Idiot kicker.
It was Peyton Manning who officiated the marriage of these two words on live television. At the Pro Bowl after the 2002 season, during an in-game interview, Manning responded to some pontificated proclamations made by Mike Vanderjagt, the Colts’ kicker and cocky buffoon.
“Our idiot kicker who got liquored up and ran his mouth off,” Manning said then. “He’s a good kicker, but he’s an idiot.”
Well, Peyton now has another idiot kicker for a teammate.
Yes, Matt Prater humbly stood Monday in front of the media, the conduit for the fans, and apologized for his four-game suspension after violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He handled it with class.
Great.
But this guy let the Broncos down. He let Denver down.
This is Von Miller all over again, a Pro Bowl player playing with fire. The one thing Matt Prater had to do, to assure he’d be allowed to play, was not drink alcohol. And he drank alcohol.
WATCH: Denver Broncos Matt Prater apologizes for alcohol suspension
We all make mistakes, sure. And many people drink, such as, say, the thousands who attend the Broncos game and then drive home. Duly noted. But this is about Prater gleefully gambling the Broncos’ Super Bowl hopes by having a couple of cold ones (after already getting charged with driving under the influence in 2011).
“Why did I risk it? I just made a mistake,” Prater said Monday. “I don’t have an excuse for it, I screwed up, and now I’m paying the price for it.”
His teammates support him because that’s what teammates do. Coach John Fox, receiver Demaryius Thomas and punter/holder Britton Colquitt were among the Broncos who stood by Prater’s side during his Monday media duties. That’s cool. But these guys should, at least initially and temporarily, have felt insulted and disappointed by Prater, before the we-got-your-back stuff kicked in.
“I addressed the team, apologized to them this morning because it affects the team just like everyone else,” Prater said.
Be it Prater or Peyton or the podiatrist, everyone must be accountable at Dove Valley. This is too important. This could be the last chance the Broncos have to win a Super Bowl with Manning. Every day must be approached with that mind-set. The team was awesome last season and still got slapped around in the big game. The team must be better than awesome. And now, in games against the Colts, Chiefs, Seahawks and Cardinals, the Broncos won’t have a game-changing player.
And please don’t use that line of “he’s just the kicker.” This guy is vital. Denver could lose a game it should win because Prater violated the alcohol policy. Did you see those names? Colts, Chiefs, Seahawks and Cardinals. At least one of these games, if not all, will be close.
The Broncos must bring in an experienced kicker to play in the first four games. At least four guys who played in recent seasons are available. Denver cannot leave the kicking duties for that Star Wars character Mitch Ewald, the rookie the Broncos brought into camp. One potential problem is that a veteran guy might not want to sign with Denver, knowing he’ll lose his job by the fifth game.
They’ll sign someone. Hopefully it’ll be the first someone who the scouts want.
On Monday, Prater said all the right things. He sounded genuine. What’s done is done.
For all the Tim Tebow savior stuff, Prater was one of the guys who saved that season. Let’s hope his actions don’t ruin this season, one with way higher stakes.
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or twitter.com/hochman
