Broncos still behind kicker McManus despite recent woes
Oct 16, 2017, 1:40 AM | Updated: 1:42 am
The Denver Broncos, or at the very least its head coach Vance Joseph, still has the back of Brandon McManus.
For the fourth time in five games, the Broncos placekicker missed a field goal. Two, to be exact, as one sailed wide right in the first quarter and another was blocked in the third.
Sunday’s attempts — including one made — brings McManus’ season total to 8-of-13, or 61.5 percent, well below his career average of 80 percent.
Despite the woes, which comes on the heels of a new four-year contract extension ahead of the Broncos season opener, Joseph said McManus is “our guy.”
“He missed a short one, he got one blocked, and he made one for us,” Joseph said after the game. “Obviously, that’s been an issue. The first quarter, he missed three. He basically missed two tonight.
“We’ll address it with him, but sitting here right now, he’s our guy.”
After the game, McManus said the extension — which reportedly adds $8.25 million in salary over three years after this season, $6 million of which is guaranteed — hasn’t been weighing on him.
“No, I don’t have to prove anything because these are easy kicks that I’m missing,” McManus said. “I don’t need to prove anything about that. I’ve got to start making them.”
And it’s not a rhythm thing, McManus said.
“I haven’t missed a kick in practice or warmups this season,” McManus said. “It’s just the games, and right now in the games I stink.”
The recent slump, aside from failing to put points on the scoreboard for the Broncos, has dropped McManus in the team’s record books.
Ahead of the 2017 season, he held the title of “Most Accurate Kicker” in Denver history, including all regular and postseason games, with an 84.8 field goal percentage.
However, with the recent misses, McManus’ overall percentage has dropped to 81.9 percent (86-of-105), good enough for second place behind his predecessor, Matt Prater.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
