ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Just 300 days after putting his name in the record books with the longest field goal ever, Matt Prater is history.At least in Denver.The Broncos cut ties Friday with the eighth-year kicker whos about to come off his four-game suspension.That means first-year kicker Brandon McManus has turned his temp job with the AFC champs into a full-time one.From the moment the Giants traded him to the Broncos in late August, McManus looked at Denver not as a stopover but as a destination. He said last month that his aim was to convince the Broncos he, and not Prater, was their man.Still, he was surprised hed done just that.I mean, Matt had a great year last year and hes done very well for himself. I still consider him in the top three kickers in the NFL, McManus said. Just the chance the Broncos are giving me (shows) the confidence they have in me and Im excited with that opportunity.GM John Elway said releasing Prater, the longest-tenured member of the team, was a very difficult football decision.But perhaps an easy financial choice: Prater was due $2.294 million in base salary this season and $3.25 million next year. McManus is making $420,000 this season and $510,000 next year.Thats a difference of more than $4.6 million, money that could come in handy as the Broncos turn their attention to long-term deals with Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Chris Harris Jr.McManus, Elway said, has earned the opportunity to continue kicking for our team with how well hes played to start the season. He has a very strong leg and we have confidence in him on both field goals and kickoffs.This summer, McManus pushed Giants incumbent Josh Brown just as he had Adam Vinatieri in Indy a year earlier. By sticking with McManus, the Broncos owe New York a seventh-round draft choice in 2015.Prater had given the Broncos reason to fret not only with his continued slip-ups but also with a poor performance in the preseason, something he blamed on his pending punishment weighing on him.Prater has been in the NFLs substance-abuse program, which includes alcohol, since a DUI arrest on Aug. 12, 2011. He was originally facing a ban for a full season but his lawyer negotiated a four-game ban instead.Prater said he realized one more strike meant hed face sitting out an entire calendar year when he had some beers not long after the Super Bowl.Why did I risk it? Prater said back on Aug. 25. I made a mistake. I dont have an excuse for it. I screwed up and now Im paying the price for it.That price got heavier Friday.Prater led the league last year by making 25 of 26 field goals, including a record-setting 64-yarder against Tennessee. He also led the NFL with 81 kickoff touchbacks.Prater missed two of four field goal attempts in the preseason, including a 49-yarder in an 18-17 loss to Houston after learning before kickoff that hed be suspended.McManus didnt face a clutch kick in Denvers first three games, but he did everything he was asked, making a trio of short field goals and all eight of his extra points. He also allowed just two returns on 16 kickoffs.Ive been very impressed with him, coach John Fox said. Hes got great potential. Hes a great young kicker.Broncos holder Britton Colquitt said Prater wont be out of a job for long.I think there will be at least 20 teams trying to put offers in, Colquitt said. And hell be able to have his choice, because hes that good. No one can argue with that. Hes probably just in the middle of his career. He could be at Kansas City or Oakland or San Diego.Some fans took to Twitter to criticize the Broncos for jettisoning Prater when they stuck by two front office executives who were arrested on drunken driving charges in 2013, one of whom is serving a work-release jail sentence.Anytime you make football decisions in an organization, especially with somebody thats been with you for a period of time like Matt, its always difficult, Fox said. But its always a football decision, whats going to give us the best chance in our opinion. And I wish Matt nothing but the best moving forward.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFLMinkah Fitzpatrick Jersey . Wade is posting a short film on his website next week, with a sneak preview scheduled to come out Wednesday. Mark Clayton Jersey . "He came up to me and said, I want to train," said Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen. The 26-year-old midfielder is expected to play Saturday night when Toronto hosts D.C. United, returning to his Major League Soccer squad with mixed feelings about the Americans World Cup run -- sad that it ended when it did but proud of his teams performance. http://www.authenticdolphinspro.com/Nat-...olphins-jersey/. - Jayden Hart scored once and set up two more as the Prince Albert Raiders downed the host Red Deer Rebels 5-3 on Tuesday to clinch the final Western Hockey League playoff berth. Larry Csonka Jersey . Western and the second-ranked Laval Rouge et Or (7-0) once again received 20 and 10 first-place votes from the Football Reporters of Canada panel, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 are the Calgary Dinos (7-0), Queens Gaels (7-1), Guelph Gryphons (7-1), Montreal Carabins (5-2), Bishops Gaiters (5-2), McMaster Marauders (5-3), Manitoba Bisons (4-3) and the Saskatchewan Huskies (4-3) Western crushed York 50-10 last Saturday in its league finale to secure first place in the OUA standings and a bye in the first round of the conference playoffs. Jason Taylor Jersey . FIFA said the suspension was requested by ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia, making Beckenbauer the first person to be punished as a result of the case. Beckenbauer refused "repeated requests for his assistance, including