He may not kick them as far. And through no fault of his own, Jason Elam may not be kicking them as often this season.
Never in his 14-year NFL career, however, has Elam kicked them any better.
Entering the Broncos’ second-to-last game of the season Sunday against Cincinnati, Elam has made 23-of-25 field-goal attempts for a 92.0 percentage. Elam was less accurate during his Pro Bowl seasons of 1995, 1998 and 2001. His truest season was in 2003, when he converted 87.1 percent of his field-goal tries.
Elam has gone relatively unnoticed, while Nate Kaeding, who boots for the high-scoring Chargers, got the nod for the AFC Pro Bowl team. Elam is the AFC alternate.
“We were winning 13-3 so I was getting seven points instead of 13 points there for a while,” Elam said. “But I’ll take a 90-plus percent year any time. I mean, it would be the first ever.”
Elam, 36, is the oldest Bronco and while age may have cost him kickoff duties and fewer 50-yard field goals – he has one in each of his past two seasons – he’s never been more consistent. From inside the 40-yard line, Elam is 16-for-16.
Given the choice of nailing every field goal from inside the 40, or the occasional 54-yarder, almost all NFL coaches will take the sure thing.
“Maybe you’re going to lose some distance with age but kicking is a finesse game,” Elam said. “You look around the league, there’s a bunch of guys older than me and they’re all having great years. John Kasay, John Carney. Matt Stover. I just saw Morten Andersen is 18-for-21. There’s five or six of us who are all considered older guys who are doing really good.”
Darrent is back
Sufficiently healed from the bum toe that sidelined him last week against Arizona, Darrent Williams is expected back as the Broncos’ starting right cornerback this week. That means Domonique Foxworth would likely move back to strong safety, except on passing situations or when the Bengals line up with Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry at receiver.
In that case, Foxworth will shift to the nickel cornerback while Curome Cox comes in at strong safety.
Also, Broncos offensive right tackle Adam Meadows appears fully healed from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since the Thanksgiving game against Kansas City. Receiver Javon Walker is listed as probable despite a first-degree shoulder separation he suffered early last week against Arizona.
Pro Bowl to periphery
During his conference call Wednesday with the Denver media, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said having eight of his players arrested during the 2006 calendar year didn’t affect the core of his team.
Why’s that?
“Because they’re peripheral players,” Lewis said. “Our guys have done too many outstanding things and given back too much and do too many great things to affect that. Those guys who get in those situations, most of the time they’re really not a productive part of your team.”
That’s a strange explanation considering Deltha O’Neal, who was charged with driving under the influence, was a Pro Bowl cornerback last year; receiver Henry, who was arrested three times on three different charges, leads the team with six red-zone touchdown receptions; offensive lineman Eric Steinbeck, who was charged with boating under the influence, has started at three positions this year; and linebacker Odell Thurman, who was suspended for the season following a DUI charge, led the Bengals as a rookie last season in tackles.
Lewis did take disciplinary action against O’Neal, Henry and others.
Footnotes
Usually, the players have to win Sunday to get Monday off. But because this Monday falls on Christmas, Shanahan has told the players they will be off for the holiday. They’ll also be off Tuesday, as usual. … Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (right shoulder) didn’t practice Wednesday, but he’s listed as probable for the game.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
