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MattP · 07-07-2006, 10:08 PM

Source: http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.ph...4&storyID=5736

Quote:

Shanahan: Sauerbrun to Appeal

By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Head Coach Mike Shanahan declined to comment on the reports that punter Todd Sauerbrun had tested positive for a banned substance and would be suspended for four games at the start of the regular season, although he did indicate that the 12-year veteran plans to appeal.

"We'll deal with that after the appeal goes through, and at that time, I'll address it," Shanahan said.

Reports regarding the suspension first circulated Thursday, and became a topic of conversation following Friday's mini-camp practice, focusing on two issues -- the support Sauerbrun's teammates were willing to offer and where the Broncos would turn if the appeal fails.

"It's just unfortunate that it happened to one of your teammates and one of your friends," kicker Jason Elam said. "He's my teammate, and I'll back him."

"I think it's going to hurt a lot of the veteran guys because he was becoming a guy that was well-liked in the locker room," linebacker and longtime special-teams captain Keith Burns said. "I think he will be missed as far as he's concerned."

Sauerbrun joined the Broncos via a May 2005 trade and immediately upgraded the punting game; the Broncos' net and gross punting averages improved by 2.7 and 3.7 yards, respectively, from 2004, when the team utilized Micah Knorr and Jason Baker as its punters.

"You will miss a guy like Todd, because you know what he gives you, especially here, at home, in this stadium and altitude," Burns said, "but at the same time, we can only deal with what's here; we can't worry about what's not here."

Added Elam: "Hopefully something positive will happen with his appeal because he is a difference-maker for this team. He flipped the field a lot for us last year and he really hit the ball a long way, with a lot of hang time."

Denver has three other punters on its roster: Paul Ernster, Tyler Fredrickson and rookie Jeff Williams.

"We've got some competition," Shanahan said. "We'll just kind of wait and see."

Ernster took one kickoff last year in the regular-season opener at Miami but was on injured reserve by the end of the month after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his kicking knee. Elam punted in college, often punts during practice and pregame warmups, but has not punted in a regular-season game since 1995.

"It's something I've always liked doing," Elam said. "If it comes to that, I'll welcome the opportunity and do the very best I can, and if not, we've got a lot of guys out there that are trying hard and are very talented."

"I think that upstairs management has done enough to cover the bases as far as the guys that we have out here, and the best guy will probably win that job," Burns added. "Whoever it is, we expect him to come and and do that job that Todd would have done if he was here."

Sucks to hear that, but hopefully we wont have to punt that often