Nov 26, 2007 7:05 am US/Mountain
Broncos Elam Handles 'Pressure-Kicker'
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Denver Broncos' kicker Jason Elam celebrates Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007 after making his second game winning field goal in as many weeks. (Evan Semon/Rocky Mountain News)
Evan Semon/Rocky Mountain News
Denver Broncos place kicker Jason Elam says his time at home with wife Tammy and their four children keeps the veteran player grounded so he can make those pressure-packed kicks fly high and true.
Elam is one of the best kickers in the NFL and has been making long kicks for 15 years. He holds the records for most points scored by a player for one team, most consecutive extra points and the kicker fastest to 300 field goals.
He also has the league record for the longest field goal at 63 years.
"You just go out there and give it everything you've got," Elam said. "That doesn't mean it doesn't sting or doesn't hurt when things don't go well because I have a lot of pride in my job but it is a lot of fun to come home to your family."
His wife Tammy is a former Broncos Cheerleader.
"He's disappointed if it doesn't go the way he wanted it to but he handles it so well," she said. "He's very good about coming home and trying to get past it and moving on to the next week."
Elam has had a few pressure situations already this season. The field goal team raced onto the field against Pittsburgh with seconds left to set up Elam's winning kick. It was the same thing against the Bills on opening day in Buffalo.
"After I kicked I looked up, the whole team is sprinting out to me," Elam said. "It was like a college atmosphere. It was awesome. I had a great time doing that."
Elam said one thing in his kicking style has changed. On shorter kicks, he tries to use a "nine iron" instead of the driver.
Elam is in the last year of his current contract. He plans to talk with Broncos' management after the season about a new one.
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