Last season four of the Broncos’ eight regular-season victories ended with a Matt Prater field goal splitting the uprights.
On Monday, the team locked up its clutch kicker with a four-year contract, Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway announced on Twitter.
“Happy to announce we have signed kicker Matt Prater to a new four-year deal,” Elway said. “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.”
Prater, whose four game-winning kicks on the last play of the game in 2011 tied for the second most in a season in NFL history, converted 19-of-25 field goals and all 30 extra point attempts last season. He led the team with 87 total points and finished first in the NFL with his 70.1 touchback percentage on kickoffs.
“It’s something I’ve been working for since I was a little kid,” Prater said. “I’m super excited and very thankful to Mr. Bowlen, Mr. Elway, and the entire organization.”
In 2011, Prater became one of just three players in league history with at least four game-winning field goals in overtime or as time expired in regulation. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors for the final month of the season after ending games with field goals in Weeks 12-14 to become the first player to kick a walk-off field goal in three consecutive games since 1998.
His three overtime field goals tied for the most in NFL history for a single season and his overtime kicks (52 yds. at Miami and 51 yds. vs. Chicago) tie for the third and fifth-longest overtime field goals in NFL history.
“I think it will make it easier just so I can really focus on just kicking and nothing else, nothing off the field or anything like that,” he said. “I can just focus on kicking so I think that will be good for me.”
Prater earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week following his historic feat against the Bears in Week 14 when he tied his career long with a 59-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game. He then won the game with a 51-yard kick in overtime to join Mike Vanderjagt as the only two players in NFL history to kick a 50+ yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in regulation and convert a 50+ game-winning field goal in the extra session.
“Matt is a guy who’s been with a couple different teams and found his niche here,” Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Rodgers said. “He’s done a good job. If you had to say what can he hang his hat on, the two things he does the best are his leg strength and his ability to make kicks last year when we needed him. That’s a good feeling going forward. Any time you get a guy who you trust, you certainly want to have that continue. Finding out that you have a kicker you can count on certainly is something you want to have year in and year out.”
The fifth-year kicker has made 91-of-116 field goals (78.4 pct.) in his career along with 130-of-132 PAT attempts for 403 total points. He ranks second in the league with 114 touchbacks on kickoffs since 2008, his first full season in the NFL.
Prater is looking forward to returning to work with long snapper Lonie Paxton and holder Britton Colquitt. He said he’s kept in touch with them throughout the process but has missed being able to spend time with them.
“Those guys are the best in the business,” Prater said. “I love working with those guys and I actually missed just being here and hanging out with those guys. I’m excited to get back and working with them.”
With a long-term contract inked, Prater is ready to focus on the upcoming season with no distractions about the future.
“I can’t even put into words how I feel right now – how excited and thankful I am,” Prater said. “We have a great group of guys from top to bottom from the head coach down so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
-Stuart Zaas
Tags: Matt Prater
Beast watch the you tupe post I just put up and watch MT2 and OC and put in what you think.
FTR
Going for a smoke be back
FTR
FTR…great utube bro…Stevie Ray kicks arse,but I like Angus…..agree to disagree,I am watching a 1977 AC/DC concert right now,and it’s hard for me to think that anybody can beat Angus!
BLB:
You there Bro!
FTR
I would LOVE to hear strand’s opinion on the best guitar players of all time!
I’m here my Bronco Brother!
I don’t know how long I’ll be here,I only got like 16 beers left,lol.
BLB.. I agree but I am a AC/DC old time lover when Bon was alive!!
JUst me!
FTR
BLB –Send someone on a beer run!!
BLB:
Angus is still rocking but AC/DC changed when Bon choked on his own vomit!!
FTR
Check this out!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avSyxcKZb9A&feature=related
Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgA76eq2RTU&feature=related
FTR.AC/DC only got better with Brian Johnson,IMO,bro,Angus still kicks ass!!!!!!!
AC/DC best rock band of ALL time!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Been listening to them since I was 7,I am now 42,so that’s 35 years,and they still ROCK ,even at 60!!!!!!!!!!!!
BLB:
I give you AC/DC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHcKkBWR4Mk
Enjoy
FTR
Zack Wylde:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=zakk+wylde+solo+youtube&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCQQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DrYMupc564zE&ei=z6b3T_DVKIGC8QTz_7jRBg&usg=AFQjCNHL9zWcHDImoyLdXQjO-f25Qs6qgQ&cad=rja
FTR…I give you AC/DC with Brian Johnson!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BjrReZT2Kc&feature=related
BLB:
I got 10 years on you Bro. Glad you enjoy them! I do too!
