Nick Ferguson to IR (Broncos sign Rogers and Prater)

[Sassy]

Reported by CBS4. They also signed Roderick Rogers (safety) and Matt Prater (kicker)

Broncos Sign Kicker Prater From Dolphins'
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Slideshow: Complete Broncos Roster
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) ―
The Denver Broncos signed kicker Matt Prater to their active roster from Miami's practice squad Wednesday, the team announced.

Prater is a first-year player who spent the last four weeks on the Dolphins' practice squad after Atlanta waived him from its active roster on Sept. 18. He saw the first action of his career with Atlanta at the start of the season, playing in the Falcons' first two games and kicking off four times for 285 yards (71.3 avg.) with three touchbacks.

He also connected on 1-of-4 field-goal attempts and one extra-point attempt.

Prater will likely handle kick-off duties after punter/kicker Todd Sauerbrun was cut Tuesday. The Broncos signed punter Paul Ernster later Tuesday to replace Sauerbrun at that position.

Prater entered the NFL with Detroit on May 4, 2006, as a rookie free agent from the University of Central Florida and spent that regular season out of the NFL after Detroit waived him on Aug. 28, 2006.

[JimmyFocus]

Prater will likely handle kick-off duties after punter/kicker Todd Sauerbrun was cut Tuesday. The Broncos signed punter Paul Ernster later Tuesday to replace Sauerbrun at that position.


huh?.... isnt kickoffs the only decent thing ernster is good at... i dont get it

[Sassy]

This is from July:

Rogers Uses Badger Experience To Help Him Out
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by Andrew Mason, DenverBroncos.com
DENVER (CBS4/DenverBroncos.com) ― Roderick Rogers had a choice after the draft -- to sign with the Denver Broncos or the Arizona Cardinals. But when the safety arrived at Dove Valley in May straight from the shores of Lake Monona near the University of Wisconsin, Rogers' choices evaporated.

When it came to jersey numbers, Rogers had to take No. 43. Almost every other number available for a defensive back was already claimed.

"I'm so happy to be out here, I'll take anything," he said. "There wasn't much of a choice, but 43 is what I've got to make do with."

When Rogers donned the jersey for the first time in May, he had to hustle to the field. He spent the first week of organized team activities buried in final exams at Wisconsin. By the time he was able to take the field, the Broncos were already three days into quarterback camp, forcing Rogers to make up for lost repetitions.

"I didn't get a playbook before I got here. I basically had to come in and learn everything on the run," he said. "I was lost the first day. I was basically playing backyard football, trying to do what I could do. But as the day went on, I get better at it."

Returning to practice was also crucial for Rogers, who sprained a medial collateral ligament during Wisconsin's Capital One Bowl win on New Year's Day. The injury might have kept his name from being called during draft weekend.

"I expected to be drafted, but things didn't work out the way I wanted them to," he said. "I can't really complain."

Rogers said that the Cardinals and Broncos expressed the most interest in signing him after the draft's conclusion, but a number of factors drew him to Denver, chief among them being similiarities between the Badgers' and Broncos' defensive schemes.

"I'm using a lot of what I learned up there (at Wisconsin)," Rogers said. "A lot of it has a different name, but it's the same thing."

But not everything is the same, and Rogers could be asked to fill in anywhere in the secondary. While his background is at safety, he also took part in cornerback drills during the team camp that concluded on June 7.

"The biggest thing I learned is to know what you're doing," Rogers said. "If you don't know what you're doing, you're not going to be able to make plays or play for the team. It's getting into the playbook every week and reading it every night -- whatever you've got to do to get mental reps and keep it in your mind."

And choosing to study is an option Rogers will always take -- since he knows it increases his chances of making Denver a permanent home.

"I just want to play as hard as I can just to stay," he said.

[HEAV]

He also connected on 1-of-4 field-goal attempts and one extra-point attempt.


