Matt Prater’s performance against the Chicago Bears — including a 59-yard field goal to tie the game and send it to overtime, and a 51-yard game-winner in the extra frame — has earned plenty of fanfare.
It made Broncos TV’s Top 10 plays of the season, the Chicago comeback as a whole won the GMC Never-Say-Never Moment of the Year, and last night Prater took home yet another award.
His two clutch, 50-plus-yard kicks were nominated for the Top Professional Moment in the Denver Sports Top 9 Moments, presented by Bank of the West. The moments are designed to celebrate the best of sports in Colorado from 2011.
In an awards ceremony held downtown at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on March 1, Prater took home the award ahead of teammate Tim Tebow’s 20-yard, game-winning touchdown run against the New York Jets, and Colorado Rockies slugger Jason Giambi’s three-home run, seven-RBI performance against the Phillies.
Prater wasn’t in attendance to accept the award, so his holder — punter Britton Colquitt — did so on his behalf.
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: Chicago Bears, Matt Prater
Peyton to the 49ers would be insane!
Harbaugh is pretty set on Alex Smith. I think he will end up in the south. It would be funny to see him with the Redskins. Having to face Eli twice a year.
If peyton were to go to the niners and they sign or draft a premiere receiver … they might just go to the super bowl. but it wont happen. They like alex. They run a not so manning friendly o. And i doubt manning can stomach so many run plays.
TRB
No matter where Manning will go he instantly turns that team into solid playoff contenders.
People in NY are already talking Manning to the Jets of course, but I doubt he goes to the same city as his younger bro.. I would guess SF or Miami.
I think he will end up in Miami. That would flip the team around. The Redskins would be interesting.
The ‘Skins will offer him the most IMO
I doubt SF. Alex Smith is the guy there. Its between Redskins which if he goes there i doubt a trade will happen with the Rams for #2 even from the Browns. There will be no need. The Browns is a might. I dont think its a high chance. Or the Dolphins.
IMO Its the Redskins of Dolphins more than anyone else. Manning to Marshall will be dangerous.
I HONESTLY don’t care where he goes as long as its not to the chiefs. We don’t need him in the AFC west … that man runs wateva division he is in.
TRB
Btw, Paul Soliai was brought up as a possible free agent pick up for us.. That would be music to my ears! I’ve been begging for a big strong Samoan wrecking havoc on or D!!!
I wouldnt mind Soliai. Bring him in and Williams. What a dangerous front…
Whichever team ends up signing Manning had better have it with low base pay and massive incentives. The changes of him coming back from nerve damage in less than a year when it normally takes about 2 years to completely regenerate nerves that have been damaged are extremely low. Not impossible, but highglyu unlikely. Also, the possibility of new nerve damage is a very grey cloud over his future playing ability. With at least three neck surgeries to try to resolve his previous nerve problems there’s likely no hope for any further surgery accomplishing anything.
Alaska – you are out of your mind if you think the 49ers would pass on Peyton Manning b/c they have….. Alex Smith?? Really?? Manning would all but assure them a Super Bowl.. Dont forget, it will be Mannings choice, and he doesn’t have time to F around with a team not ready to win now
I really just wanna see Denver target Williams. If we dont even try i will question some things. They have said they are going to be aggressive. Targeting him will be aggressive. If we cant get him Moncey wouldnt be bad either.
The Niners coach has said they will be sticking with Alex Smith. Look what he has done this last year. He almost got them there without a real good WR. also Niners dont have the cap to spend that much money on him.
Redskins or the Dolphins. Dolphins have the best chance. They get Manning they will be ready to compete next year.
Also like TRB said, Niners run the ball. Manning probably wont want to be in that style offense. Not to mention he does choose. He has a house in Miami. Not SF. That says a lot about where HE wants to go.
Right, I said SF or Miami.. SF if he wants to win a Super Bowl, and Miami if he wants to play NE twice a year and be semi retired.. Tough call….
SF doesnt have the cap room. They have 38 mil. Manning will take a lot of that. They wont take Manning. Harbaugh has been fighting and fighting for Smith. SF isnt an option.
