Pats tryout 35-year old P Mitch Berger

[Patjew]

Oh no! Were you seeing what I was seeing -- someone who had a slow release, couldn't place his kicks and outkicked the coverage?

He played great and saved their butts in the SD game, didn't he?

 

[Pats726]

But he also wished to be in Denver...Let's bring in a few more...

 

[Mike the Brit]

He played great and saved their butts in the SD game, didn't he?

He didn't shank anything that I recall -- but in other games I remember that he did.

(Perhaps it's all relative -- if you're used to Ken Walter, even Sauerbrun looks great. )

 

[PatsFan37]

They tried. Sauerbrun wanted to be in Denver, fought, and won his free agency. Something to do with "rights of first refusal." I don't understand the full details, but it appeared that the front office dropped the ball on that one.

From what I remember, when they included the 'rights of first refusal', they didn't get some kind of signed statement, required by the NFLPA or the CBA, that Sauerbrun had read and understood it, so the team's rights were deemed invalid. Or something.

You can consider it a screw-up or you can get more devious and maybe they didn't think Sauerbrun would have signed the statement, so they tried to slip it past him. Who knows. Probably a screw-up, so many of these contracts are signed off at oh-dark-hundred while they're trying to get an injury-replacement player on an airplane for tomorrow's practice.

OTOH, I'd rather have Miller than Sauerbrun, he's more accurate and before his injury was plenty reliable. Even more, I'd rather have a strong young leg like Baugher, who could be the punter for years, if he can (a) place them better and (b) deliver in the crunch. Big questions, but the same questions whenever you start a young guy.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Oh no! Were you seeing what I was seeing -- someone who had a slow release, couldn't place his kicks and outkicked the coverage?

I remember one kick that caused BB to dress him down on the sidelines in very animated fashion, something rarely seen. He outkicked the coverage leading to a big return.

 

[PatriotsDaily.com]

Probably a little "grassy knoll" here, but what if the Pats are planning on going with the kid, Baugher, and are looking at emergency replacements out there should the kid falter at some point this season? They could just be trying to cover their bases so they're not caught unprepared should they need a punter in a hurry.

 

[PatsFan37]

Probably a little "grassy knoll" here, but what if the Pats are planning on going with the kid, Baugher, and are looking at emergency replacements out there should the kid falter at some point this season? They could just be trying to cover their bases so they're not caught unprepared should they need a punter in a hurry.

Makes sense either way, if they're concerned about Miller's health. Baugher might prove himself enough in preseason that he wouldn't make waivers -- another team might ditch their punter for him. On the one hand, it's risky for another team to dump their punter for a new guy off waivers and expect him to assimilate quickly with his snapper and holder, but OTOH, punters don't have to learn much of a playbook.

 

[BAM!]

I think this spells the end of Malone. Let Baugher learn from two veterans and see if he can use their teachings to his advantage and win the punter job. Speculation but what else do we really have to go on?