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Mare picks Seahawks over Broncos

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 27, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.
Updated March 27, 2008 at 5:52 p.m.

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Scratch Olindo Mare off the list of potential Broncos kickers.

The 11-year veteran finished his visit with the Seattle Seahawks today by agreeing to terms on a two-year, $3.5 million contract, spurning the Broncos in the process.

The Seahawks had contacted Mare on the first day of the free-agency period when it became apparent they would lose their kicker, Josh Brown, to the St. Louis Rams.

Mare said upon completion of his two-day visit with Denver on Wednesday that he at least owed Seattle a look.

The Broncos entered the Mare sweepstakes much later, only after losing Jason Elam in free agency last Friday.

It’s the second time in two seasons Denver has been outbid for a free agent by the Seahawks; last spring, defensive end Patrick Kerney headed to the Pacific Northwest last spring. But tight end Daniel Graham chose Denver over Seattle.

Mare’s signing leaves few veteran options available on the open market for Denver to consider. John Carney and Mike Vanderjagt have the longest resumes.

Matt Prater, a young player with a strong leg but little NFL experience on field goals, is currently the only kicker on the Broncos roster.

ETC.: Denver signed quarterback Cullen Finnerty, who spent most of last season on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad. Finnerty (6-foot-2, 223 pounds) was a four-year starter at Grand Valley State, which won three national titles under his leadership.

Comments

  • March 27, 2008

    4:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncos4Life writes:

    WHO? If this guy was a pick of the Ravens at QB why are we signing him? After all they did pick Kyle Boller and he has'nt done anything!

  • March 27, 2008

    5:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    princess writes:

    We did what? Ummm I am pretty sure we have a QB already by the name of Jay Cutler who is the best QB we have had in a long time. Note to Jay. You are not being replaced dont let it get to you like it did to Jake Plummer and lose focus.

  • March 27, 2008

    5:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BroncoRick69 writes:

    Ha I guess this is supposed to make up for Olindo Mare signing with Seattle. Thanks, Shanahan.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/st...

  • March 27, 2008

    5:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bjjdenver writes:

    So you guys think this is someone we expect to get on the field????

    I would expect more from bronco fans.

    This is a signing to help eat snaps in training camp and perhaps compete for a 3rd string spot...or gain experience with the team in case of injury so we can bring him in at that point.

    Thinking he is in camp to compete with Cutler is one of the funniest things I have heard. thanks for making my day laughter filled!

  • March 27, 2008

    6 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SE7EN writes:

    Hilarious...Princess, very cute.

    Anyway, when Mare didn't sign while in Denver, I think it was pretty obvious that he wasn't impressed with whatever the Broncos offered. Champ is right to be concerned about the loss of a proven kicker.

    You watch, Shanahan is going to sign Vanderjagt, lol. That would be typical (vomit).

  • March 27, 2008

    6:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CMoney writes:

    Yu hit the nail on the head bjjdenver, it is absurd to think that this QB is here to compete with Cutler or even Ramsey. We haven't had the luxury of having a third QB on the active roster (like most teams)because we have had to carry an extra kicker.

  • March 27, 2008

    6:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bjjdenver writes:

    And I know he is "just" a kicker, but am I the only one troubled by Elam's exodus?

    Atlanta didn't offer much more that the Broncos and they are pathetic.

    I know he is from the area, but he has made Denver the home for him and his family for many years now. This makes me think that something stinks in Dove Valley.

    Aging yet clutch kicker (very rare these days)...gone. GM Sundquist...gone. Stud young receiver still on the comeback from injury, voices his concerns and he is...gone(to huge $$$ and a division rival no less).

    I'm sorry, but Elam is still a top kicker in the NFL, Shanahan probably should be gone instead of Ted (or at least with) and Javon on the roster would look pretty good right now.

    I love what Marshall brings to the field, but what about off of it? And we struggled for years to have three solid receivers, we finally get them and a young QB to throw to them and we blow it up.

    Very frustrating times.

