Cardinals' trio of special teams specialists hoping to get at least one more year together
They have nearly a half century worth of NFL experience between the three of them and as the Cardinals’ season winds down to the final four weeks, it’s fair to wonder if the team’s three specialists on specials teams, kicker Matt Prater, punter Andy Lee and long snapper Aaron Brewer, are on the verge of their final season together in the desert.
For the 40-year-old Lee, the eldest statesman of the trio, he freely admits he thought this would be his last year when he reported to training camp back in July. This is his 19th season in the league, after all, and in addition to joining Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, 45, as the only active players in their 40’s, he also became just the fourth Cardinals’ player to ever play at that age.
“I would say at the first of this year I was done,” Lee said. “it was just the whole dynamic of being away from my family and all those other things. But as we get to the end, I’ve been like, ‘Oh, that wasn’t bad. I think I can do it again.’
“I don’t think it’s a conversion you have until the season is over, but I would say I’m leaning towards, ‘I don’t know, it might be cool to play another year — cool to play another year here — and get to 20 (seasons).’ If I’m wanted, of course. I think that would be fun.”
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It's been quite a ride for all three of them, especially Prater, 36, and Brewer, 32, who spent three years together in Denver with the Broncos, whom the Cardinals meet on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.
Prater, in his 17th season, and Brewer, now in his 11th, were both single and casually just enjoying the world back in those days. They also shared in one of the most dramatic events in NFL history there when on Dec. 8, 2013, Prater set a then-record by successfully kicking a 64-yard field goal against the Titans as time expired in the first half.
With them was Jeff Rodgers, the Cardinals’ assistant head coach and special teams coordinator, who at the time, was the special teams coordinator for the Broncos. And Rodgers, by the way, wants to set the record straight about that 64-yarder, which stood as the longest ever until last season when Justin Tucker nailed a game-winning 66-yarder for the Ravens.
“It’s not just the altitude,” Rodgers said. “Like that 64-yard kick, there’s some people who say, ‘Hey, that was in altitude, that was in Denver.’ I was there that day. That was one of the five coldest games I’ve been a part of in my entire career and that ball was as hard as a rock and he smoked it.
“I’ve seen him kick that distance here in Tempe, I’ve seen it on game days. He’s kicked it 67 yards in practice and pre-game this year. … He’s got the distance and if it comes up in this game, we’ll be excited for him to make it.”
Prater is the NFL’s all-time leader with 66 career field goals made from 50 yards or beyond. His 73.3 percent success rate on those kicks ranks third in league history. He made seven of 10 such field goals a year ago but, having dealt with a nagging hip flexor for most of this season, he’s only attempted one field goal from 50 yards or longer. That was last Monday night in a loss to the Patriots, and he missed the 50-yard attempt.
“It’s just really frustrating because I haven’t had a lot of injuries in my whole life of playing sports,” Prater said. “I’ve been fortunate because I see a lot of other guys dealing with stuff all the time and I don’t want to complain too much because I see what they’re going through. They’re beating up their bodies, so I just try to keep it to myself and do the best I can.”
Sunday’s game in Denver, though, has a special significance for Prater. It isn’t just the site of his then-record 64-yard field goal. It’s that he’s returning there with his trust long-snapper, Brewer, and his favorite coach, Rodgers.
“Coach Rodgers and Brewer are the reason I came here,” said Prater, who spent seven years with the Lions before joining the Cardinals prior to last season. “Coach Rodgers, for a specialist or a veteran, he’s the best special teams coach you could possibly play for. He’s calm on game day, let’s you do your thing, and I love him, and I’ll play for him as long as I can.”
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Lee is considering a return in 2023, but what about Prater and Brewer? All three of them are set to become unrestricted free agents. The Cardinals, though, have 25 other players ready for UFA status after this season.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury said he hopes all three specialists are back.
“I love having those guys around,” he said. “Very reliable, great teammates and great professionals. That’s kind of out of my hands as far as what type of deals they have and whether they even want to play anymore, but those guys have been awesome for us.”
Prater, whose 1,641 career points are third among active players and 22nd all-time, said his wife and kids want him to keep playing, but he has his doubts.
“If Brewer’s not back, I don’t know what I’ll do,” he said. “Honestly, I have no idea what’s going to happen. I’m just trying to make my kicks. If I’m done playing, I’m done. I had a great run, it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve had some good memories, met some great people. I don’t know. They might want to go young. Who knows what they’re going to do?”
Brewer has been so dependable that according to Rodgers, the long snapper is the first person he makes sure is always on the charter flight and the team bus. If you have doubts at that position, Rogers said, “you don’t sleep very much.” Brewer has made Rodgers sleep easy.
“It’s such a unique job description and those other two guys can’t do their job unless Aaron does his job first,” Rodgers said. “He’s had a lot of successful moments and the history says that we think that will continue.”
In recent weeks, the Cardinals have brought in a handful of different punters for informal workout visits. It wasn’t a surprise to Lee, however. Teams are always bringing in younger talent for look-sees and besides, he said, the team told him of the visits beforehand.
As Lee notes, the Cardinals have also worked out a myriad of kickers and long snappers as well. That being said, he hopes Prater, Brewer and himself return for at least one more season together.
“Oh, 100 percent,” Lee said. “If I was going to be back, I’d want them back. Sometimes, things don’t work out that way. I think Prater’s hitting the ball well. I think Brewer’s still snapping the ball well. I think I think I’ve punted pretty well this year. I don’t see why there wouldn’t be a talk about it.
“I think those other two guys would love to be back and I would hope they would want me back with them.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals' specialists hoping for at least one more season together
