Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater was suspended without pay for the first four games of the upcoming National Football League season Tuesday for violating the NFL substance abuse policy.
The Denver Post reported last weekend that the violation was alcohol related. Prater has been under the league’s alcohol program since a drink-driving charge in 2011.
“I am definitely going to make some changes in my life: not drink at all or risk doing anything stupid like that,” Prater said before practice Monday. “I need to keep myself out of certain situations where people are drinking.”
Prater, 30, made 25 of 26 field goal attempts for Denver last season, helping the Broncos reach the Super Bowl, where they were trounced by Seattle.
Prater is eligible for remaining off-season workouts and today’s final pre-season game against Dallas.
But he will miss regular-season contests at home against Indianapolis and Kansas City, a Super Bowl rematch with the Seahawks at Seattle and an October 5 home game against Arizona. Prater can return to the club October 6.
To fill the temporary void, the Broncos late Tuesday made a deal with the New York Giants, sending a seventh-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft for the rights to kicker Brandon McManus, who made two pre-season field goal attempts for the Giants.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday acquired New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins in exchange for tight end Tim Wright and an undisclosed draft pick.
A three-time captain with the Patriots, Mankins has earned six Pro Bowl berths and five All-Pro selections in his career. He also was selected to the New England Patriots All-2000s and 50th Anniversary teams.