Broncos keep backup punter over suspended Sauerbrun

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 comments.

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.

Canter said the final decision had nothing to do with what Sauerbrun did on the field.

"If it had to do with winning football games, they would've kept him on the roster," Canter said. "He's one of the best. He's disappointed. He feels he could've been a catalyst on the team."

Sauerbrun said after testing positive for the supplement that he knowingly took an over-the-counter weight loss product this summer that he strongly suspected contained ephedra, which the NFL banned after the death of Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Korey Stringer during training camp in 2001. Players are randomly tested and can be suspended after the first violation.

Sauerbrun came over from Carolina last season and averaged 43.8 yards a punt, won a player of the week award and even forced a fumble with a tackle against New England. After learning of his suspension just before training camp began in July, he said he felt foolish about taking the supplement in what he described as a misguided attempt to lose weight and gain gusto for his workouts.

At the time, coach Mike Shanahan said he was disappointed.