San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith is set to hit free agency coming off the best season of his seven-year career in 2011 after leading San Francisco to the NFC Championship game, however, and even Inman concedes that the biggest stumbling block to bringing Manning on board could be that the 49ers already have a capable, if not spectacular, signal-caller in the fold.
This is Alex Smith’s job. Don’t you remember that comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints to open the playoffs? Or those five come-from-behind wins in the regular season, including four on the road? Or his wicked kinship with coach Jim Harbaugh? Or his five interceptions that set a franchise low in a season? Or Camp Alex? Smith, who made all 16 starts, is healthy, athletic and turns 28 on May 7.
Alex Smith wont cost no where near as much and is a lot younger.
You can’t take everything at face value, not everything is as easy as that… Of course Harbaugh is gonna back his QB, while he is his QB.. Plus, until 30 minutes ago Manning wasn’t available.. Contracts can always be drawn up to fit the cap if both parties want it.. Manning doesn’t need the money today, and would take deferred money for a chance to win the big one.. And if he goes to SF, that might just make the 9ers our trading partner for them to jump up and snag Hill….
Dolphins are a good QB away from serious competition. Manning will be that QB. Wayne will follow him. Thats A bunch of weapons for Manning. Also Miami could fix the issues on D in the draft. They really only failed to win cause lack of a QB.
I would really enjoy to see Manning go to the Dolphins. Him and Marshall(who is still my favorite reciver) would be a crazy duo. I would love to see it plus he would get to see his best buddy in Tom Brady not once but Twice a year. It would be quite a show.
Smith or Manning i think the Niners will be likely trading partners. I DOUBT Manning will go there. Smith is younger and cost a lot less. Manning even if he doesnt take money, which i doubt because he wouldnt rework his contract in Indy and take less money, would still cost more than Smith.
Miami is the other option in my mind, with Washington being third.. Should be interesting no doubt!
We shall all see, not gonna argue about it… I’ve stated my opinion.. LOL!
The Niners problem is WR. Not QB. Dolphins need a QB. Manning could take them to the SB. Marshall, Bush and Bess. Great targets. They have a really good O-Line. The D isnt bad either. Like i said, QB is the only serious problem in Miami.
OT We will just agree to disagree. I just dont see SF as an option.
Dude, most people think Miami is the front runner, so you’re not splitting the atom there… I’m just bring up another possibility and how it could benefit our team, since SF needs a WR and we pick ahead of them…. But, it’s absolutely laughable to suggest that SF wouldn’t sway from Alex Smith after one decent year… He didn’t even play that well, they won despite of him with great defense..
Thats the point. Smith was good enough. Also leading 6 comeback wins is a pretty good stat. 4 on the road. 1 in the playoffs against the Saints. Niners need a WR. The QB they have was good enough to help them win. He is younger and a lot cheaper than Manning. I really dont see SF as even involved in trying to get Manning.
Let’s just say it’s just as likely for Peyton Manning to go to the 49ers, as it is for Mario Williams to come to the Broncos..
LMAO
Actually its more likely for Mario to come to Denver. See unlike Manning Mario has expressed interest in playing for our HC and DC. Also as a 4-3 DE.
Manning bought his house in Miami a couple months ago…..Hmmmm Thats looks to me he is wanting and preparing to go to Miami….
DenverCB … I knew i liked you for a reason … Marshall is my favorite receiver as well … im like his number one fan boy (Bronco Marshall, Dolphin Marshall hasn’t been as impressive with the YAC) but he is still a beast. Give him a real QB and amazing things will happen … I also like the idea of Brady and Manning canceling eachother out in thier division. Good luck to the jets and bills lol.
TRB
Manning Marshall Bush Bess and possibly Wayne (who many are saying is gonna follow Manning) Would be very dangerous.
Love it TRB, Ever since his second year coming out I was a big fan then that Inhuman catch and run against the cowboys and the 22 catch performance against Mr.Manning and colts just solidified him as my number 1.
