A year ago, Mitch Berger was hitting sky-high punts for the Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sixteen years ago, Berger was doing the same in Boulder for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Now, Berger is back where it all began and ready to be a bona fide contributor for the Broncos this season.
“This is where I kind of started playing big-time football,” Berger said. “It is a great place to be back to.”
When Berger entered the league in 1994 with the Philadelphia Eagles, the scene was somewhat different. The Rams and Raiders were still in Los Angeles. The Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars were just named expansion teams. The NFC and AFC Central were two years away from being split into South and North divisions.
Additionally, the NFL adopted a series of rule changes designed to increase offensive production, including the creation of the two-point conversion.
While few players reach the 16-season plateau in the pros, Berger believes he’s far from finished.
“I’m hoping that I still have a couple more … It has been a great career,” Berger said. “Last year was a great year for me — to win a Super Bowl. I hoped that I could still keep playing and I’m glad to get this chance.”
Much of his longevity comes from a mixed bag of tricks. Berger said that’s an essential part of his game — knowing when to keep the ball out of the end zone versus put the ball out of bounds.
That flexibility has helped Berger rank fifth in the league since 1999 in both gross (43.4) and net (36.6) punt average (min. 500 kicks).
“He is a veteran guy who has been asked to punt the ball different ways, different styles,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “We don’t just tell our punter to kick it as far as you can on every play. We ask a lot of them.”
With heavy snows hitting the Denver area this afternoon, the Broncos moved indoors to practice at their nearby bubble.
Here are some photos from the session.
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Mitch Berger, Week 8
Win any way you can. They need something to complain about and we are 6-0 and they look stupid now since thay picked us to be last in our division and most picked us to win 3 -4 games all year.
Hi, DDave, long time no read… sorry about your computer problems, sounded pretty major, good thing some of your breakdown was during the bye week, just trying to find something positive in the mess you’ve been in. Been on your site and noticed how absent you were. Well it’s in the past, hopefully, and now it’s time for the Birds, I don’t think their D is the dominant D they once were and it seems you don’t either considering the 24 points you predict us scoring. Mason is really the one to watch in my eye, always thought he was great with the Titans.
Here’s my prediction for the game:
Broncos 34
Ravens 20
On another note….everytime my gf watches the games with me, she comments on how much she loves the hoodie that MCD wears….the grey one with Denver Broncos written on it. Looks like it’s part of the 50th anniversary wear but I can’t seem to track it down anywhere and I want to get it for her for christmas. Anyone have any info?
GO BRONCOS!
Snyder is different than them. He doesn’t handle the draft. GM does. Where people have a problem is that he see a free agent that had a good yr. In a contract yr no less. He will pay top dollar in stead of first evaluating if the player fits in their system. Everyone in Washington knows that the GM is more into being on ESPN. Then running the team. That’s what Snyder needs to change.
DDave, I know you mention the dink and dunk for this week and I am sure we’ll see some of it as it’s our MO, but I would be surprised if McD didn’t open up the play book to emphasize the long outside game this week because the Ravens LB’S and Safeties are their obvious strength and they can pretty much shut down the short game and the middle. It could be a great week for Marshall and Royal. I also would like to see us run outside. It could be the game plan. Then again it might not, however that’s how I’d do it.
killerkod, it’s the hoodie that says DENVER BRONCOS EQUIPMENT on it, you can find it on this website in the shop, it’s item #5719 at $74.99
Congradulations to Champ on his man of the year honor he deserves it,he is top notch in my book.Go Broncs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks baylinocrush but I’m actually talking about the one he wore on MNF where Denver Broncos is spelled out in big felt white letters. Any ideas?
Baylin! LOL!
I’m beginning to think you’re a Jedi Knight! Seriously, I’ve made the Yoda comment before but you’re like all over it! Predictions? You got em’ covered? Bandwagon fans that wanted a D coordinator? You called it out? KillerKod wants to be a proactive Christmas shopper? You pull out the inventory numbers of a sweat shirt he doesn’t want! LOL LMFAO!
Tell me…..can you tell me the velocity in which a boeing 747 would be traveling at if it declined from a hieght of 33,000 ft to ground level covering a time of 1 min 12 seconds, carrying 205 passengers and being piloted By a midget wearing a clown suit?
