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Sauerbrun: Broncos didn't give me fair shot

Staff And Wire Reports

Published May 29, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Sauerbrun is upset about how Shanahan portrayed him.

Sauerbrun is upset about how Shanahan portrayed him.

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Todd Sauerbrun wasn't happy during his court appearance Wednesday, and not just because of his guilty plea.

The longtime NFL punter believes he was done wrong by the Broncos, who released him after a confrontation with a Denver taxi driver Dec. 7 that led to a citation and a visit to a detox facility after an argument outside a Denver restaurant.

Sauerbrun said he's upset coach Mike Shanahan painted him as a bad apple and cut him so quickly after an arrest in the same season in which Shanahan constantly defended tailback Travis Henry over a failed drug test.

"The Broncos didn't give me a fair shot. I don't think they did me right," Sauerbrun said after being sentenced to 24 hours of community service for disturbing the peace. "I do feel ill about it.

"And their new motto about character guys? The guys I've seen them pick up, you're going to tell me those are good character people? I think not."

Besides Henry, Sauerbrun might have been talking about running back Michael Pittman, whom the Broncos on Wednesday signed to a one-year deal. Pittman has been involved in several domestic disputes during his NFL career.

Despite his guilty plea, Sauerbrun, who currently lives in Chicago, said he did nothing wrong the night he was arrested and plans to sue the taxi driver for defamation.

Shanahan was not available for comment.

PITTMAN'S FIRST FUMBLE: Pittman insists he still can do it all on the football field, first impressions not withstanding.

The 11th-year running back fumbled his first carry in a Broncos uniform after signing a one-year deal that will pay him $830,000 if he makes the 53-man roster.

"I came out here and I'm trying to impress the coaches. On my first carry, I dropped the ball. It was a fumble because our zone play at Tampa was a little wider than Denver's zone play. It is an adjustment for me. I will adjust and I won't put the ball on the ground again," Pittman said. "I'm here to make a lot of noise. I didn't come in here for three, four, five weeks to be in camp to get cut. I'm here to make a lot of noise and make this team."

Pittman said he'll do exactly what he did for six seasons with Tampa: take handoffs, lead block, catch passes and return punts and kicks.

"I will do whatever I am asked to do. I'll play receiver, I'll play running back, I'll play fullback. I did all that at Tampa," he said. "It's all about helping the team win."

Comments

  • May 29, 2008

    2:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    flybys writes:

    If a Sauerbrun talks in the media can you hear it?

    Any sour grapes voiced by the former Broncos punter rings a false note because he was picked off the scrap heap by Denver, twice, and even for all his talk of gratitude Sauerbrun couldn't control his off-field error-prone ways. He was a penalty flag waiting to happen when he wasn't punting footballs.

    Any discontent now is not being heard.

    His not-so-veiled shot at new signee Michael Pittman has validity but Pittman will also be given a short leash, you can bet on that.

    Coach Mike Shanahan has no qualms about hiring guys with red-marked resumes. But he also has a quick hook if those players don't "compete" and flourish.

  • May 29, 2008

    8:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Soonerhorse writes:

    Dear Todd:

    If I have an employee that is already on a short leash for a past substance abuse issue, said employee is forgiven and rewarded with a big old salary, I stick up for said employee before the world and not without some legitimate criticism, I'm a little bummed that said employee is performing short of average, I wake up to read that said employee had to be transported to a detox facility, I start the next day by firing that employee without thought or remorse. I do this even if said employee was arrested while working a soup kitchen for crippled and blind children. Welcome to the real world Todd.

    p.s. You might want to start studying for that insurance license between 12 step meetings.

  • May 29, 2008

    8:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    tahosa writes:

    Hey Todd, maybe the taxi cab ride was just a little over the top, but think of why you were really cut. Try not being able to punt away from Devin Hester last year. You may have depth, but your angle stinks.

  • May 29, 2008

    8:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    buffsblg writes:

    What a shock another story about a morally bereft professional athlete who cannot fathom that he was held to some sort of standard and whines when he does not continue to get special treatment. Play the game and shut up guys, most of you cannot speak without looking like morons.

  • May 29, 2008

    8:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ES writes:

    Todd..You got more chances than you deserved.

  • May 29, 2008

    9:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Six_Does_Not_Equal_Seven writes:

    Dear Todd Sauer Grapes...
    Buh-Bye Now.