  • March 27, 2008

    6:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    princess writes:

    Hey I didn't say Cutler was going to be replaced that would be career suicide for Shanny. I was just making a simple note. Plummer wasn't going to be replaced (yet) when we signed Cutler but he let it get to him and worried more about his job then actually playing. And out the door he went.

  • March 27, 2008

    6:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hollywood writes:

    We havn't really had an extra kicker on the team, we have always had a punter and kicker, Elam handled Field goals and Extra points, and the Punker handled the kick-off and punts, Last year for most of the season we had a 3rd string QB after Cutler got hurt and Ramsey took some beatings. We have always had two or three extra QBs in training camp to fight for a practice spot and to give some sort of compation to the QB's on the roster (not really Cutler, but if we signed an extra guy that just blew everyone away in traing camp and pre-season there is a real good chance they would replace Ramsey,(not says that is going to happen, just proving my point) or at the very least have a player they could trade to a team that needs a back-up QB).

    As for Mare picking Seahawks over Denver, it came down to the money, Denver didn't offer him the type of money that the Seahawks did, cause they didn't think he worth the high amount at his age and with his past injurys, same as they did with Elam.

  • March 27, 2008

    6:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bjjdenver writes:

    Princess,

    Cutler WAS drafted to replace Plummer. 100% absolutely.

    Cutler was considered a top prospect in the draft, with many people rating him as the best QB in the class.

    Only a person with a complete lack of football knowledge would have any thought that this guy was brought in here to challenge Cutler. He is here to take snaps in camp, play some late in pre-season games when we don't want Cutler or Ramsey on the field and perhaps, just maybe, get a look as a 3rd stringer or in season injury back-up.

    I would happily wager that he won't make the roster after pre-season wraps up.

    And as for Mare, not a big loss. He couldn't cut it kicking indoors for the Saints. Unfortunately the guy who should be replacing Elam (now that we know he was done after last year) is doing a pretty good job up in Green Bay.

  • March 27, 2008

    6:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bjjdenver writes:

    And that knowledge thing wasn't intended for you Princess, you obviously are knowledgeable and aware that he isn't competition for Cutler.

  • March 27, 2008

    7:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    uva074 writes:

    Prater has a shot but we'll adress kicker position in the draft their are 4 in this year's draft that people like, so we'll get one. After all we have 9 picks in late rounds where kickers are usually taken unless your herm edwards and you draft a bum kicker in the 2nd round (teams 1st pick) named nugent. That way I dont have to hear the words we should have drafted mason crosby again. Cause we'll get something better in the draft. God sometimes I wonder if your broncos fans who want to support the team or a bunch of whinny bitches that like to cause drama in and out of your lives through a football team that you have no control over. So either be a fan, enjoy the games, hope to win! or leave!

  • March 27, 2008

    7:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    uva074 writes:

    btw olindo mare sucks, not a big loss, check the stats hasnt been even decent since like 5 years ago with miami.

  • March 27, 2008

    11:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Seawen writes:

    Great. Now all the nobs who were posting last week:
    "I can't believe we are going to try to replace Elam with Mare. Mare sucks"
    are now posting
    "see Shanny sucks Mare didn't want to come here"
    you can't have it both ways you nobs!

  • March 28, 2008

    12:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HBBeough writes:

    Mare got away? Beautiful, good news... finally.

  • March 28, 2008

    11:21 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spider writes:

    What is all the panic about not signing Mare? The kid Prater would have beat him out if the Broncos would have signed him anyway. The only reason they would need to bring in any of the available FA kickers would be for Prater to have competition and someone to push him. With what is out there now you may as well go with a young inexperienced kicker with a strong leg and take your chances than sign a washed up wannabe.

  • March 30, 2008

    9:16 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    broncoman writes:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtZVHd...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATNTRk...

    or they could bring in a strong free agent to show prater how its done.

    charles hebert- pk

  • March 30, 2008

    11:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    broncoman writes:

    Prater is nicknamed the "krispy Kreme kicker" and the "burrito kicker"
    HOW EMBARRESSING FOR DENVER FANS
    please find us a kicker that is athletic