ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Just 300 days after putting his name in the record books with the longest field goal ever, Matt Prater is history.At least in Denver.The Broncos cut ties Friday with the eighth-year kicker whos about to come off his four-game suspension.That means first-year kicker Brandon McManus has turned his temp job with the AFC champs into a full-time one.From the moment the Giants traded him to the Broncos in late August, McManus looked at Denver not as a stopover but as a destination. He said last month that his aim was to convince the Broncos he, and not Prater, was their man.Still, he was surprised hed done just that.I mean, Matt had a great year last year and hes done very well for himself. I still consider him in the top three kickers in the NFL, McManus said. Just the chance the Broncos are giving me (shows) the confidence they have in me and Im excited with that opportunity.GM John Elway said releasing Prater, the longest-tenured member of the team, was a very difficult football decision.But perhaps an easy financial choice: Prater was due $2.294 million in base salary this season and $3.25 million next year. McManus is making $420,000 this season and $510,000 next year.Thats a difference of more than $4.6 million, money that could come in handy as the Broncos turn their attention to long-term deals with Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Chris Harris Jr.McManus, Elway said, has earned the opportunity to continue kicking for our team with how well hes played to start the season. He has a very strong leg and we have confidence in him on both field goals and kickoffs.This summer, McManus pushed Giants incumbent Josh Brown just as he had Adam Vinatieri in Indy a year earlier. By sticking with McManus, the Broncos owe New York a seventh-round draft choice in 2015.Prater had given the Broncos reason to fret not only with his continued slip-ups but also with a poor performance in the preseason, something he blamed on his pending punishment weighing on him.Prater has been in the NFLs substance-abuse program, which includes alcohol, since a DUI arrest on Aug. 12, 2011. He was originally facing a ban for a full season but his lawyer negotiated a four-game ban instead.Prater said he realized one more strike meant hed face sitting out an entire calendar year when he had some beers not long after the Super Bowl.Why did I risk it? Prater said back on Aug. 25. I made a mistake. I dont have an excuse for it. I screwed up and now Im paying the price for it.That price got heavier Friday.Prater led the league last year by making 25 of 26 field goals, including a record-setting 64-yarder against Tennessee. He also led the NFL with 81 kickoff touchbacks.Prater missed two of four field goal attempts in the preseason, including a 49-yarder in an 18-17 loss to Houston after learning before kickoff that hed be suspended.McManus didnt face a clutch kick in Denvers first three games, but he did everything he was asked, making a trio of short field goals and all eight of his extra points. He also allowed just two returns on 16 kickoffs.Ive been very impressed with him, coach John Fox said. Hes got great potential. Hes a great young kicker.Broncos holder Britton Colquitt said Prater wont be out of a job for long.I think there will be at least 20 teams trying to put offers in, Colquitt said. And hell be able to have his choice, because hes that good. No one can argue with that. Hes probably just in the middle of his career. He could be at Kansas City or Oakland or San Diego.Some fans took to Twitter to criticize the Broncos for jettisoning Prater when they stuck by two front office executives who were arrested on drunken driving charges in 2013, one of whom is serving a work-release jail sentence.Anytime you make football decisions in an organization, especially with somebody thats been with you for a period of time like Matt, its always difficult, Fox said. But its always a football decision, whats going to give us the best chance in our opinion. And I wish Matt nothing but the best moving forward.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFLAdidas Superstars Sale Cheap . That assertion is getting harder and harder to make, especially given the way 23-year-old Danilo Gallinari has been playing this season. Adidas Superstar Cheap China .ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign. http://www.cheapsuperstar.net/. This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. Adidas Superstars Clearance . Messier, who had been a special assistant to Rangers general manager Glen Sather, announced Thursday in a statement that he is resigning in order to "expand the game of hockey in the New York area by developing the Kingsbridge National Ice Center. Cheap Adidas Superstar Shoes . After making his All-Star debut in Fridays Rising Stars Challenge, the Raptors sophomore centre wont be sticking around for the duration of the weekends festivities, thinking about the big picture instead.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat will put the finishing touches on a seven-game homestand Monday versus the rival Orlando Magic. The Heat are 2-4 on the residency and were unsuccessful the last time out in Saturdays 103-95 setback to the Memphis Grizzlies. Dwyane Wade, coming off a 31-point outing on Christmas Day in a win against LeBron James and the Cavs, scored 25 points with seven assists. Danny Granger posted 18 points off the bench and Luol Deng added 16 for the Heat, who shot 51.4 percent and connected on just 6-of-20 3-pointers. Just couldnt get over the hump and couldnt stop fouling in the fourth. But it was extremely competitive in the second half, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Miami hopes to get center Chris Bosh back and he has missed the last eight games (3-5) with a calf injury. Bosh hasnt played since Dec. 12 at Utah and is averaging 21.6 points and 8.2 rebounds. The Heat are 6-11 at home and will play seven of the next eight games on the road. They have a 9-3 record when scoring 100 or more points and are 13-2 when leadding after three quarters.dddddddddddd Orlando opened a quick road trip with Saturdays 102-94 triumph in Charlotte and was led by Nikola Vucevics 22 points and 11 rebounds. Tobias Harris scored 21 points and Victor Oladipo added 13 in the win, Orlandos second in three games following a four-game slide. The Magic, who led by as many as 15 in the second half, overcame a 42-point performance from Hornets guard Kemba Walker. They held Charlotte to 41.9 percent shooting from the floor and committed only six turnovers. We played a full game, Harris said. Everyone out there just played their role. Orlando is 8-12 away from home and will play the next three games as the host against Detroit, Brooklyn and Charlotte. The Magic went 4-37 away from home last season. Miami defeated Orlando, 99-92, on Nov. 22 and Bosh finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Vucevic tallied 33 points and 17 boards in that one for the Magic, who have lost the last 10 meetings with the Heat. The Heat are unbeaten in the past six meetings in South Beach. ' ' '