Scary

[Beantown Bronco]

Prater is a first-year player who spent the last four weeks on the Dolphins' practice squad after Atlanta waived him from its active roster on Sept. 18. He saw the first action of his career with Atlanta at the start of the season, playing in the Falcons' first two games and kicking off four times for 285 yards (71.3 avg.) with three touchbacks.

I know it's obviously a small sample, but those would be BY FAR league leading numbers. If he could do that in Atlanta, I'd love to see what that leg could do in Denver.

I know Shanny doesn't want to "waste" a roster spot on a kickoff specialist, but we're talking about an instant special teams improvement. His contribution would be far more significant than any other 5th string LBer brought in to play solely special teams anyway.

Maybe they can teach him how to punt.

[Bronco Yoda]

thanks sassy :)

[Beantown Bronco]

huh?.... isnt kickoffs the only decent thing ernster is good at... i dont get it

Ernster will be gone before the SB is played. He is decent at kickoffs, but he may not be in the same class as this guy, if we can extrapolate from what he did in Atlanta.

Perhaps the organization is finally realizing that they need to find the very best kickoff guy and the best punter they can instead of finding just one guy who can do both well. This kid may have a shot at sticking as a kickoff specialist next year.....and I'm sure the team is already scouting potential punters for the future.

[Paladin]

I admit it: I am confused. Why sign Ernster and then a second kicker to the active roster? It was the only way to pry the guy from the Fins' PS, and it sets up the training camps for next year. I think the rule is that if you sign a player from another team's PS then he has to go to the roster.

If he can really kick, then that is fine. Except having three kickers on the team seems...excessive. Count: Ernster, Elam and now Prater. Been done before, but I would have preferred a DT or an LB prospect.....


Mammas, make your babies have big legs, an aversion to alcohol and drugs to become football kickers. Not truck drivers, cowboys, waiters, computer hacks or whatever. Kickers. Lots of money and little danger for injury unless they also have to tackle....

[SoDak Bronco]

At this point it doesn't really matter, but it is scary we have 3 kickers/punters on the active roster.

[Beantown Bronco]

Would you guys rather have another 4th or 5th string LBer, safety or lineman that never sees the field except on kickoffs, and occasionally makes a special teams tackle.....or would you rather have a guy that could potentially force touchbacks 3/4 of the time and makes the other 10 guys irrelevant?

I have no problem with carrying 3 "kickers" on the roster if this is the tradeoff.

[Dendave]

Does this mean Elam is out the door? Isn't this a contract year?

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_7399373

"A free agent after this season, Elam and the Broncos are expected to discuss a new contract that could have him kicking here at least until he's 40."

Maybe contract talks aren't going well

[Muddled]

Hehe, this is the dude who extended Morten Andersen's career, ensuring me of constant updates on Falcons games all season, wonderful

[Beantown Bronco]

Does this mean Elam is out the door? Isn't this a contract year?

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_7399373

"A free agent after this season, Elam and the Broncos are expected to discuss a new contract that could have him kicking here at least until he's 40."

Maybe contract talks aren't going well


Nah. I don't think so. There are plenty of proven kickers out there they could've chosen from.

Elam is staying. This guy is just a kickoff specialist.

[dbfan21]

He also connected on 1-of-4 field-goal attempts and one extra-point attempt.


Scary

An an alumni of UCF, I can honestly say that Prater is not very good. He is not accurate with field goals. As far as kickoffs, who knows? It seems he is decent at it, but this guy is not a replacement for Elam. And it doesn't make a lot of sense to have three kickers on the roster.

Hmmm....

[Muddled]

Those misses were all chip shots shanked way wide, there's no way he's brought in as anything but a kickoff specialist

[Beantown Bronco]

And it doesn't make a lot of sense to have three kickers on the roster.

It does when you have an aging kicker that can't handle kickoff duties. Most team's punters aren't asked to kick off like we were doing with Todd (and Paul). Plenty of teams have employed this strategy over the past few seasons, and if you have the roster space (like the Broncos should, because they usually only carry two QBs on the active roster) why not?

[Orange_Beard]

He also connected on 1-of-4 field-goal attempts and one extra-point attempt.


