Broncos kicker Matt Prater fears for the future of his craft.
Prater told reporters during Super Bowl festivities that after seeing the way the kickoff has been devalued, and hearing that the NFL could eliminate the extra point, he worries that kickers might simply be removed from football entirely.
“One day I’m sure they’re going to get kickers out of the game completely in the direction it looks like they are going,” Prater said. “The extra point thing is outside of my control. I don’t mind kicking them. There are some stressful extra points there sometimes, like to tie the game at the end where if you make it they expect you ‘Oh it’s an extra point you should’ve made it,’ but if you miss it everyone is all over you.”
Prater realizes, however, that he doesn’t have any say in NFL rules that de-emphasize the kicker.
“I try not to pay attention to all of that and its one of those things that is out of my control,” he said. “I’m just going to keep kicking and do it as long as I can.”
Prater and other NFL kickers will keep kicking field goals for many, many more years. Extra points and kickoffs, however, may be on the way out.