RMN article on Sauerbrun, Myers and Warren

[SoCalBronco]

Sauerbrun boots away lingering doubts
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
July 7, 2005

ENGLEWOOD - It had been a while since rookie Darrent Williams fielded punts, so Wednesday during the first Denver Broncos minicamp practice, he took the field early to get some extra repetitions.

He lined up about 40 yards deep for his first attempt and watched the ball sail about 25 yards over his head, nearly through a goalpost.


Advertisement


Williams swung his head in disbelief in the punter's direction.

"I was looking at him like, 'Who kicked that?' " Williams said. "He hadn't even warmed up yet."

The leg belonged to Todd Sauerbrun, making his first appearance in a Broncos uniform after his May 19 trade from the Carolina Panthers.

The deep boot explained a lot.

The Broncos hope Sauerbrun, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, will elicit similar reactions in the coming months. He ranked second in the NFC for the Panthers with a 44.1-yard gross punting average last season. Now, he consistently will be kicking at altitude for the first time.

"He's shaking some rust off, but it's good to have him in camp and he showed why we made the trade," said special-teams coach Ronnie Bradford of the deal that cost the Broncos punter Jason Baker and a 2006 seventh-round draft pick. "He's got a good leg, a great leg."

But like most punters practicing in Denver for the first time, Sauerbrun fell into an early trap of attempting to crush the ball instead of naturally going through his motion, and as a result mi**** a few punts.

"You've just got to talk to them and say, 'Kick normally, like you're at sea level,' " Bradford said.

Sauerbrun declined to talk with the media other than a curt comment about being happy to be in Denver. He is planning a full-season boycott of the media after several negative stories in recent years in other cities regarding his behavior and off-the-field activities, his agent, David Canter, said.

Initially, there were some questions whether Sauerbrun would attend the three-day minicamp because of his displeasure with his contract. But last month, the Broncos quietly restructured the final three seasons of the deal.

A $100,000 workout bonus was converted to a roster bonus, making it easier to attain, and raising his salary-cap figure for this season to $1.3 million. Similar workout bonuses for 2006 and 2007 were converted to base salary.

That qualifies as news on two fronts because Sauerbrun was fined by the Panthers for being overweight. That issue was "never brought up once" by the Broncos, Canter said. Also, Sauerbrun's new salary-cap figures of $1,395,000 and $1.5 million for the final two seasons perhaps makes it more likely he could have the contract reworked should he perform to previous levels.

"But he's under contract now for three years and if he plays them all out under that (deal), we'd be happy with that," Canter said. "I'm sure it's something we'll revisit again."

[SoCalBronco]

PLUGGING AWAY: It certainly is too early to make pronouncements on the depth chart, but during quarterback camp in May, team camp in June and minicamp this week, it has been newcomer Michael Myers with the first unit at nose tackle in the base defense, not Gerard Warren.

Myers chalks it up to his familiarity with the defensive-line scheme, which is strikingly similar to the ones he was a part of during six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns.

Warren sees it another way, not that he is complaining.

"I have to come in at a whole other level than other people," he said. "The things that came along with me is not the kind of baggage other guys had behind them. Pretty much the way I feel is I have to go out and prove myself again and that's what I'm working on doing."

Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer denied any ulterior motive regarding Warren, who has been with the first-team nickel unit.

"It's just a day-to-day battle," he said, adding Warren has "been full-tilt, worked hard to learn what we want to do and been nothing but a pleasant guy."

ETC.: Cornerback Jeff Shoate (left knee surgery) still is not ready for one-on-one coverage drills, and while he still hopes to take limited practice snaps this week in team and seven-on-seven drills, he had a "flare-up" during individual drills that limited his activity. He said while he will be a little behind in training camp, "pretty much everybody's going to have the same opportunity" then, reducing the pressure to rush back without being completely healthy . . . Defensive end Trevor Pryce reported at a svelte 282 pounds, 4 below his 2004 camp weight, prompting a coach to tell him not to lose any more pounds. "I think 265 is where I'm headed," he joked. Pryce also is sporting a part-Afro, part-Mohawk hairdo he has dubbed a "Faux Bro-hawk." "I'm thinking about getting rid of it, but a lot of people seem to like it," he said . . . Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban went through team drills for the first time with the Broncos since off-season surgeries on a shoulder and a knee. "Of course, I have to get back my timing and everything, but everything feels great," he said.

[Clockwork Orange]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the thing I'm happiest about this offseason is the fact that the Broncos finally decided to take special teams seriously. I don't care if Sauerbrun waddles out there looking like David Wells, if he can pin opponents down deep in their own territory, I'll be a happy guy.

