Denver offers Mare deal
Veteran kicker is impressed but not ready to sign
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images/2007
Olindo Mare kicked for the New Orleans Saints last season, going 10-for-17 on field-goal attempts after spending 10 seasons and scoring 1,048 points as a member of the Miami Dolphins.
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It's hard to replace a franchise fixture.
Yet if it comes to that for Olindo Mare with the Broncos, he'll approach being the heir to Jason Elam like he does his kicks - by blocking out the distractions and focusing on the task at hand.
Mare completed a two-day visit with the team Wednesday and came away impressed.
The free-agent meeting wasn't enough to prevent him from getting on a plane to Seattle to visit the Seahawks, who have been in contact with him since it was apparent they'd lose Josh Brown, their own money kicker.
But it hardly means the Broncos are out of the running for his services, either.
The New Orleans Saints, for whom he kicked in 2007, also are in the mix.
"I wouldn't say that there wasn't enough to make me sign here because I had a great time. I loved it and all that. But obviously when you have options, it's good to explore them all . . . ," Mare said. "I'm lucky that the teams are interested are pretty much wining programs and on their way to the playoffs. That's a big part of what I want to be a part of right now."
The Broncos attempted to get Mare to sign on the dotted line during his stay but couldn't sway him - at least immediately.
"I know the goal for them was for me not to leave here," he said. "But this is my first visit. My goal is not to leave here, either, but I'm going to give Seattle a shot. They've been really positive and interested and we'll see how it goes."
Mare, 34, is coming off a dislocation of his right hip making a tackle against the Atlanta Falcons in December. But he's back to running sprints and kicking once again. He maintained he passed his Broncos physical.
An 11-year veteran, Mare kicked his first 10 seasons with the Miami Dolphins, for whom he scored 1,048 career points, before he was traded to the Saints. He went 10-of-17 last season, making all 34 extra points. Four of his misses were from 50-plus yards.
He's known for an exceptionally strong leg, leading the NFL in touchbacks on kickoffs in 2006.
Mare indicated he wants to make a quick decision. He left his family behind with his parents at Disney World while taking his trips.
"I don't want to drag this thing out any longer. I want to get this thing resolved. I want to get on a team. I want to get into a program, part of a workout thing, and get a place to kick," he said. "I've been kicking on my own down at a high school and lifting at a regular gym. That's the first time I've had to do that."
FERGUSON A TEXAN: Free-agent safety Nick Ferguson signed a one-year deal with the Houston Texans. The move reunites Ferguson with Texans general manager Rick Smith, who was integral in bringing Ferguson to Denver in 2003.
Comments
Posted by mindcrash on March 27, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
10 for 17?
That's what I call rock solid!
Great pickup! We'll forget about Elam in no time!
Posted by jibbons on March 27, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like O'Mare will be kicking off for the Seadogs on opening day.
I remember when they let Kearny get away to visit Seattle, must be that ocean breeze.
Posted by hdfresh on March 27, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we can benefit greatly with a veteran like Olindo Mare on the team. At least we have a proven player to compete with the Prater. Is it me or is the Texans swooping up all of our players?
Posted by DeimosJB on March 27, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Has Shanny lost his mind? Mare was only 7 for 9 from inside 40 last year and just 3 of 8 from beyond 40. Mare is clearly a worse field goal kicker than Elam. I realize field goals are just one part of the story, so let's continue: how about age: Mare will be 35 in June. Great, not much improvement there. How about touchbacks: Mare led the league with 24 in 2006. Hey, great! Oh wait, he injured his groin last year and was REPLACED on kickoffs by PUNTER Steven Weatherford. Replaced on kickoffs by the friggin punter - wasn't the argument being made that Denver was trying to get away from this? Didn't I hear people complain about the extra roster spot Denver was using on Elam? Didn't I try to convince other bloggers that using the punter on kickoffs is commonplace, and the ability of Elam could not be replaced... continuing on, Salary: Mare earned about $1.5 Mil last year. With other teams out there bidding for him, you can bet Denver is going to pay him a pretty fair amount, and would not generate any real cost savings over Elam. Ultimately, Mare was freaking RELEASED by the Saints (replaced by Martin Gramatica). In summary, this is a stupid, stupid idea. Denver should have used the punter for kickoffs, kept Elam as a kicker, and they'd have been better off in every way. Dear Lord, please let Seattle sign Mare.
Also, why couldn't we get this detail in the article, instead of having to go out and look for it?
Posted by jlcampbelldenver on March 27, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Desperate...thats the Donkeys. Watch what Elam does this year and watch what our...(who knows who it will be) replacement does this year. The Broncs will wish Elam was back!
Posted by buffsblg on March 27, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Over the hill but cheap. Better on kick offs not as good on field goals, at least in the last few years. Mare may be the best of the available replacements.
Posted by myerda00 on March 27, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I watched Matt Prater at Northern Colo and saw a very strong leg (albeit in altitude). Confidence is all that akicker needs to succeed. My money is still on Prater.
Posted by UncleBuck on March 27, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yep jlcampbelldenver, we will be watching our kicker on kickoffs, field goals and extra points but unfortunately we will only be able to watch Elam kick field goals and extra points. Not really a fair competition for Elam any more since he will not be on the field as much even for a kicker. Oh well, at least he is being compensated to kickoff even though he can't. Get over it, he is gone.
Posted by waterwalker on March 27, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is Jim Turner still alive?
Posted by Broncos4Life on March 27, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You have to remember that Mare did half of his field goals inside of a dome. He did'nt have to worry about weather, which is an issue here in Denver. So if he was only 10-17 on his FGA's and rather below average above 50 yds, what is he going to be like kicking here? Did the Broncos do any research on this guy? Are they just trying to sign him and hoping Prater beats him out so they can claim that the best guy won the job? If Mare wins the job, what are they going to say about the extra roster spot that they will have to use since he can't do kickoffs effectively?
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