http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...nfl&id=2619622
DENVER -- Todd Sauerbrun may have taught Paul Ernster a
little too well.
The Denver Broncos cut the veteran punter Tuesday, the day he
was supposed to come back from a four-game suspension for using the
banned dietary supplement ephedra.
The Broncos confirmed his release in a two-sentence press
release, but team officials didn't respond to requests for more
comment.
Sauerbrun, a 12-year veteran, gave pointers to Ernster during
the offseason and even pumped him up after Ernster had knee surgery
last season.
But Ernster kicked well in Sauerbrun's absence and earned the
starting job. Ernster, a seventh-round pick in 2005 out of Northern
Arizona, averaged 44.2 yards a punt in four games.
"That's the kind of guy Todd is," Sauerbrun's agent, David
Canter, said of mentoring Ernster. "He doesn't regret it. Paul did
a great job."
Money likely played a factor in the Broncos' decision to keep
Ernster over Sauerbrun. Sauerbrun, who wasn't allowed to be around
the team during the suspension, was scheduled to make $1.395
million this season, but lost $328,000 due to the suspension.
Ernster has two years left on his salary at the league minimum.
He's making $275,000 this season.
The Broncos also couldn't afford to take the chance of another
mistake by Sauerbrun, which would've resulted in a season-ending
suspension.
Broncos cuts Sauerbrun when he is about to come off suspension
Broncos cuts Sauerbrun when he is about to come off suspension
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