Jason Elam's a Falcon - Page 2

**DaFace** · 03-21-2008, 05:27 PM

At least the bastard won't be winning them at the last second for the

anymore.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_8653721

Three seconds ... two seconds ... Ready, Matt Prater?

Time's up.

For the first time since the 1992 season, the Broncos' full-time placekicker will not be named Jason Elam.

The franchise leader with 236 games played — two more than John Elway — Elam's 15-year career in Denver ended today when he agreed to terms on a four-year, $9 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. The Broncos had offered a three-year deal for about $7 million.

The Atlanta deal will make Elam second only to Josh Brown in up-front money paid for a placekicker. Brown recently signed with the St. Louis Rams. Elam's deal ranks third overall behind Brown and Adam Vinatieri of the Indianapolis Colts.

For now, the Broncos new kicker is Prater, who has made one NFL field goal in four attempts.

The Elam era in Denver was so long, it predates the Mike Shanahan era by two years. David Treadwell was the Broncos' kicker in 1992, but Elam took over after he was selected by the Wade Phillips' regime in the third round of the 1993 draft.

It was the start of 15 consecutive, 100-point seasons for Elam, an NFL record. By the time Elam left Denver, he was ranked fifth all-time in career field goals and sixth in points.

Perhaps more significantly, Elam was recognized as one of the league's best clutch kickers, a reputation enhanced during the 2007 season when he nailed four walkoff, game-winning field goals. He also made another field goal with no time remaining to send the game against Green Bay into overtime.

The Broncos had tried to re-sign Elam in recent weeks, but their three-year proposal had virtually no guarantee past the 2008 season and fell short of Atlanta's offer in first-year money.

Throughout the free-agent process, Elam had said re-signing with the Broncos was his first choice, but if it didn't work out here, the Falcons would be his second choice in large part because he grew up in the Atlanta suburb of Snellville.

In the rare position of needing a new kicker, the Broncos will first turn to Prater, who was undrafted out of Central Florida in 2006, spent some time on Detroit's practice squad that year, and went to the Miami Dolphins' training camp in 2007, before opening last season with the Falcons.

But after missing three field goals in the first two games, Prater was released and later signed with the Broncos, handling kickoffs in the final two games.

The Broncos could also show interest in veteran free agents Olindo Mare and John Carney, and there are always a number of kickers who become available late in training camp.

ClevelandBronco · 03-21-2008, 11:40 PM

Lou Groza was Canton. Jason Elam is Akron.

Maybe it's an Ohio thing. I'll let it go.

mrpopo · 03-22-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

Good. Get him out of the AFC, and let him kick for an NFC dome team.

QFT

BigRock · 03-22-2008, 04:36 PM

Ha. Haha. Hahahahahahaha.

**Rain Man** · 03-22-2008, 07:30 PM

I mind this not a bit, to be sure. Hopefully Shanahan will hand-pick his replacement in the way that he picks defensive linemen.

**alanm** · 03-22-2008, 07:40 PM

Heard today that Mare is coming in tomorrow or Monday for a visit.

03-21-2008, 05:27 PM
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2036899	Jason Elam's a Falcon At least the bastard won't be winning them at the last second for the anymore. http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_8653721 Three seconds ... two seconds ... Ready, Matt Prater? Time's up. For the first time since the 1992 season, the Broncos' full-time placekicker will not be named Jason Elam. The franchise leader with 236 games played — two more than John Elway — Elam's 15-year career in Denver ended today when he agreed to terms on a four-year, $9 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. The Broncos had offered a three-year deal for about $7 million. The Atlanta deal will make Elam second only to Josh Brown in up-front money paid for a placekicker. Brown recently signed with the St. Louis Rams. Elam's deal ranks third overall behind Brown and Adam Vinatieri of the Indianapolis Colts. For now, the Broncos new kicker is Prater, who has made one NFL field goal in four attempts. The Elam era in Denver was so long, it predates the Mike Shanahan era by two years. David Treadwell was the Broncos' kicker in 1992, but Elam took over after he was selected by the Wade Phillips' regime in the third round of the 1993 draft. It was the start of 15 consecutive, 100-point seasons for Elam, an NFL record. By the time Elam left Denver, he was ranked fifth all-time in career field goals and sixth in points. Perhaps more significantly, Elam was recognized as one of the league's best clutch kickers, a reputation enhanced during the 2007 season when he nailed four walkoff, game-winning field goals. He also made another field goal with no time remaining to send the game against Green Bay into overtime. The Broncos had tried to re-sign Elam in recent weeks, but their three-year proposal had virtually no guarantee past the 2008 season and fell short of Atlanta's offer in first-year money. Throughout the free-agent process, Elam had said re-signing with the Broncos was his first choice, but if it didn't work out here, the Falcons would be his second choice in large part because he grew up in the Atlanta suburb of Snellville. In the rare position of needing a new kicker, the Broncos will first turn to Prater, who was undrafted out of Central Florida in 2006, spent some time on Detroit's practice squad that year, and went to the Miami Dolphins' training camp in 2007, before opening last season with the Falcons. But after missing three field goals in the first two games, Prater was released and later signed with the Broncos, handling kickoffs in the final two games. The Broncos could also show interest in veteran free agents Olindo Mare and John Carney, and there are always a number of kickers who become available late in training camp.
Posts: 51,767

03-21-2008, 11:40 PM	#16
ClevelandBronco I'm with the banned. Join Date: Sep 2006 Casino cash: $5658955	Lou Groza was Canton. Jason Elam is Akron. Maybe it's an Ohio thing. I'll let it go.
Posts: 28,113

03-22-2008, 04:36 PM	#18
BigRock Pritay Pritay Pritay Good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The State of Euphoria Casino cash: $3435412	Ha. Haha. Hahahahahahaha.
Posts: 6,777

03-22-2008, 07:30 PM	#19
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3328491 VARSITY	I mind this not a bit, to be sure. Hopefully Shanahan will hand-pick his replacement in the way that he picks defensive linemen. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,405

03-22-2008, 07:40 PM	#20
alanm Feeling Victorian Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Nebraska/Wyoming/Colorado Casino cash: $1846436	Heard today that Mare is coming in tomorrow or Monday for a visit. __________________ It bears repeating, ** Herm, Pioli, Haley, and Crennel for ing up my franchise for a goddamn decade. Buehler 445**
Posts: 33,613