I love you Baylin LOL!
GO GET EM BOYS!
Broncfalls, no, but I CAN tell you that we already have 30 picks for Sunday, already one more than we had for the last game, LOL. Glad someone is appreciating my devotion to this job, hahaha. Talking about job, killerkod, sorry it was the wrong one, I’ll keep an eye out for that one and will post it if I see it. Ok, did I cover everything? LOL.
Bayiln,
Seriously, it’s great blogging with you! You’re one of the best! On a serious note, who do you think gives the boys the toughest game this season?
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
brian_schneider, nope, a win is a win. We may not be all flashy and throwing the bomb aka Cutler, but we just keep pounding and plugging and wearing the other team out. I feel more secure knowing that we don’t take the high risk plays. Less turnovers.
If both we and the Colts remain with an alike record until we play eachother, it’s got to be the Colts game, because it would be for the homefield throughout in the AFC, the game of the year could turn out to be, and remember Sanders is supposed to be back this week, a one man wrecking crew. And at Philadelphia, other that it is a NFC team, so not as many implications hopefully, but that should be a heck of a game for the simple fact that it will be Dawkins homecoming game, they love him there and the fans did not want to let him go, I’ll bet some will even root for him when he makes plays against them, it should be great, real nasty environment to play in. Pitts is at home, I think we should be ok, Giants here same thing, at Washhington, no O to speak of, at KC in December, tough every year, I always put it automatically in the loss column when the schedule comes out, but this year, huge talent difference, specially since they got rid of Gonzales, so we should be allright there too. SD and Oakland at home, fine with that too.
Baylinor, I believe Denver will start with the run. Draw the LB’s in. Then dink and dunk over the LB’s into the 2ndary. Ray Lewis can’t be everywhere. Denver will always try to establish the run. Of course, with Denver, you never know what you’ll get, week for week. I just hope they aren’t rusty from the week off. Keep the fire and the momentum going.
And of course last game of the season here against KC, we should be able to slap them silly worse than usual.
Yeah, DDave, my point was I think they’ll avoid the middle with Reed, Suggs and Lewis. I see more stuff to the outside than usual in this game, both the run and the pass, and more long than short, to not risk it with their great safeties.
you’re right about questions about how we’ll react to the bye week, but I put that to rest as they are coming off theirs also, even steven.
I guess if I read myself correctly, tough to do, LOL, I’m deducting going 14-2 is a real possibility, maybe even 15-1. That’s crazy, isn’t it, you guys better not listen to me…
Ok, we may have talked about this already but..Orton, Marshall, Dumervil are just a few players with ending contracts in 2010…extensions or long term deals?
Only way to sign Marshall will be long term, he won’t take short term, if he stays out of personal trouble til year end, I’d say he’ll be signed long term. Dumervil is a shoe in for long term, young, healthy, disiplined, and Orton I say maybe a two year contract, with Brandstater in the wing. Of course all depends on what the labor talks with the league will result in.
Re above post, my bad, Suggs is an OLB.
Broncfalls, I’d say that the Boeing Jet would be going faster than I’d want to be going even without the 205 passengers and the midget pilot wearing a clown suit. LOL
kern was signed by the titans
In my opinion i say we pound that defensive front seven with Buckhalter and keep pounding the heart of that defense and bring in Moreno to bust a big on on them, and of course drop a bomb to “The Beast”. You know, just for good measure.
lepsis-fan78, just imagine going from a 6-0 team to a
0-? whatever team, bummer!
brian_schneider, they already told Marshall there is money at the end of the rainbow. He’ll stay. Doom is marking his territory. He’ll stay. Orton is playing the best football of his career. Brandstater will hold a clipboard and probably be Orton’s BU next year. I foresee Orton staying. I’m more concerned about our D coach, Nolan. Word is that offers will be made to him for a HC position elsewhere. Lets hope he stays.
Thanks DD.
You think he’ll go HC, he did and it didn’t work out so well. He’s been really successful thus far this season. Maybe he’d like to stay with the Broncos for while before pursuing a HC job again. Please Mr. Nolan stay!!!!!!