Denver Native (Carol)
12-18-2009, 05:59 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9687
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- A punter's job often looks far from flashy -- drop the ball and kick it before a) it touches the ground and b) a defender reaches it's path.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer can revel in the fact that his punter's responsibilities go beyond that basic description.
"We don't ask them just to line up and try to crush the ball all the time," Priefer said. "We're going to directional punt when we need to directional punt. We're going to do situational punting in terms of the end of the half or the end of the game, when we need certain types of punts where our guys have the best chance for success."
The man providing those precise punts is 16-year veteran Mitch Berger. Since joining the Broncos in Week 7, Berger has brought a 39.3 net average on 32 kicks. Over the last five games, he has recorded a net average of 40 yards or higher, tying a personal best.
But outside of his own work, Berger has impacted the entire specialist trio. As the team's holder, he, Lonie Paxton and Matt Prater have converted 11-of-12 field goal attempts.
Prater's been most impressed by Berger's knowledge of kicking in phases outside of punting -- intricacies on everything from extra points to kickoffs.
"Just having him talk to me," Prater said. "He has been doing it so long, he knows a lot more than I do about kicking and punting obviously. It is good to have a veteran here to help me learn more."
That learning continued last week against the Colts, as Prater hooked a 42-yard field goal wide right. After the game, he and Berger discussed everything from the hold to the approach.
While Prater's streak of 11 straight kicks made came to a close, he arguably gained more for his next kick from that talk with Berger.
"You're only as good as your last game or your last punt in this job," Berger said. "It's just something where I look at everything week-to-week. No matter if it was good or bad the week before, I just try to act like it didn't really happen and just try to focus like it's a new week. Every punt is the most important one."
Of Berger's 828 career punts, three of the most important ones arguably came last February. In his 15th tour of duty with his seventh different team, Berger finally secured the first Super Bowl ring of his career.
After excelling on the sport's biggest stage, Berger was not retained by the Steelers. No team came calling until Denver did, signing him on Oct. 26 to a free-agent contract.
"I didn't know if I was going to get one this year," Berger said. "It was a real blessing to get called and have the opportunity to come in here partway through the season -- especially to come to a team that has a chance to go as far as it wants to go."
Berger's reached those top heights with help from his commitment to moving his non-football life forward. Back in 2000, he teamed up with his business partner, Rob Ward, to found the Points West Hospitality group.
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the duo owns four steakhouses and a nightclub: Saltaire, Player's Chophouse in Vancouver and Whistler, and Darcy's Pub and Upstairs Cabaret in Victoria, B.C.
While the experience has been profitable, Berger said he makes minimal contact with Ward during football season. Beyond a few phonecalls every couple of weeks, his biggest role is bringing a face to the company.
"I just do a lot of the commercials, advertising and marketing stuff, trying to get people there," Berger said. "I use my name a little bit, as much as I can, to help us out. As far as when the football season goes, he doesn't bug me too much."
Berger said he makes around six trips to Vancouver during a typical offseason, moving closer to the scene of his off-the-field investments. But come this February, Berger's involvement with his businesses will escalate.
With the 2010 Winter Olympic Games slated to run in Vancouver from Feb. 12 through Feb. 28, Berger's restaurants are expecting a strong flow of customers. That's thanks to both Player's chophouses holding premium locations. The Vancouver chain is nestled footsteps from the site of the opening ceremonies, while the Whistler chain is at the foot of the site where downhill skiing events will be held.
"When I'm there, I get involved in more of the events and things going on," Berger said. "I try to do some parties and try to do some things to bring business in. I also try to go enjoy them as well. But it's more of a thing that I'm looking into doing more when my career is over."
The chance to soak in the Canadian atmosphere, while chowing down on a succulent steak has piqued the interest of Paxton. Despite his southern California roots, the long snapper is an avid mountain-goer.
Paxton is also an avid fan of off-the-field endeavors, co-running Active Force Foundation, which raises money to build handicapped sports equipment for adaptive participants. From watching Berger manage his business from afar, the 10-year veteran has picked up a few new networking tricks.
"The guy's busy at all times during the day," Paxton said. "He's working out, and then he's in meetings, and then he's on the phone handling his business and then he's working out and then he's punting. It's just non-stop."
That non-stop schedule comes from Berger knowing both sides of the football business coin. Drafted in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, he changed cities six times over the next two seasons, before landing a firm foothold with the Minnesota Vikings.
While far removed from his early adversity, he's quite grateful for his current chance.
"To have an opportunity to not be just back but back with a team that has a good opportunity is great," Berger said. "That's all you can really ask for as a pro. I'll take it as many times as I can before they kick me out of the league and nobody wants me to play anymore."
