Berger has important, unnoticed role as holder

ENGLEWOOD – Punter Mitch Berger’s second job isn’t listed on the Denver Broncos’ roster.

Most people don’t notice the holder for field goals, anyway. Not if he does his job.

Berger makes sure he doesn’t get much attention. Nobody wants to end up like Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who dropped the snap on a potential game-winning field goal in the playoffs three seasons ago. So Berger takes his side job seriously, and is pretty good at it.

“I work at it, I do drills,” Berger said. “I work at my holding like I work on my punting.”

Berger earns kudos from Broncos coaches and players on his holding ability. He has been doing it his whole NFL career, but kind of stumbled into the job. When the 15-year veteran played for the Vikings early in his career, he was named holder three days before the season started. He had never done it before. That first year was a bit shaky, he said, but he has been doing it ever since.

When he was signed in midseason by the Broncos, he became the holder too. He, snapper Lonie Paxton and kicker Matt Prater put in extra time to establish a rhythm.

“We’ve worked a lot more, since you actually normally would because we didn’t have a training camp together,” said Berger, who also does extra holding work on a ball-throwing machine.

Berger said Paxton is the best snapper he has played with, and that made it easier. And fortunately, Prater wasn’t “too picky,” in Berger’s words. Figuring out a kicker’s preferences is a big part of the holder’s job.

“Some are faster, some are slower, and you have to know what your kicker likes,” Berger said. “If you get it down late you have to know what’s most important, whether it’s the lean or he wants the ball in a certain spot rather than worried about the laces, or the laces have to be around and lean doesn’t matter as much. It depends on the kicker.”

Prater has praised Berger’s work, and it might be a hidden reason Prater has had such a consistent year. Since Berger signed, Prater is 11-of-12 on field goals. If the kicker knows the ball will be placed correctly every time, he can concentrate on his mechanics. Also, Berger can offer advice.

Prater described a field goal at Kansas City a few weeks ago in which Berger, like a caddy in golf, helped him judge a swirling wind. He helped Prater determine what line to take, put the laces in the right spot for that angle and Prater hit the field goal. Usually the kicker determines the angle on his own, but Prater likes the help.

“He’s been doing it so long, he knows more than I do about kicking and punting,” Prater said.  

Berger’s good deeds as a holder go mostly unnoticed, and the only time he will be recognized is for a mistake, like Romo. That’s fine with Berger, who accepts that no-win stress as part of the job.

“If you’re ready for it, it’s not as stressful,” Berger said. “It’s like anything, when you’re not prepared and you haven’t put the work in, it’ll be more stressful.”

Injury update

Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter and safety Renaldo Hill are both listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game with ankle injuries. Cornerback Ty Law is questionable with a hamstring injury. The agent for cornerback Tony Carter said Carter will be placed on the active roster this week, which could be a sign Law might be held out. The Broncos didn’t announce any roster moves Friday.