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McManus thrilled to be with Super Bowl-contending Broncos

Former Temple star kicker Brandon McManus, cut by the Giants, finds new life playing for the Broncos.

Broncos kicker Brandon McManus is congratulated by punter Britton Colquitt. (Kathy Willens/AP)
Broncos kicker Brandon McManus is congratulated by punter Britton Colquitt. (Kathy Willens/AP)Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J - Brandon McManus received the call around 7 in the morning on Aug. 26 from the New York Giants, telling the former North Penn and Temple star he had been cut - another opportunity to kick in the NFL lost. Or so he thought.

McManus had a feeling other NFL teams would be interested. He just didn't think it would come so soon. As he drove down the New Jersey Turnpike to work out at Temple, McManus received another call - from the Giants, again. One of those life-changing calls that makes your head spin.

"About 1 or 2 the same afternoon I was cut, I found out I was traded; the Giants called to tell me they traded me to the Denver Broncos, and I'm sure there were other teams interested, including the Eagles," said McManus, who owns every major kicking record at Temple and graduated with a biology degree. "It is crazy. I'm sure, talking to my agent [Drew Rosenhaus], how much the Eagles wanted me, but I'm also sure the Giants didn't want me in the same division as them."

He began the season playing while Matt Prater was serving a four-game suspension for violating the league substance abuse policy, but Prater was let go as the Broncos' kicker in early October, which not only sent a mild shock through the NFL, but through McManus himself.

He went from being an undrafted free agent, to cut twice (by the Indianapolis Colts in 2013 and Giants this year), to being traded for a seventh-round pick, and now he winds up on a Super Bowl contender. McManus' journey to the NFL didn't exactly follow the standard blueprint. But he's not complaining.

The Broncos are in a Super Bowl-or-bust mode. Denver has shown such faith in McManus that on Oct. 3, they released Prater, who has since signed with the Detroit Lions after leading the NFL last season by converting 25 of 26 field goals - including an NFL record-breaking 64-yarder and NFL-leading 81 touchbacks.

"I had only kicked three short field goals and I knew the body of work for Prater, so I was hoping if they cut me, I would have a chance to kick for another team," McManus said. "I was ecstatic that they made the decision in my favor. That Friday morning [Oct. 3], Jeff Rodgers [Broncos special team coordinator] pulled me in and told me that they were going to go forward with me."

McManus headed out to practice that day and Broncos head coach John Fox announced the changes the team were making - and that McManus would be their guy.

"It's funny, anybody growing up throwing a football around in their backyard was Peyton Manning, and here Peyton Manning walks up to me, shakes my hand and says, 'We're looking forward to you helping this team out, because some games will come down to you and we all believe in you,' " McManus said. "I'll admit, it was a little overwhelming, when you think about who he is and what he's accomplished, but at the end of the day, I put the pressure on myself, because I don't want to let him down, or any of my teammates down."

In five games this season, McManus is tied for fifth in the NFL with the Eagles' Cody Parkey, with 22 touchbacks. He's hit six of seven field goals, his longest 44 yards, and he's hit all 17 of his extra points.

What helped McManus immeasurably was attending John Carney's workout camp in late June. Already signed to a futures contract with the Giants, McManus showed what he could do against other NFL kickers.

"That was good for me to see and compare myself to the other guys in the NFL," said McManus, who plans on coming back to North Penn next summer to host a camp. "It didn't work out with the Giants, but I wound up in a pretty good spot with the Broncos. It was good to get feedback from other guys telling you that you have a strong leg and can make it."

Entering this weekend, Denver sits at 4-1 behind the 5-1 San Diego Chargers in the AFC West. McManus is a lifelong Eagles fan, and his family has had Eagles season tickets since he was 3. The Birds are 5-1 and tied with Dallas atop the NFC East.

McManus knows where this is going. His right foot could be the dagger that slices through the souls of Eagles fans on Feb. 1, 2015, at Phoenix Stadium.

"It's just another team in the end," McManus said. "It is a business. I still enjoy watching the Eagles play and I love the fan base. They're passionate about their team. I still love the city and everything about it. When I was at Temple, I always hoped to one day kick for the Eagles."

Now he might one day kick against them.