He does need to ease up a bit in practice and let Williams return a few though.

[Jason in LA]

After hearing all these great Sauerbrun reports, I can't wait for 4th down. Everybody will be on their feet going nuts. ;D

[Kaylore]

After hearing all these great Sauerbrun reports, I can't wait for 4th down. Everybody will be on their feet going nuts. ;D
Why? Sauerbrun won't be seeing the field much this season. :homer:


Seriously, though, this is the first year I'm going to attend some of the special teams practices during camp. Between the punters, our blockers, and Darrent Williams, this will be fun to watch.

[fontaine]

Sauerbrun declined to talk with the media other than a curt comment about being happy to be in Denver. He is planning a full-season boycott of the media after several negative stories in recent years in other cities regarding his behavior and off-the-field activities, his agent, David Canter, said.

I wonder how much of this was the FO's idea. Sure we'll make it easier for you to attain that 100,000 bonus and convert later years money into almost guaranteed money, but you need to shut up, sit on the bench until we need you and speak only when spoken to.

The last thing we need is a crackpot punter lipping openly to the media like he did in Carolina.

[baja]

I wonder how much of this was the FO's idea. Sure we'll make it easier for you to attain that 100,000 bonus and convert later years money into almost guaranteed money, but you need to shut up, sit on the bench until we need you and speak only when spoken to.

The last thing we need is a crackpot punter lipping openly to the media like he did in Carolina.


Good point fontaine, I'll bet you are right on the money

[stoxman]

ENGLEWOOD - It had been a while since rookie Darrent Williams fielded punts, so Wednesday during the first Denver Broncos minicamp practice, he took the field early to get some extra repetitions.

He lined up about 40 yards deep for his first attempt and watched the ball sail about 25 yards over his head, nearly through a goalpost.


Advertisement


Williams swung his head in disbelief in the punter's direction.

"I was looking at him like, 'Who kicked that?' " Williams said. "He hadn't even warmed up yet."

The leg belonged to Todd Sauerbrun, making his first appearance in a Broncos uniform after his May 19 trade


LOL

[bendog]

cool he does 'roids and doesn't talk to the media. Maybe he can play guard too.

[Rohirrim]

So far, I still say that the signing of Sourbutt was the best offseason move. The last couple of years, every time the Bronco STs took the field, I was covering my eyes.

[Broncoman13]

All the questions I've wanted answer by the writers there in Denver have been answered. I wanted news about Sauerbrun... bingo! How is he kicking, how is Williams handling it, is he trying too hard... all answered! Nice job.

Also asked about Trev's weight. Looks like 280 will be his playing weight. He'll undoubtedly drop a few lbs during camp. I think he'll be a beast at that weight!

As for Sauerbrun being overweight or whatever... he's a freaking punter. WTF cares? If he comes in weighing 265 and can get his punts off before the pressure comes and booms them 45-50 yards each time I couldn't care less about his weight. Whether it's the FO's idea or his or his agents to keep his mouth shut I like it. He should just hang out with Nalen, Lepsis, Hamilton and Foster. They'll teach him how to shun the media out!!!!!!!!!!

[Paladin]

Reminds me of a story about Sonny Jorgensen, a QB of the "Old School" for the Deadskins.

Sonny always was a bit rotund in the mid-waist section of his somewhat frumpy body. He said it came from his injury in college; he over drank and the stomach distended. He would not have ever been picked for even a "Practice Squad" member of the Chippendale Team. If he were in it, the "Full Monty" would have been listed as a horror movie. When he threw the ball, he had this rocking motion as if he were trying to get all the fat cells moving in the same direction(s) before the arm could move.

Anyway, the media, as is their wont, asked him if Lombardi had asked him to "slim down", as they gently put it. He responded by saying: "I don't throw the ball with my stomach." Now that was a classic "Sonnyism." As I recall, he had rivaled Yogi with some of his gibberish.

Sourbuns does not kick the ball with his stomach. Rather, we should look at it this way: he is merely camouflaging his six-pack abs in order to fool the return men around the AFC West. Beneath that camouflage beats the heart of a .... er,....... hard drinking, hard playing, hard-nosed, soft butted ath-a-lete. "And the boot by Butterbutt is a high spiral, going deep, deep, deep, and out at the 1 foot line." That sounds okay. Give him another Boilermaker and hot dog.

[SoDak Bronco]

I wonder if one of the designated Broncos O-lineman will also speak for Saurbrun from week to week. I can see it on Monday Night Football already. hahaha