ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Kickoffs used to be a chore for Todd Sauerbrun.
Now, it’s something the Denver punter actually enjoys. All it took was an offseason dedicated to improving his technique.
“I feel like I can be one of the premier kickoff specialists in the league,” Sauerbrun said. “I’m good at it. There’s no reason why I can’t be the best.”
Sauerbrun has been working with special teams coach Scott O’Brien, overhauling his approach. He used to think the harder he kicked, the farther the ball went. Not so, as he quickly found out.
“It’s like a dance. There’s a rhythm to kicking,” O’Brien said.
And Sauerbrun is now kicking to that rhythm.
“Scotty has slowed down my approach to the ball and I’ve been picking it a lot cleaner off the tee,” Sauerbrun said. “I used to run at it hard and a little too fast and tend to miss the ball slightly. I’m now so much more consistent.”
Sauerbrun has three touchbacks this season, including one against Oakland on Sunday that traveled through the uprights. It would’ve been a 75-yard field goal.
“I enjoyed that,” Sauerbrun said with a grin. “I’d like to do that a few more times.”
Sauerbrun, 34, is also averaging 45.4 yards a punt—third in the AFC—and has been the holder on both of Jason Elam’s game-winning kicks.
He’s definitely earning his keep.
“I just want the Broncos to have the confidence to keep me around for years to come,” Sauerbrun said. “I feel like I can play until I’m 40. I really do. I want them to know they have a punter, kickoff guy and holder that’s going to get it done for them in any game they put me in. I’m going to be the premier guy in the league as long as I’m here.”
He’s just hoping it’s longer than one season.
“I would move here if I was extended,” said Sauerbrun, who signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal in April. “I want to prove to them they have their guy. I’ve been to a bunch of organizations and the grass ain’t greener on the other side of this place.”
Sauerbrun served a four-game suspension last season for using the banned dietary supplement ephedra.
When he was reinstated, the Broncos released him, going with Paul Ernster instead. New England picked Sauerbrun up on Dec. 22 and he kicked for the Patriots in the playoffs.
After agreeing to a one-year contract with Denver in the offseason, the Patriots quickly matched it based on a clause in his contract.
However, Sauerbrun contended the clause was inappropriate because it wasn’t written separately from the contract itself, and a special master in Boston ruled the Patriots erred, paving the way for Sauerbrun to return to Denver.
“I just love it here,” Sauerbrun said. “I want to finish off my career here.”
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SIMMERING RICE@: Simeon Rice said his shoulder was just fine, and that he’s ready to show what he can do on the football field. He has three tackles and deflected a pass through the first two games.
“I’m starting to feel really good. I’m in a good place,” Rice said. “I’m ready for them to pull the plug—hit the detonation button.”
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POSITIVE RECEPTION@: Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio knows why Brandon Stokley is getting open for big third-down catches for Denver.
“He’s faster than people think,” Del Rio said.
Del Rio and Stokley crossed paths while both were in Baltimore. Del Rio, the linebackers coach at the time, and Stokley helped the Ravens to a win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Del Rio said.
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EXTRA POINTS@: K Jason Elam needs eight points to become the fastest player in NFL history to reach 1,700 career points. Elam has 1,692 points through 222 games. … Jacksonville makes its first visit to Denver since 1998. … C Tom Nalen can move past LB Tom Jackson on Sunday and take over sole possession of third place on the club’s all-time games played list. … S Hamza Abdullah (hip) won’t play Sunday. … LB Ian Gold missed practice Thursday with a sprained ankle. When asked if Gold would play Sunday, coach Mike Shanahan said, “I think he’s going to be there.” … TE Stephen Alexander (calf) and CB Domonique Foxworth participated in a portion of practice Thursday.
