Connor Barth released, Brandon McManus to kick full time for Broncos

Connor Barth has been released per the Denver Broncos, making room for newly signed guard Evan Mathis.

No more “Barth Vader” in the Mile High City as it seems Brandon McManus has won the team’s full time kicking position once again.

McManus was the team’s kicker for the first 11 games in 2014, when they brought on Barth, who finished the regular season and playoff game as the man kicking field goals. McManus was the kickoff specialist, meaning the Broncos had to take up four roster spots between kickers, their punter Brandon Colquitt and long snapper Aaron Brewer.

New head coach Gary Kubiak decided two kickers on the roster was one too many, and stuck with McManus, who can more easily handle the kickoff, extra point and field goal kicking responsibilities with his massive leg.

That doesn’t mean Barth has a small leg; earlier in camp they each kicked their longest possible field goal, with Barth good from 65 yards and McManus splitting the uprights from 70.

In early August, we interviewed Barth who welcomed the competition and said he believed both he and McManus would be on a team somewhere this year. We agree, and hopefully Barth lands a new kicking job soon.