FTR
AC/DC with Brian Johnson:Stiff upper lip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad42-Uzpfg0&feature=related
Can’t help it bro….AC/DC is it for me…..since I was 7……nobody can compete in my book!
Getting buzzed about now bro!!!!!!!!!
Hope you are having a good time!
I loved Bon Scott too,but he was with the band for like 5 years,and Johnson has been with them for 32 years now,so he is king in my book!!!!!!!!
I went and seen AC/DC in Nashville the year before last,and they blew the freaking roof off of Predators stadium,16000 strong,it was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
Too bad the beer was 7 bucks a cup,lol.but I still got plastered!!!!!!!!!!
When Angus Young ran out to the platform in Nashville,and fell on his back and kicked his feet in a 360 for like 20 minutes and stole the show at 61 years old,I proclaimed him the best in all the land at that point…..
Dude I was having internet issues. I honestly didn’t mean to leave you hanging… but you’re all talkin’ guitars so I’ll probably go back to what I was doin’ before my internet got stupid on me. I’m glad to see you both on here!
tlc..wanna change the subject?
Lets have at it,lol.
WWWWHHOOOAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!
FTR…AC/DC sold their #1 album of all time in 1980 with Back in Black which was Brian Johnson’s 1st year with the band …that says a lot too me bro!
Hey Cat:
It’s Friday so whats up? Me and the beast just passing the time!! Just talking crap! Join in the convo anytime!
FTR
Well, we could have a different conversation! I’m tryin’ to get 5280 shirt company to make me a #WeGotPeyton t-shirt.
I’ll buy one!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I do want to say that the NBA is ridiculous. I mean I know there is not complete team loyalty in the NFL and free agency has kind of ruined things somewhat, but honestly? Could there be any more stupidity in the NBA? Apparently! Ray Allen is with the Heat now so it’s an automatic repeat. Steve Nash is a Laker so now they can win the Championship. Last time I checked, none of these guys were the Peyton Manning of the NBA. AND Peyton Manning’s situation was completely different than any free agent in the history of sports.
Okay, ignore that if you don’t want to chat NBA, I just had to get it off my chest.
That’s what I thought. I told him I’d bring him plenty of business. I’ll let you know if it happens.
BLB–Brian sounds like Old Naz like “Love Hurts” Sorry Bro not the same–I mean I still down load AC/CC without Bon I am just saying it’s not the same.
FTR
Sorry tlc,I am a Lakers fan and I am stoked about Nash!
But PM gets no respect,I guess he will have to earn it,which he has no problem doing!!!!!!!!!!
FTR…I have like 4 AC/DC concerts with BJ as the lead singer,and I love him…just me!
Bon Scott rules bro!
Nash is the best passer in the NBA so he is the PM of the NBA.
Bud, I get it. Steve Nash is so closer to being the PM of BB than Ray Allen, but it’s a little crazy. And I hate the Lakers and I love Steve Nash so it sucks for people like me! LOL!
Tell me about it. Schlereth said that we won’t make the playoffs this season. His daughter asked if it bothered anyone so I had to say it bothered me. There’s no reason we can’t make the playoffs… schedule strength only matters before the season starts.
Sorry but I don’t see BJ as old NAZ,he is much better than that…..different ages,different eras I guess!
I’m just saying that I want some stability and sameness and I feel that maybe that can happen for a few years with us now, so I guess I get annoyed by so much change all the time. It’s hard to keep up with.
Strength of schedule means nothing,nobody knows if the teams we play will be as good as they were last year!!!!!!!
Bad Boy Boogie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AB, I know, I should’ve kept Steve Nash out of it and said Jeremy Lin.
Yes the big deal about Lin is rather annoying. Hes a bad teammate on a team full of bad teammates.
Love the sports and Rock talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like the good ole FNL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, I will rephrase that… Jeremy Lin and Ray Allen are not the PM of basketball. LOL! Steve Nash is on a different level of incredibleness.
Nash will take the Lakers over the hump,and there is talk of going after Dwight Howard!!!!!!!
Cat I too hate the lack of loyalty in the NBA. Its really a shame.
Neither Manning is getting the respect he deserves, Bud.
Bud I have made this argument over and over again but LA just doesnt have the ammo to go after D12. All they have is Bynum and 2017 1st round pick.