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View Full Version : Elam gets boot as Broncos' Prater is honored



Lonestar
12-01-2009, 06:34 PM
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post

Posted: 12/01/2009 03:01:31 PM MST
Updated: 12/01/2009 03:17:12 PM MST


Matt Prater, right, chats with Jason Elam last season. (The Denver Post | John Leyba)It took a year but the Broncos' controversial decision to allow Jason Elam to leave for free agency and replace him with Matt Prater has been vindicated.

Today, the same day Elam was released for the first time in his 17-year career, Prater was named the AFC special teams player of the week.

Where have you gone, Mike Shanahan?

Elam had been the Broncos' clutch kicker for 15 seasons when he and Shanahan, then the team's coach and personnel boss, couldn't agree on terms for a new contract. Elam wound up signing a more lucrative, four-year, $9 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

Last season, Elam was terrific for the Falcons while Prater hit the second-half wall for the Broncos.

Through six games last year, Prater had 12 touchbacks and made 13 of 14 in field goals, including 6-of-6 from 40 yards-plus. In his final 10 games, Prater had only t seven touchbacks and was only 12-of-20 in field goals, including 4-of-11 from 40-plus.

This year, Prater has caught a second wind, while Elam was released today by the Falcons, only 17 points shy of his career goal of 2,000 points.

In contrast, Prater has made 11 consecutive field goals from inside the 50. In game 11, a 26-6 victory against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving night, Prater's leg made a big impact as he had five touchbacks and was 4-of-4 in field goals.

"I think the difference is having a year of knowing what to do," Prater said. "Coach (Mike) Priefer has really helped me out. He doesn't want me kicking as many balls in practice. Every little thing — coach (Rich) Tuten's offseason program is real good."

Prater said he had heard Elam had struggled at one point during the year, but had made it a point not to pay attention to any news, good or bad, this season.

Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.


http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13901792

shank
12-01-2009, 06:36 PM
damn... :salute: elam

Chris90210
12-01-2009, 06:56 PM
so will elam retire or try to complete his goal?

Northman
12-01-2009, 07:03 PM
As expected.

McKeough
12-01-2009, 10:28 PM
Ravens might give him a look.

GEM
12-02-2009, 12:26 AM
I don't care what happened last season with Elam...he will always be a Bronco! :salute:

rcsodak
12-02-2009, 01:21 AM
At least he's close to home.....

dogfish
12-02-2009, 01:47 AM
damn... :salute: elam


I don't care what happened last season with Elam...he will always be a Bronco! :salute:


thirty or forty years from now, he'll most likely still be considered the best kicker in franchise history. . . .


:salute:

rcsodak
12-02-2009, 01:58 AM
thirty or forty years from now, he'll most likely still be considered the best kicker in franchise history. . . .


:salute:

Prater will make us ALL forget about Elam. :coffee:

dogfish
12-02-2009, 02:03 AM
Prater will make us ALL forget about Elam. :coffee:

love to see it happen, but he'll have to come up big in some bigtime playoff games first. . . .

Dirk
12-02-2009, 06:39 AM
I hope Elam finds a spot to reach his career goal.

Traveler
12-02-2009, 08:36 AM
thirty or forty years from now, he'll most likely still be considered the best kicker in franchise history. . . .


:salute:

True. He's already been selected as the Kicker for the Broncos 50th Anniversary Team.

camdisco24
12-02-2009, 10:34 AM
Sign him and let him kick for us in blow out games!
.... I know, wishful thinking....

broncofaninfla
12-02-2009, 12:24 PM
Elam's better days are behind him but damn glad he was a Bronco and thankful for a lot of good memories!

Chris90210
12-02-2009, 12:39 PM
Elam's better days are behind him but damn glad he was a Bronco and thankful for a lot of good memories!
when I watched elam walk on the field I knew we were good to go:salute: elam saved our buts many times

MileHighCrew
12-02-2009, 12:55 PM
2 years ago against Buffalo opening week. Vintage. Total man crush on Elam

KyleOrtonArmySoldier#128
12-02-2009, 01:00 PM
I miss the hayday of Elam and Saurbrun. People often overlook the importance of special teams, but the educated bronco faithful don't - we remember those two and understand the importance of field position. :salute:

weazel
12-02-2009, 01:02 PM
I miss the hayday of Elam and Saurbrun. People often overlook the importance of special teams, but the educated bronco faithful don't - we remember those two and understand the importance of field position. :salute:

Saurbrun was one of the only guys who could tackle while he was here! Plus Saurbrun was a good supplier of performance enhancing "vitamins".

KyleOrtonArmySoldier#128
12-02-2009, 01:06 PM
Saurbrun was one of the only guys who could tackle while he was here! Plus Saurbrun was a good supplier of performance enhancing "vitamins".

shhhh!!!!

BCJ
12-02-2009, 01:39 PM
Elam's better days are behind him but damn glad he was a Bronco and thankful for a lot of good memories!

They should not have been. He did lose some mileage on his kickoffs but for a kicker, he isnt that old. He just plain sucked this year being the 2nd worst inside 40 yards. He hit that wall and it comes at the back end of his career. Kickers always find jobs once they get cut, but when you are that bad inside the gimme range and you are near or at 40, it it tough to beat out a younger guy. Good luck to him, though.

honz
12-02-2009, 01:53 PM
Elam sucks. Overrated.

Medford Bronco
12-02-2009, 03:02 PM
Elam sucks. Overrated.

I hope this is sarcasm

He is old now but was one of the best in the Good Bronco years.

dogfish
12-02-2009, 03:27 PM
I hope this is sarcasm

He is old now but was one of the best in the Good Bronco years.

this'll get rid of him. . .

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4936/trollspray.png (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/trollspray.png/)



:D

TatumInDetroit
12-02-2009, 04:39 PM
The Broncos do not have a good history of honoring players properly but they should ask Elam if he is planning to retire, and if so, sign him to a one day contract so he can retire as a Broncos. Sometime in the near future he should be put in the ring of fame as well.

frauschieze
12-02-2009, 06:07 PM
Elam broke my heart last season. I am still bitter. Give me some time and I can gush about his rock solid performances. But right now, the taste of going for the money is still hard to swallow for me.

GEM
12-02-2009, 06:42 PM
Am I the only one who puked a little bit in my mouth seeing Prater and Elam in the same title?

Nomad
12-02-2009, 06:48 PM
I hope this is sarcasm

He is old now but was one of the best in the Good Bronco years.

True! The BRONCOS won many of nailbiters on Elam's leg! It's too bad time goes by so fast and takes all the good ones away!!