Scary

sounds like he kicks like I drive, long but who knows where it is going.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Who cares if he can make field goals...he wasnt signed to kick them, obviously he was signed to kick off. Brad Daluiso couldnt kick em for us, but i loved watching him kick it into the stands during kickoffs.

[eddie mac]

Think there's more significant news here in the fact that Nick Ferguson may well have played his last game in a Denver uniform.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Ferguson has been a warrior. I appreciate the time he has spent in Denver

[eddie mac]

Ferguson has been a warrior. I appreciate the time he has spent in Denver

He doesn't have the legs for coverage anymore and doesn't have the same run-stopping ability as Lynch so if only one comes back next year it has to be John.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I never thought he was NFL starter quality, but he has been all heart. I wish him well.

[JCMElway]

You know, if he can put the ball in the endzone every time it's worth the roster spot. That would have won us the game in Chicago.....

[eddie mac]

You know, if he can put the ball in the endzone every time it's worth the roster spot. That would have won us the game in Chicago.....

There's so many things could've won us that game but it wasn't meant to be.

[broncocalijohn]

I admit it: I am confused. Why sign Ernster and then a second kicker to the active roster? It was the only way to pry the guy from the Fins' PS, and it sets up the training camps for next year. I think the rule is that if you sign a player from another team's PS then he has to go to the roster.

If he can really kick, then that is fine. Except having three kickers on the team seems...excessive. Count: Ernster, Elam and now Prater. Been done before, but I would have preferred a DT or an LB prospect.....


Mammas, make your babies have big legs, an aversion to alcohol and drugs to become football kickers. Not truck drivers, cowboys, waiters, computer hacks or whatever. Kickers. Lots of money and little danger for injury unless they also have to tackle....


This is why Todd was valuable. He held extra points, kickoffs and punts. As discussed in the Sauerbrun melt down (drunk) thread, you will need two roster spots to cover for cutting Todd. Since the season is done, here is a good way to see what pans out.

[broncolife]

Dang, how far we have fallen especially when we are taking a player from the Miami practice squad.

[skmoser]

I feel good for Rodgers.....I love hearing these guys stories, and realize how hard it is to even get to where he is, and then when he's there he's awed by it.....We have a lot of these stories on the team this year (Young, S. Harris, Rodgers, even Thomas)....it bodes well for us

[broncolife]

Would you guys rather have another 4th or 5th string LBer, safety or lineman that never sees the field except on kickoffs, and occasionally makes a special teams tackle.....or would you rather have a guy that could potentially force touchbacks 3/4 of the time and makes the other 10 guys irrelevant?

I have no problem with carrying 3 "kickers" on the roster if this is the tradeoff.

Where talking about the broncos here, so there chances are pretty high in playing with the way we stay healthy.I prefer Todd was still here but I dont mind having 3 kickers as long as all three are the best at what they do.

[broncolife]

So when do we hear Elam biatching about how he aint use to the holder

[rovolution]

who is the Ray Guy winner for this season in the college ranks?

is he a senior?

Have you seen the impact Sepulveda has made for the Steelers? Hes shored up that position for them for many years to come.

[cmhargrove]

Just think what a difference it would have mmade this season to get a kicker that always kicked touchbacks. O'Brien would have looked like a genius, and we would have had at least 2 more wins because we wouldn't have given up such field position (not to mention Hester).

Nothing wrong with giving this guy the audition, he's got some cool ink!

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I feel good for Rodgers.....I love hearing these guys stories, and realize how hard it is to even get to where he is, and then when he's there he's awed by it.....We have a lot of these stories on the team this year (Young, S. Harris, Rodgers, even Thomas)....it bodes well for us

He was a very good player at Wisconsin, but he has Eslinger disease - 25 pounds too small.

[broncolife]

Fergy to Ir? What he do hurt a buttcheek on the bench.

[broncobill]

To Shanny, IR means Instant Rosterspot, has little to do with actual injuries it would seem.

[Inkana7]

Fergy to Ir? What he do hurt a buttcheek on the bench.