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- A punter's job often looks far from flashy -- drop the ball and kick it before a) it touches the ground and b) a defender reaches it's path.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer can revel in the fact that his punter's responsibilities go beyond that basic description.
"We don't ask them just to line up and try to crush the ball all the time," Priefer said. "We're going to directional punt when we need to directional punt. We're going to do situational punting in terms of the end of the half or the end of the game, when we need certain types of punts where our guys have the best chance for success."
The man providing those precise punts is 16-year veteran Mitch Berger. Since joining the Broncos in Week 7, Berger has brought a 39.3 net average on 32 kicks. Over the last five games, he has recorded a net average of 40 yards or higher, tying a personal best.
But outside of his own work, Berger has impacted the entire specialist trio. As the team's holder, he, Lonie Paxton and Matt Prater have converted 11-of-12 field goal attempts.
Prater's been most impressed by Berger's knowledge of kicking in phases outside of punting -- intricacies on everything from extra points to kickoffs.
"Just having him talk to me," Prater said. "He has been doing it so long, he knows a lot more than I do about kicking and punting obviously. It is good to have a veteran here to help me learn more."
That learning continued last week against the Colts, as Prater hooked a 42-yard field goal wide right. After the game, he and Berger discussed everything from the hold to the approach.
While Prater's streak of 11 straight kicks made came to a close, he arguably gained more for his next kick from that talk with Berger.
"You're only as good as your last game or your last punt in this job," Berger said. "It's just something where I look at everything week-to-week. No matter if it was good or bad the week before, I just try to act like it didn't really happen and just try to focus like it's a new week. Every punt is the most important one."
Of Berger's 828 career punts, three of the most important ones arguably came last February. In his 15th tour of duty with his seventh different team, Berger finally secured the first Super Bowl ring of his career.
After excelling on the sport's biggest stage, Berger was not retained by the Steelers. No team came calling until Denver did, signing him on Oct. 26 to a free-agent contract.
"I didn't know if I was going to get one this year," Berger said. "It was a real blessing to get called and have the opportunity to come in here partway through the season -- especially to come to a team that has a chance to go as far as it wants to go."
Berger's reached those top heights with help from his commitment to moving his non-football life forward. Back in 2000, he teamed up with his business partner, Rob Ward, to found the Points West Hospitality group.
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the duo owns four steakhouses and a nightclub: Saltaire, Player's Chophouse in Vancouver and Whistler, and Darcy's Pub and Upstairs Cabaret in Victoria, B.C.
While the experience has been profitable, Berger said he makes minimal contact with Ward during football season. Beyond a few phonecalls every couple of weeks, his biggest role is bringing a face to the company.
"I just do a lot of the commercials, advertising and marketing stuff, trying to get people there," Berger said. "I use my name a little bit, as much as I can, to help us out. As far as when the football season goes, he doesn't bug me too much."
Berger said he makes around six trips to Vancouver during a typical offseason, moving closer to the scene of his off-the-field investments. But come this February, Berger's involvement with his businesses will escalate.
With the 2010 Winter Olympic Games slated to run in Vancouver from Feb. 12 through Feb. 28, Berger's restaurants are expecting a strong flow of customers. That's thanks to both Player's chophouses holding premium locations. The Vancouver chain is nestled footsteps from the site of the opening ceremonies, while the Whistler chain is at the foot of the site where downhill skiing events will be held.
"When I'm there, I get involved in more of the events and things going on," Berger said. "I try to do some parties and try to do some things to bring business in. I also try to go enjoy them as well. But it's more of a thing that I'm looking into doing more when my career is over."
The chance to soak in the Canadian atmosphere, while chowing down on a succulent steak has piqued the interest of Paxton. Despite his southern California roots, the long snapper is an avid mountain-goer.
Paxton is also an avid fan of off-the-field endeavors, co-running Active Force Foundation, which raises money to build handicapped sports equipment for adaptive participants. From watching Berger manage his business from afar, the 10-year veteran has picked up a few new networking tricks.
"The guy's busy at all times during the day," Paxton said. "He's working out, and then he's in meetings, and then he's on the phone handling his business and then he's working out and then he's punting. It's just non-stop."
That non-stop schedule comes from Berger knowing both sides of the football business coin. Drafted in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, he changed cities six times over the next two seasons, before landing a firm foothold with the Minnesota Vikings.
While far removed from his early adversity, he's quite grateful for his current chance.
"To have an opportunity to not be just back but back with a team that has a good opportunity is great," Berger said. "That's all you can really ask for as a pro. I'll take it as many times as I can before they kick me out of the league and nobody wants me to play anymore."