Aug 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater (5) kicks for an extra point in the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Regardless of how you feel about the decision to cut Prater, he was a distraction to this football team.
Prater said the right things after his four-game suspension was announced, but the risk of being burned again was too great for Elway and the Broncos.
It can’t be said enough: Prater is one mistake away from a year-long suspension, which is what the NFL wanted to give him for this screw up.
For a team that has the sole focus of winning a Super Bowl, an irresponsible kicker is the last thing it needs to fret or talk about.
This nips the possible distraction in the bud. It also sends a message to the rest of the roster. Yes, Prater is a kicker, but he was a veteran who is considered one of the best in the league.
This tells Broncos players they better get their heads right.