Matt Prater is sober, thankful .
“Maybe it’s a good thing I get a fresh start,” Prater told The Denver Post by phone Wednesday after the former Broncos Pro Bowl kicker finished his first practice with the Lions. “Yesterday, before the workout was the first time I had butterflies in a while. It’s different, but this team has a lot of talent. They’re young. I feel like one of the old guys already. But it’s a good team, and I hope I can do my part to help win some games.”
Prater, 30, is coming off one of the best kicking seasons in NFL history. He missed only one field goal in 26 attempts for the Broncos in 2013. He broke a record first set 43 years earlier by kicking a 64-yard field goal in a temperature of 18 degrees last December. He has led the NFL in touchbacks the past three years.
But Prater also is coming off an alcohol-related NFL violation that led to from the league and factored into his release from the Broncos.
Before the Lions signed Prater to a one-year contract Tuesday that was worth a little more than the $870,000 minimum salary for seventh-year players, coach Jim Caldwell and general manager Martin Mayhew spoke to Prater about his personal demons.
Prater addressed his addiction during his suspension by spending four weeks in a Florida rehabilitation center.
“It’s one of those things where it comes down to me,” Prater said. “Whether you go through rehab or (Alcoholic Anonymous) meetings, it’s up to me to not put myself in bad situations. I did go to a center to try to help myself. I think it was the best thing for me.”
The Lions are 3-2 despite horrific place-kicking. Two kickers went a combined 4-for-12 in field goals, including 1-of-9 from 40 yards or more. Veteran kickers Jay Feely and Connor Barth also worked out for the Lions on Tuesday, but it was difficult to beat Prater’s recent résumé.
Besides, Prater made a 58-yard field goal during his workout.
Until his release Friday, Prater had been the longest-tenured Bronco, as he began by helping out Jason Elam on kickoffs near the end of the 2007 season. Even though the team essentially fired him Friday, Prater spoke glowingly of the Broncos organization.
“I will always remember they gave me my first real opportunity to play,” Prater said. “Very thankful for everything, especially the Bowlen family for providing such a great atmosphere. It was a great experience. The fans were awesome.
“It’s tough. I planned on spending the rest of my career out there. It was such a great place. It didn’t work out. They made a business decision. The personal part of it, I consider Coach (John) Fox a friend. And Coach (Jeff) Rodgers, he was great to play for,” Prater said, speaking of the Broncos’ special-teams coach. “We had a lot of fun, we won a lot of games together.”
This is Prater’s second stop with the Lions, who signed him out of Central Florida as a free agent in 2006. Prater even has his same long snapper, Don Muhlbach.
Prater will return to Denver in the offseason, in part because his wedding with Kati Sterk is set for April.
“We’re excited for that,” Prater said. “We’re just trying to figure everything out now. It’s a big change. We’ve been in one place so long. I think I almost got too comfortable.
“Definitely going to take some getting used to, figuring out the routines. But happy to get a second chance.”
Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis
