ELAM BOLTS FOR HOME, SIGNS DEAL WITH ATLANTA

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 22, 2008 | by FRANK SCHWAB

In 1993, when quarterback Jay Cutler was 10 years old and Mike Shanahan was two years from becoming Denver's head coach, Jason Elam became the Broncos' kicker.

He held the position until Friday.

Elam's 15-year career with the Broncos ended when he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, his agent, Jack Reale, said. Elam's contract is for four years and $9 million with $3.3 million guaranteed.

Elam's signing means he will likely end his career in the state in which he grew up. Elam was a second-team all-state selection at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Ga. He played college football at the University of Hawaii.

"He had a great 15 years in Denver, but he's looking forward to coming home and a new challenge," Reale said.

Elam is the Broncos' alltime leading scorer with 1,786 points, holds the franchise record for most games played (236) and ranks sixth in NFL history in career scoring.

Elam, who turned 38 this month, was coming off two very good seasons. Denver won seven games last year, and four times Elam kicked a game-winning field goal on the final play. The past two years Elam made 90 percent of his field goals, including all 37 of his attempts from less than 40 yards.

The Broncos had offered Elam a three-year contract worth about $7.5 million, but the sides were about $1.5 million apart on guaranteed money. Reale said the Broncos tried to re-sign Elam but the market for him was more than they were willing to pay.

"I think he feels the fans of Denver are the best and he'll see them again someday, hopefully when his number is raised to the Ring of Fame," Reale said. "It was a great career, no question. A lot of great memories."

Matt Prater is the only kicker on the Denver roster. He has made one of the four field goals he has attempted in his NFL career. All four of Prater's attempts were with Atlanta in two games early last season. He was released by the Falcons on Sept. 18 and spent time on Miami's practice squad before Denver signed him Dec. 19.

Shanahan said last year Prater was signed to kick off and compete at punter and reacted angrily when asked if Prater's signing had anything to do with Elam's impending free agency.

Shanahan praised Elam before he broke the team record for games played last season.

"I think what he has done on the field speaks for itself, and it's nice to have a guy you can count on and someone you can consider a team leader," Shanahan said in December.

Elam was a third-round draft pick in 1993 and holds every significant Broncos placekicking record, including field goals made and attempted, field-goal percentage and extra points made and attempted.

Elam also appears often in the NFL record books. Last year he became the first player in NFL history to record 100 points in each of his first 15 seasons. His 37 field goals from at least 50 yards are second in NFL history. He holds the NFL record for career extra- point accuracy at 99.5 percent. Elam kicked a 63-yard field goal in 1998, which is tied for the longest in NFL history with New Orleans' Tom Dempsey.

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