  • May 29, 2008

    1:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    coptalker writes:

    How many chances did poor Todd want? Seems like Coach S. went above and beyond in giving Sauerkraut's career another chance, and Todd was made aware that he was on a short leash. Methinks he tugged once too many times, and complains when the leash got jerked in return!

    Go Broncos!

  • May 29, 2008

    3:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    Boo-hoo Todd. Steroids and beating up taxi drivers... Why did you deserve another chance again? Travis Henry's case was dropped! You pleaded guilty, right? You were a crappy punter at best and your off the field troubles probably weren't the only reasons they dropped you. Moron...

  • May 29, 2008

    3:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    happymike44 writes:

    Why pick on him his life is in the crapper.It seems there are two standards in this world.He made a mistake and should not have to pay for it the rest of his life.Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.By the way how many gangsta players never get the ax for their misdeeds,very few.Seems a little unfair to me to say the least.So he was a crummy punter.He was distracted due to his alcohol consumpation.Now he is dry let's see what he's got.Just a thought!

  • May 29, 2008

    3:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kwik writes:

    Sauerbrun didn't just get cut for assalting a cabby. Todd got cut after kicking off to Devin Hester twice. Todd failed to tackle Hester who blew by him and all the Broncos on both occasions. Todd followed up with a blocked punt. He's lucky Shanahan didn't shoot him for psyching up Hester by announcing to the papers that he planned to kick to him.

  • May 29, 2008

    4:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    R8R_H8R writes:

    Shanahan didn't give me a fair shot........but STEROIDS did!!

  • May 29, 2008

    5:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncoflow writes:

    Todd-- you are a punter. Nuff said.

  • May 29, 2008

    8:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    princess writes:

    Dear Mr Sauerpants,
    Quit crying this aint you mamas house. You were given more then a fair shot. How dumb can you be to kick directly to Hester not once but twice? Tell us how much did you get paid to kick to him twice and miss the tackle? You did roids and we still let you back and you kick directly where you shouldn't have and then you hostile with someone who was trying to take your drunk azz home and why did you plead guilty if you weren't? And the Broncos didn't give you a fair shot. Please you are nucking futs!

  • May 29, 2008

    9:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    joeblow writes:

    This is not a defense of Mike Sauerbrun, however he's got a point.
    The Broncos (actually any NFL/Major League/Major College Program) operate on a double standard. Darryl Gardner, for example, was poison and everyone at the organization knew it. Travis Henry's penchant for fathering, then leaving children across the country, was also well known. Vance Johnson, another well-known baby maker, was another.
    Mike Shanahan's quick work of his punter is laudable? Give me a break! He had other issues with this guy. If the guy was averaging 50 yards a kick you can bet your sweet butt he'd still be wearing Bronco gear.

  • May 30, 2008

    12:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spidey writes:

    That is world class mofo whiner... Todd, get a L I F E !

  • May 30, 2008

    3:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BroncoB writes:

    The bottom line is Todd wasn't producing, off field problems or not we needed to find another punter.

  • May 30, 2008

    6:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    orangeblood2 writes:

    Delusional punk.

  • June 1, 2008

    8:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Swick writes:

    Caught twice for enhancement drugs, and then assaulting a cab driver. 3 strikes is more than enough to cut a punter who helped lose the Chicago game. Shanahan has given 2nd chances to positional players, but I can't recall a player that he's gone out on a limb after 2 mistakes while under contract with Denver. Todd should appreciate Mike giving him a 2nd chance and keep quiet in hopes of being signed by someone else during the season after injury. It's not like Shannahan pulled an Al Davis and decided not to pay him money owed. Maybe his steroid use has left him a little emotionally disturbed.

  • June 3, 2008

    5:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    GJrodburner writes:

    I was at Soldiers Field when this wart kicked to Hester, not once, but twice! Todd, you gave that freakin' game away. Yes, I do blame you for the loss you jerk! Take away those two gimmes and the season might have had a different ending. Granted, that is hindsight, but so what.

    Even the raving Bear fans couldn't good-god believe you were stupid enough to kick to Devin! It's a damn good thing that the ticket takers there at the stadium check for rocks or baseballs, cause by golly if I'd had them, I'd of heaved both of 'em at you!

    Good bye, good luck, and hip-hip-hooray you are not kicking for us anymore.