Kicker, Matt Prater to sign with Detroit Lions
Matt Prater is expected to become the third kicker for the Detroit Lions in 2014 as reported by Ed Werder of ESPN .
League source: #Lions expecting to sign ex-Broncos PK Matt Prater over Jay Feely. Detroit kickers have made league-low 33 pct FG
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) October 7, 2014
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Prater, 30, was released by the Denver Broncos earlier this season following a suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He is also the NFL record holder for the longest field goal in league history, 64-yards, a mark he set last season in the thin air of Mile High.
Matt Prater, Jay Feely, and Conner Barth were all in Detroit today for workouts with the Lions, however Prater is said to have won the job over Feely and Barth.
Prater made 25-26 field goals for the Broncos last year and made the Pro Bowl.
"“We’ve got to find a performer,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said Monday. “That’s basically what we have to get done. In that area you’ve got to get a guy who is consistent under pressure and will be able to get us some points on the board.”"
Caldwell was asked specifically about Prater on Monday, but declined to say then the team was going to work him out. Caldwell did say, though, they would look at the alcohol-related issues that led to his four-game suspension to start this season before they made a decision on a kicker.
"“We’ll look at each and every guy and make a determination based upon what we sense and feel about him on and off the field,” Caldwell said. “That’s how we do every guy. Suitable to the comfort level of all of us that are involved.”"
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I appears, at least at this point in time that coach Caldwell and the Lions are confident that Prater’s off-the-field issues are over.
The Lions organization and fans alike are hopeful that Matt Prater is the answer to the dreadful kicking problems that have plagued the team early on this year. The Lions two kicker prior to Prater, Henery and Nate Freese, were a combined 4-of-12 over the first five weeks.
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