Lions re-sign K Matt Prater through 2017 season

After two years of trying to go cheap at the position and watching it cost them, the Detroit Lions solidified their kicking game Friday, re-signing Matt Prater to a three-year contract.

Prater, who made 21 of 26 field goals in 11 games with the Lions last year, will make $9 million over the course of the deal, according to NFL Network.

"I'm super excited," Prater said. "This is the place I wanted to be and I just love it there as far as the team, the organization from top to bottom, the support staff. Even the press, which is funny. But no, everyone's super nice over there and great team and I'm excited to get back to work."

The Lions endured massive kicking woes in the two seasons since forcing Jason Hanson into early retirement, but Prater helped stabilize the position last fall.

After missing two of three attempts in his first game with the Lions, Prater, who served a four-game suspension for violating the league's alcohol policy at the start of last year with the Denver Broncos, had just two misses the rest of the way.

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In 2013, David Akers made just 19 of 24 field goals, and the Lions lacked faith in him from beyond 50 yards. Last year, they drafted Nate Freese and tried Alex Henery before signing Prater after he was cut by the Broncos in early October.

Freese and Henery combined to make just 4 of 13 field goals and were 1-for-9 from beyond 40 yards.

Prater, who set an NFL record with a 64-yard field goal in 2013 and made one Pro Bowl in his seven seasons with the Broncos, would have been one of the top kickers on the market had he elected to test free agency next week.

But after starting his NFL career with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2006, he made it clear to his agent and the organization that he wanted to stay in Detroit.

"Just from playing there last season I felt loyalty there and I didn't really feel the need to test it," Prater said. "From what I understand there were other teams that talked to my agent at the combine, just said they were interested, said they'd talk to him March 10 or whatever. But I didn't pay too much attention to it. I'm glad things worked out the way they did."

Prater is the fourth veteran the Lions have re-signed this off-season, joining backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky, defensive end Darryl Tapp and long snapper Don Muhlbach.

With Muhlbach and punter Sam Martin in the fold, the Lions will return all three of their specialists this fall.

Prater, who's engaged to be married next month, said he's already started his offseason workout program and has dropped about 13 pounds since he arrived in Detroit last fall.

"I hope to get back to that kicking form (from 2013) and I think it'll be good for us," Prater said. "Mule's back and Sam's obviously back and I'm excited to get back and hang out with those guys, I miss seeing them. I'm excited to get a lot of reps with them in the off-season and hopefully be in the best kicking shape I can be coming into the season."

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Birkett writes for the Detroit Free Press