Way to go Sauerbrun!!

The Assassin · Post by **The Assassin** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:34 pm

Source: Denver P Sauerbrun suspended for ephedraESPN.com news services

DENVER -- Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun was suspended for the first month of the season after testing positive for the banned supplement ephedra, a person close to the player said Friday.

Sauerbrun

Sauerbrun will miss the first four regular-season games if his expected appeal is denied, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the NFL has not announced the suspension.

Sauerbrun, who was brought in from Carolina before last season, is attending Denver's three-day minicamp this week, but was not immediately available for comment.

The NFL banned ephedra, a dietary supplement, after the death of Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Korey Stringer during training camp in 2001. Players are tested and can be suspended after the first violation.

If suspended, Sauerbrun will forfeit $328,235 of his scheduled base salary of $1.395 million for 2006.

In 2003, Broncos safety Lee Flowers was suspended for the first four games of the regular season after testing positive for ephedra, which speeds the heart rate and constricts blood vessels. He blamed it on a vitamin he took.

In South Carolina, Dr. James Shortt faces a July 17 sentencing in federal court after admitting he conspired to illegally prescribe steroids to NFL players. Federal prosecutors have not identified any of the eight players, but say they have audiotaped conversations between Shortt and Sauerbrun and other Panthers players.

Sauerbrun led the NFC in punting from 2001 to 2003, the only player since the NFL merger in 1970 to lead a conference in gross punting average for three consecutive seasons.

By the time reports linked him to Short, Carolina was looking to trade him after a series of on- and off-field distractions, including a drunken driving arrest and fines for being overweight.

Sauerbrun was a second-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1995 and he showed up at training camp with the personalized license plate "HANGTIME." He was traded to Kansas City and then to Charlotte.

In Denver last season, he won a player of the week award and even forced a fumble with a tackle against New England.

Whats wrong Todd? you too good to use the many treadmills provided for you at Bronco headquarters? How bout saying no the second helping of pie instead?

Its too bad icantstopmelting took his ball and left. i'd love to see him spin this.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 1:23 am

Nice to see ESPN a full day behind the curve. ProFootballTalk.com broke this story yesterday and the Denver post confirmed it and ran the story. Of course neither the AP report or the ESPN report gives any credit whatsoever to either ProFootballTalk.com or the Denver Post. In fact, if you read ESPN's story, you might think ESPN was responsible for some probing hard hitting sports reporting. But since its ESPN we are talking about, we all know that wasn't the case.

As for Todd Sauerbrun? I've gopt to say the idea of a PUNTER taking performance enhancing drugs is one of the straight up funniest (and stupid) ideas I've heard. Maybe the Cowboys could sign him and they could have two idiot kickers.

orcinus · Post by **orcinus** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:40 pm

BSmack wrote:I've gopt to say the idea of a PUNTER taking performance enhancing drugs is one of the straight up funniest (and stupid) ideas I've heard.

Other than taking an opportunity to goof on punters and kickers, what makes you say that?

They're no different than any other positional player in the NFL and, in some ways, are even more scrutinized as specialists. The only thing surprising about Sauerbrun is that he's the first to actually get caught.

Tempted with an extra 5-10 yards and up to a second of hang time from designer variants that have improvements down to a mere cycle, it's getting damn near impossible for players at this level to turn away from the siren's song.

Unlike skill position players, punters must scratch and claw for every last dime in their contracts, and most live year-to-year based on today's performaces and tomorrow's outlook. When a cheaper alternative comes up, vets are quickly shown the door.

Also, unlike skill position players, punters really only have three criteria by which they are judged ... distance, hang time and accuracy. A deficiancy in any one area pretty much spells a short career, as well, placing even more pressure on punters to be "at the top of their game" at all times.

Don't rip on Sauerbrun for using, rip on him for being stupid enough not to stay low-key. Then again, considering his much-publicized rift with the Grammaticas, I guess I have to temper some of that above surprise.

Idiot kicker, indeed.

orcinus · Post by **orcinus** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:09 pm

Agreed.

Was referring to Saurbrun's days and link to 'roids in Carolina and, specifially, to Bri's statement above.

Real Sports had a great piece on this a couple years ago, if I remember correctly.