Lions sign kicker Matt Prater to three-year deal
The Detroit Lions signed kicker Matt Prater to a three-year deal, the team announced Friday.
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports that the deal is worth $9 million.
Prater joined the Lions last October after the Denver Broncos released him. Prater had been suspended for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy, and the Broncos cut him, even though he had made 25-of-26 field goals in 2013.
“I feel loyalty here because they gave me an opportunity, and I had a lot of fun being here,” Prater said of the Lions. “I love the team, the coaches, from the ownership, Martin (Mayhew), Tom (Lewand) and everyone. I’ve had a lot of fun.”
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Prater made 21 of the 26 field goals he attempted in 11 games with the Lions in 2014.
In his eight-year career, Prater has made 81.5 percent of his field goals and has the NFL record for the longest field goal made, connecting on a 64-yarder in 2013 against the Tennessee Titans.
Prater also set the league record for most extra points made as the Broncos rolled up an NFL-record 606 points on their way to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2013-14 season.
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