I think Peyton’s taking his talents to south beach
Food for thoght.. Manning comes to denver for 2-3 years and helps nourish Tebow and we win 2 SB with super mario as well.. I’m a tebow fan who knows how aggressive the FO gets
Its official manning getting released wednesday with a press conference
Bleedorange that would be very interesting….. But i think the front runners are the Jets Dolphins and Seachickens.
Denver is also interested in Houston Texans defensive end/outside linebacker Mario Williams, as was confirmed by ESPN‘s John Clayton earlier in the week. Williams missed most of last season due to injury and is expected to test the free agent market this month.
In February, Elway noted that the Broncos will spend more than their $23 million salary cap this off-season. The team has $27 million in last season’s cap space that has rolled over into 2012, giving the team an estimated $50 million in cap space this year.
Williams, a 6’6, 283-pound former first overall draft selection, has recorded 53.0 sacks since his 2006 rookie season. Williams’ six year, $54 million contract expires on March 13th and he will be looking for a team that will pay big for his services in 2012.
The Broncos, with big money available to spend, already have two of the top pass rushers in the game in defensive end Elvis Dumervil and outside linebacker Von Miller, but that won’t stop them from considering creating one of the best pass rushing trios in NFL history. Dumervil, Miller and Williams are all versatile enough to play linebacker or defensive end, and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio could create a scheme which would creatively involve all three players.
Another option for the Broncos would be to trade Dumervil, but the team is not expected to do so. Last season, Dumervil, Miller and Williams combined for 26 sacks, despite missing eighteen combined games due to respective injuries.
HELL YES!!!! They are supposedly interested!!!!!
Alaskan, You just made me a very happy person haha. The thought alone of having 3 of the best pass rushers in the game brings massvie chills to my spine and probably the spines of opposing quarterbacks.
Oh yea. Especially with who we face this year….Some very pass happy teams get another corner and our D will be very tough.
EFX BRING US WILLIAMS!!!!!
Oh im all too exited.. the coutdown is at 7 days and what a long 7 days they will be.
7 days is way to long!!!
by Kyle Bonagura, CBSSports.com
Jerry Rice on if the 49ers should pursue Peyton Manning to the Bay Area Newsgroup: “I think you go for it. A guy of that talent, you’ve got everything in place. … You just need a little more out of the offense. That’s not knocking what Alex (Smith) did. (Manning) can take you to a whole different level.”
Thank God this is put to bed….
–
by Andrew Mason, CBSSports.com
Rumors were abound in Hollywood that QB Tim Tebow would be the next star of “The Bachelor,” but he shot them down Tuesday He wrote on Twitter: “I’m definitely not gonna be on The Bachelor.” Tebow has been in Los Angeles in recent weeks working out with UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.
OT What Jerry Rice says isnt what theyll do. He doesnt work for the Niners. He was stating his opinion.
Also what you said about them winning without great QB play HURTS what your saying about Manning going there. Why would they spend that much money on Manning with his age, when they won with Smith who is a lot younger? Davis is the only decent receiving threat Smith has and he did well passing the ball. Theyll get him another WR.
I just dont see Manning going there.
Alaska – it’s just a scenario that I brought up, I’m not saying it will happen… Bit of advice, should you care to accept: don’t be so quick to shoot down every opinion that differs from your own… You will not get ahead in life by doing that..
LMAO
I dont shoot down every opinion that differs from my own. I stat my opinion just as everyone else on here does. I was stating that i think its a long shot. Next to impossible. Why? Because it doesnt make sense.
So i cant stat my opinion now because it differs from everyone elses? Someone says something im going to stat my opinion. Period. Its who i am.
by Tom James, CBSSports.com
A source close to the Colts told the Indianapolis Star on Tuesday that reports of the team releasing Peyton Manning were “premature.’’ According to the source, there is a “slight chance” Manning and team owner Jim Irsay could still reach an agreement that could keep the four-time league MVP in Indy.
Mario on the radar interesting … we will see how it plays out … they said they have a number and wont exceed it … thats for every player … they are gonna pay the value they believe they are worth … no over paying so if they get out bid … they get outbid … but glad alot of these defensive types are likely to be sought after.
TRB