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[ROYC75]

Discussion: All things Broncos.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Quesadilla Joe

Paton found a young, cheap left-footed punter who beat him out.

Spoiler!

Here’s why the Broncos chose Corliss Waitman over Sam Martin at punter
BY ANDREW MASON

The new ownership of the Broncos has seemingly boundless wealth. Money is no object to the Walton-Penner family ownership consortium.

But the hard salary cap will always put a check on things.

And for Sam Martin, the fact that he had a $2,733,334 cap figure compared to Corliss Waitman’s $825,000 number meant that the 10-year veteran had to be appreciably better for what special-teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes wanted to do in order to remain with the Broncos.

Martin wasn’t.

As was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Martin declined a contract restructure. Thus, the Broncos will release Martin and go with Waitman, whose only previous regular-season experience was a two-game stint with Pittsburgh last year.

Even though the Broncos will still have $483,334 of dead money to carry on Martin’s contract, they will save $1.425 million of cap space in the exchange.

By choosing Waitman, the Broncos also went with the punter who had the better hang time in the preseason. Martin had the superior gross average, but Waitman had the better net average.

Their preseason game data is as follows:

Martin:

Punts: 4
Punts returned: 2
Gross average: 49.0
Net average: 36.3
Average hang time: 4.09 seconds

Waitman:

Punts: 6
Punts returned: 0
Gross average: 43.3
Net average: 40.0
Average hang time: 4.65 seconds

That being said, the net averages would have been exactly the same — and perhaps slightly better for Martin, potentially as good as 41.0 yards — if Jacob Bobenmoyer had managed to knock Martin’s third-quarter punt Saturday back into play. Instead, Bobenmoyer’s unforced error resulted in a touchback.

But another key stat was punts returned. Waitman’s hang time led to a series of fair catches. Martin had two punts in the preseason with sub-4.00-second hang times that opponents returned, including a 21-yard runback Saturday.

Stukes noted last week that the punters’ work in practice would factor in as part of the sample size to determine who won the job. But those snaps also showed little separation — and Waitman having the better hang time.

For example, the first day of live punts in training camp was on Day 4. Martin had an average hang time of 4.21 seconds, but Waitman’s average was 4.82 seconds. On Day 12, Martin’s average hang time was 4.19 seconds on five punts, while Waitman averaged 4.86 seconds on six punts.

Furthermore, in the four days of live special-teams work in camp, every hang time clocked by this reporter of over 5.00 seconds belonged to Waitman.

The fact that Waitman is a left-footed punter means the Broncos will offer a different dimension to opponents. The ball spins differently for lefties than for right-footed punters, who represent a vast majority of the league’s complement at the position. This is one reason why Patriots coach Bill Belichick — who has special teams in his background — used left-footed punters for most of his now 23 seasons as New England’s sideline boss.

But ultimately, with the salary-cap figures in play, Martin needed to be substantially better than Waitman.

This summer, he wasn’t. And in one key way — hang time — Waitman was better.

And that’s why the Broncos will move on.

https://denverfan.com/2100092/heres-...tin-at-punter/

That’s nothing. Veach stole Butker off Carolina’s practice squad and he’s become a top 5 kicker in the league

[staylor26]

They asked him to take a pay cut, so they clearly wanted him back.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

I won't lose any sleep over the punter battle.

You should. Obviously dumping the guy who was #13 for yards per punt in 2021 in favor of the guy who was #1 is a mistake we’ll regret later.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

"We'll see"

Your team team cant even afford a top punter...think about that. Talk about a chintzy way to cobble together some cash...

Paint it however you like. Saving $1.4M helps other moves they might make. The difference in the two is fairly negligible.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by staylor26

They asked him to take a pay cut, so they clearly wanted him back.

Well, I'm sure they did... but he didn't budge, which is totally his right. They have his replacement and he will find another gig.

[htismaqe]

The new guy is left-footed. Paton is playing 4D chess here folks.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

You should. Obviously dumping the guy who was #13 for yards per punt in 2021 in favor of the guy who was #1 is a mistake we’ll regret later.

#1...

The guy played in two games and the Stoolers dumped him.

The fact they gave him the option of a pay cut means they wanted him back...Donk fans can rationalize anything. It's how they still root for that cheating franchise..

The guy's life has been completely uprooted over peanuts...he has friends in the locker room. It would be one thing if he sucked...Walmart culture already filtering in.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

In fact, Lock had as many TDs as Mahomes in that game. Yikes.

And that means... what exactly? That Denver almost won?

Mahomes didn't throw a TD in his first NFL game. Doesn't mean he wasn't curbstomping your asses.

[RaidersOftheCellar]

Originally Posted by Quesadilla Joe

Paton found a young, cheap left-footed punter who beat him out.

So he lost the competition, but they asked him to take a pay cut anyway?

[RaidersOftheCellar]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

I won't lose any sleep over the punter battle.

Most of us are just laughing at certain people who bragged about Walton's money.

I won't be at all surprised if Walton ultimately spends less than the average owner.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by RaidersOftheCellar

So he lost the competition, but they asked him to take a pay cut anyway?

I don't know that he lost it, sounds like both guys performed the same way.

Originally Posted by BlackOp

#1...

The guy played in two games and the Stoolers dumped him.

The fact they gave him the option of a pay cut means they wanted him back...Donk fans can rationalize anything. It's how they still root for that cheating franchise..

The guy's life has been completely uprooted over peanuts...he has friends in the locker room. It would be one thing if he sucked...Walmart culture already filtering in.

That's life in pro sports.

[Mile High Mania]

Let me know if something happens with our long snapper.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Paint it however you like. Saving $1.4M helps other moves they might make. The difference in the two is fairly negligible.

Well...if your expert FO weren't paying $8.5 million in dead money for Harris/Fant/Lock, you might be able to afford a punter.

Think about that..not only did you lose those assets...but are still paying for them.

That is getting bent over without lube...as you also took on Wilson's contract.

Also..you guy are still paying $7 million for Ja'Wuan James...who played all of 3 games for you and is now on the Ravens....and you still dont have a RT.

$15 million in 2022 for players 4 players no longer on your team....

[RaidersOftheCellar]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Let me know if something happens with our long snapper.

They're working on that too. His replacement doesn't speak a word of English, and has never touched a football before, but Walton will only have to pay him $175/mo.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Well...if your expert FO weren't paying $8.5 million in dead money for Harris/Fant/Lock, you might be able to afford a punter.

Think about that..not only did you lose those assets...but are still paying for them.

That is getting bent over without lube...

Also..you guy are still paying $7 million for Ja'Wuan James...who played all of 3 games for you and is now on the Ravens....and you still dont have a RT.

$15 million in 2022 for players 4 players no longer on your team....

They're building a whole new identity around Russ. Perfection takes many faces...