No, a knee playing special teams.

[IHaveALight]

I don't know why some of you are complaining about this.
I've been wishing for a 3rd kicker on this team for many years.
Having a guy that can force the opposing team to start out on the 20 after all or most kickoffs is far more valuable then most of the other special teams players. I could probably look through the Broncos roster and find 10 guys I would cut before a kickoff ace.
And those saying Sauerbrun and Ernster are valuable cause they can kickoff are crazy too. Both those guys suck at it. It's been awhile since I've seen Ernster but I don't have any fond memories of him. In Sauerbrun's case though not only does the kick only make to the 10 yard line most of the time, but his hang time is really bad too. It's like a low fast ball and the coverage team doesn't have much time to get down the field to make a decent stop.

[rovolution]

who is the Ray Guy winner for this season in the college ranks?

is he a senior?

Have you seen the impact Sepulveda has made for the Steelers? Hes shored up that position for them for many years to come.


Found him.

Durant Brooks of Georgia Tech

he is a senior this year, so hes got to come out unless he suddenly looses his passion for football

http://scoreboards.aol.com/images/football/ncaaf/players/80x80/41261.jpg


Go get him Shanahan!!!!!!!

[Natedogg]

I don't know why some of you are complaining about this.
I've been wishing for a 3rd kicker on this team for many years.
Having a guy that can force the opposing team to start out on the 20 after all or most kickoffs is far more valuable then most of the other special teams players. I could probably look through the Broncos roster and find 10 guys I would cut before a kickoff ace.
And those saying Sauerbrun and Ernster are valuable cause they can kickoff are crazy too. Both those guys suck at it. It's been awhile since I've seen Ernster but I don't have any fond memories of him. In Sauerbrun's case though not only does the kick only make to the 10 yard line most of the time, but his hang time is really bad too. It's like a low fast ball and the coverage team doesn't have much time to get down the field to make a decent stop.

Quoted for truth.

I still contend a big part of our 2005 season was special teams. Roids was punting like a true champ that year. I dont repember exceptional kick offs, but definately agree, one rosterspot for a kicker who consistantly gets the ball into the endzone is small fries.

[cutthemdown]

Ferguson is just old and has bad knees now. around 2004 he could still ball but he's done now. Good thing we didn't draft any saftey's the last few years, because you know we just have no room for them.

[dbfan21]

I don't know why some of you are complaining about this.
I've been wishing for a 3rd kicker on this team for many years.
Having a guy that can force the opposing team to start out on the 20 after all or most kickoffs is far more valuable then most of the other special teams players. I could probably look through the Broncos roster and find 10 guys I would cut before a kickoff ace.
And those saying Sauerbrun and Ernster are valuable cause they can kickoff are crazy too. Both those guys suck at it. It's been awhile since I've seen Ernster but I don't have any fond memories of him. In Sauerbrun's case though not only does the kick only make to the 10 yard line most of the time, but his hang time is really bad too. It's like a low fast ball and the coverage team doesn't have much time to get down the field to make a decent stop.

I hear what you're saying and since we are wishing for things, I wish the Broncos could identify a FG kicker who is accurate and has a strong enough leg to hit long field goals and nail touchbacks on kickoffs. That way, it only consumes one roster spot. While they're at it, I want us to get a punter who understands the strategy of football, has good hangtime and doesn't b*tch slap cabbies while wasted at a downtown bar.

Is that too much to wish for? :-)

[~Crash~]

Ferguson is just old and has bad knees now. around 2004 he could still ball but he's done now. Good thing we didn't draft any saftey's the last few years, because you know we just have no room for them.

You know I am so tired of winning about Safteys ! Crap there is a huge amount every year in the FA. People do you realize just how few realy get to start in the NFL . and to find thebody size is easy as crap ! So stop your wine flow we will find a S that will work . Try to save the wine for DT, DE and OT ! We have plenty to bitch about there !

[listopencil]

Hmmm...didn't Dan Reeves go with three kickers? I don't remember but I have this weird, vague recollection of it.