef Zambini]

4 years, $13 million, $3 million signing bonus.



This was an important signing. With Manning, having an effective kicker is even more important. Most of his drives will produce points. You're not going to see a lot of 3 and outs like with Tebow. For every drive that doesn't score a TD you need an accurate FG kicker like Prater.

At altitude you've got to have a great long-distance kicker because your effective FG range is greater, but you can't take advantage of those scoring opportunities unless you have a good kicker.

People underrate the value of an elite FG kicker, but its a big part of a winning team.
\ what about the clause on personnal conduct?

[Chef Zambini]

That will pay for a lot of strippers and hotel rooms.as long as he isnt driving drunk !

[blamkin86]

Yay.

I think if you're a Tebow lover and still around here, you may want to thank Matt for making your boy look good there a few times last year. Yeah, the kicker is "supposed to make it." The man put in some super clutch kicks last year and I won't forget it.

Ah, man I brought up Tebow. Sorry. That is all.

[TXBRONC]

I was always confident that Prater would get a new deal before camp started.

[NightTerror218]

I was always confident that Prater would get a new deal before camp started.

I think he would have signed his tender prior to the start of camp. But he might have been unhappy about playing without the long term contract and could have affected a possible future. But who cares now, he is signed for 4 more years. Keep him a Bronco long time.

[TheReverend]

This contract is a lefty/socialist agenda to spread the wealth amongst Denver area hoes.

[BORDERLINE]

HELL YEAH...The one thing i hate is unreliable kickers (unless it's the opposing team). Prater deserves every penny and then some!!!

[threefolddead]

I pray to you Matt Prater... I pray to you.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

When the Broncos signed kicker Matt Prater to a new four-year, $13 million deal Monday, it was a testament to how far Prater has come in the NFL.

After all, he had been released by three different teams — Lions, Dolphins and Falcons — before he even arrived in Denver late in the 2007 season and there was a moment in the 2008 season when then-head coach Mike Shanahan was talking about bringing in a replacement if Prater missed any more gameday kicks.

Prater had a four-game stretch in 2008 — Prater’s first full season with the Broncos — when he missed at least one kick in each of four consecutive games in the season’s second half, including two against the Raiders when quarterback Jay Cutler went as far as to get in Prater’s face after one of the misses. By late November Prater had the rather quirky stat line of being 5-for-5 at that point on kicks of at least 50 yards, but a shaky 3-for-7 showing between 40-49 yards.

rest - http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2012/07/03/matt-praters-deal-long-tough-start-broncos/14154/

[HORSEPOWER 56]

rest - http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2012/07/03/matt-praters-deal-long-tough-start-broncos/14154/

Note to Manning and the offense... if Prater is going to be kicking a FG between 40-49 yards, go for it on 4th down and get inside 40 yards or take a penalty and get back outside of 49...