The Lions are working on their third kicker of the season, but Matt Prater’s working on a big second chance.
The newest Lion, who missed the first four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, said he spent most of the last month away from football, trying to get his life back in order.
He said he hasn’t had a drink in six weeks, and checked himself into a treatment facility in Florida for a 12-step program for alcohol addiction.
“Just trying to take it a day at a time,” Prater said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “Sometimes you got to get knocked down and learn the hard way. I’m thankful that I have a second chance here and learn from all the mistakes I’ve made in the past and will not repeat them.”
He’s been in the league’s substance abuse program since 2011, when he was charged with DUI. He failed a test for alcohol this offseason, leading to the suspension, and ultimately to the Broncos cutting the league’s most accurate kicker last year. That was partly financial, and partly because another positive test would mean a suspension of at least a year.
But it took an hour meeting with Lions coach Jim Caldwell to convince him to give him an opportunity to replace the league’s least-relaiable kicking game.
“I am one who believes in a second chance,” Caldwell said. “And I’m probably (like) most of you out there: I’ve had a few second chances in my life, and (they) have made a tremendous difference. I know maybe some of you experienced maybe some of the same things.
“So I do think the young man is sincere, and it wasn’t just the hour conversation. We vetted him thoroughly a number of different ways, like we typically do in those situations. [General manager Martin Mayhew] did a great job with that, and the scouting staff as well. So there’s a lot of guys involved in that process.”
If Prater can keep himself on track, he has a chance to make an immediate impact for the Lions. But the Lions have the opportunity to make an even bigger impact on Prater, but offering him some support and structure at a time when he needs it the most.
