Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater was suspended for the first four regular-season games this year due to a violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Prater could have been suspended for the entire campaign because he was already in the substance-abuse program after being charged with a DUI on Aug. 12, 2011.
Matt Prater’s dad says his son needs suspension
Denver’s kicker has struggled with alcohol before, and it has gotten him in trouble with the league.
Justin Edmonds
Prater’s father defended his son, saying that he does not have an alcohol problem. However, he also stated that Matt needs to serve out the four-game ban, according to David Dorsey of the Fort Meyers News Press. Prater consumed alcohol while home on vacation, which violates the NFL’s mandate for a player in the program.
For his part, Prater issued a statement on the matter:
"I've made some mistakes," Prater said. "I'm accepting full responsibility. I'll learn from it and come back a better person. I want to apologize to my teammates, my coaches, the Broncos' organization and the fans."
NFL Discipline
Over at Mile High Report, Kyle Montgomery detailed the current kicker situation in Denver and what to expect in the coming days:
The Broncos have rookie kicker Mitch Ewald on the roster, but he hasn't impressed in training camp. Don't be surprised if they comb the waiver wire to find someone with NFL regular season experience to compete with Ewald.
Prater will not be eligible to return until Week 6 when the Broncos face the New York Jets (Week 5 is a bye). The loss could be costly for Denver with it facing three playoff teams over the first four weeks in the Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks.
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