requests that he provide information during an in-person interview or in response to written questions provided in both English and German," FIFA said in a statement.LAKE FOREST, Ill. - All Ndamukong Suh wanted to do was live in the moment and not focus on the big goals that are in reach for the Lions.Detroit is one win from a playoff berth heading into Sundays game against the Chicago Bears, and a division title and first-round bye are also a possibility.I think you just have to understand that when you take care of the small things, the big things come, Suh said. Ive always been about a person that is focused on what I need to get done, the process and understanding that and knowing that everything else should come.When the opportunities are presented to you, you just take them with open arms and run with them. So, as long as you take care of the process and understand what you need to get done, usually everything falls in order for you.Everything has been falling into place for the Lions (10-4), with three straight wins, and theyre about to face a team thats reeling.Things are so bad for the Bears (5-9) that they announced a quarterback change, with Jay Cutler benched in favour of Jimmy Clausen.Detroit, on the other hand, has a chance to lock up a playoff spot for just the second time in 15 years.Even if the Lions dont win Sundays game, they could reach the playoffs with some help. A tie coupled with Philadelphia losing to or tying Washington on Saturday or an Eagles loss would do the trick.The NFC North title, the Lions first division crown since 1993, would happen if they beat the Bears and Green Bay loses to Tampa Bay.And a victory combined with losses by Green Bay and Dallas would lock up a first-round bye for Detroit.These are big steps even if nine of the Lions 10 wins are against teams that are currently .500 or below.Detroit had posted back-to-back losing records after making the playoffs in 2011 and has an 0-16 season (2008) in its not-too-distant past.We dont talk about it, just like Im not answering that question, coach Jim Caldwell said. We keep our focus and move on.For the Bears it has been a bitter season. And it will end with them out of the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years.It wasnt what I expected, said defensive end Jared Allen, who signed with Chicago before the season. You know, I didnt see it coming at all. But thats why the NFL is so great. Youve got to play the games.Here are some things to look for in this game:CUT OUT: The Bears added some intrigue, at leaast from the Chicago perspective, with the decision to switch quarterbacks.ddddddddddddIt comes on the heels of what might have been Cutlers worst performance of the season. He was 17 of 31 for 194 yards with three interceptions and was sacked a season-high seven times in a 31-15 loss to New Orleans on Monday night.He leads the league in interceptions (18) and turnovers (24), yet the timing of the move was curious at best. It only underscored the idea that Halas Hall is one dysfunctional place at the moment and fueled more speculation about the futures of general manager Phil Emery, Marc Trestman, his assistants, Cutler and everyone else.FEEDING FRENZY: If Clausen feels as if hes being thrown to the Lions, well, who could blame him?After all, he is 1-9 in 10 career starts, and all of them came as a rookie with Carolina in 2010. He has attempted just nine passes this season, completing three, and he will be facing one of the leagues stingiest defences on Sunday.The Lions have allowed the fewest points in the NFL, and they have at least one interception in 11 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL.CLOSE CALLS: Considering they are giving up the fewest points and Chicago is allowing more than any other team, the Lions might not have to sweat this one out.Five of their 10 wins are by seven points or fewer.The Lions have wiped out some early deficits, rallying from down 21-0 against Atlanta and posting 14-point comebacks in wins over New Orleans and Minnesota last week. Detroit also rallied for a 34-17 victory over Chicago on Thanksgiving after falling behind 14-3 in the first quarter and finished with a season-high 474 yards in that game.MEGA PROBLEM: The Bears had no answer last month for Calvin Johnson, who had 146 yards and two touchdowns. That gave him 1,074 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games against Chicago.He comes into Sundays game poised to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth straight year with 935 yards.STOPPING STAFFORD: Johnson isnt the only Lion on the verge of a milestone. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is about to hit the 4,000-yard passing mark for the fourth straight year.He is 203 yards shy with 3,797 on the season. He also threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns and had a 116 rating for the game last month against Chicago.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFLAuthentic Steelers JerseysAuthentic Cowboys JerseysAuthentic Raiders JerseysAuthentic Chiefs JerseysAuthentic Eagles JerseysAuthentic Redskins JerseysAuthentic Falcons JerseysAuthentic Ravens JerseysAuthentic Browns JerseysAuthentic Cardinals JerseysAuthentic Bills JerseysAuthentic Panthers JerseysAuthentic Bears JerseysAuthentic Bengals JerseysAuthentic Texans JerseysAuthentic Broncos JerseysAuthentic Lions JerseysAuthentic Packers JerseysAuthentic Jets JerseysAuthentic Dolphins JerseysAuthentic Patriots JerseysAuthentic Jaguars JerseysAuthentic Titans JerseysAuthentic Chargers JerseysAuthentic Giants JerseysAuthentic Saints JerseysAuthentic Buccaneers JerseysAuthentic 49ers JerseysAuthentic Seahawks JerseysAuthentic Rams JerseysAuthentic Vikings JerseysAuthentic Colts Jerseys ' ' '