The Broncos won the Super Bowl last season in large part on the leg of kicker Brandon McManus, who connected on 10-of-10 field goals in the postseason, second best in league history. Now in his third season he remains one of the team’s most consistent players.

His career route to Denver, though, was winding. Signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2013, he was cut after a solid preseason. He landed with the New York Giants, but was discarded again after another preseason. The Broncos, not wanting him to get picked up by another team, made a rare kicker trade, sending a seventh-round pick to the Giants for McManus.

The Broncos at first wanted him for his strong leg, using him as a kickoff specialist. But he won the full job prior to last season. After setting nearly every kicking record at Temple University, McManus is now established as one of the NFL’s top kickers. McManus talked at his locker about the life of a kicker.

Q: It’s a strange job you have. Kickers get discarded by one team kind of nonchalantly, then immediately start excelling with another team.

A: I don’t know if it’s strange. But it’s definitely a different situation all together. There are only 32 of us in the world. So I guess, like you said, you might be doing something bad with one team, then another team picks them because — I don’t know if they look the other way, or they know that at least you kicked in the NFL before. Even if you aren’t kicking well that moment, you still understand the job.

Every single kick, especially with the extra points now, there’s a lot of stress on each kick.

Q: Do you have to learn to look the other way? When you left the Giants, you had to move on quickly.

A: They might not have thought I was ready yet, I don’t know what it was. In both preseasons, with the Colts and then the Giants, I was perfect. I was 5-for-5 each time. And I was leading the league in kickoffs in both years. I couldn’t quite understand why I wasn’t getting a job.

But I was traded the same day. Even though I was cut in the morning, I ended up getting traded later in the day. So I finally felt a little relief from that.

Q: When you miss a kick, do you immediately move it out of your mind? Or do you come out the next day and put the ball in the same spot and try to make that kick?

A: I’m extremely mad at myself for missing a kick. But I don’t think about it much longer. I’m just mad I missed. I don’t care how I missed or what happened. I’m just mad. And it’s more like motivation for the next kick more than anything.

One thing I at least hold my head up high about is, I don’t think in high school, college or my NFL career I’ve ever missed two kicks in a row. I’ve always been able to bounce back.

Q: That’s interesting. You don’t exactly forget about it, but try to focus more moving forward.

A: Yeah I use it as motivation.

Q: Kickers have a unique view of a football team. Not that you’re removed from the team, but you do get to see the inner workings of the team from a distance. What do you think about this Broncos season?

A: Well, that different view is just because we’re not in all the meetings. And at practice, once we’re done with our work, we might go lift and work out. But inside the locker room, I don’t think there’s any difference. You can be the fifth-string right tackle or the kicker, basically everybody is the same.

But from my view, I think a lot of things happened last year — the ball bounced our way. This year, it didn’t really happen. I haven’t really looked at the statistics this year, but I don’t think we’re much different than last year. But obviously in the win column, it is. Related Articles September 24, 2020 Newman: Jump-starting Broncos’ passing game centers around more targets for tight end Noah Fant

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Q: In baseball, they say catchers make great managers because they get to see everything. Is it the same for kickers?

A: I love coaching. I love the game of football. I know a lot about it. I know all the rules. I’m not sure I’ll want to coach. But I definitely love everything about it.

Q: Would you be a good agent?

A: I would be a good agent. Probably a better lawyer though.

Q: You can do both.

A: I know you can. But I don’t know if I like representing players and taking their money. Three percent?

Q: You could be a player-friendly agent, just take 1 percent. You’d be every player’s favorite agent. You’d have to work in volume though.

A: That’s right.

Q: Do you really want to be a lawyer?

A: No. I just like to argue. And I always try to win an argument. Especially when you’re married, that’s what you have to do.

The Broncos 2016 Q&A archive:

Demaryius Thomas: Christmas is a special day for the Broncos’ veteran WR

Zaire Anderson: From Broncos practice squad to defense difference-maker in Denver

Justin Forsett: Broncos newest RB arrives in Denver “with a lot of juice”

Austin Davis: Broncos’ backup QB on passing transitions and Paxton Lynch’s start

Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders: Broncos have a hungry WR duo

Jared Crick: His biggest lure to the Broncos was a familiar face for Denver DE

Lorenzo Doss: Broncos cornerback ready to make waves again in the NFL

Adam Gotsis: From Aussie Rules to American football, Broncos rookie DE gaining steam

A.J. Derby: Broncos’ newest tight end got to the NFL after letting go of a dream

Riley Dixon: Broncos rookie punter is still waiting for his next trick play

Will Parks: Broncos’ rookie safety made quick mark, all the way from Philly

Billy Winn: Broncos defensive end on life in an NFL locker room – from both sides

Dekoda Watson: Broncos LB on America’s worst drivers and why it’s hard to go home

Casey Kreiter: Broncos’ least-known player has an extraordinary story

Kapri Bibbs: Broncos RB loving the NFL life, but misses his Harold’s