I was not rooting for Ernster, as you claim. Do I like him? Sure; he’s a good fellow and a good interview. But that doesn’t mean I’m rooting for him — you can’t really get into that. It’s tough to see some guys go, though, and Ernster is among them.

And if you’re talking about regular-season numbers, then you have to factor in his numbers upon returning last year, Sauerbrun’s gross average (40.8) and net average (30.7) were his lowest since his rookie season. He did only punt 10 times since New England signed him so late, but both were lower than Ernster’s numbers. Sauerbrun’s gross average has also dropped each year since his career high in 2001. Also on kickoffs, Ernster’s touchback percentage and average kickoff distance were the best of any Broncos kicker since the kickoffs were moved back to the 30-yard-line.

Sauerbrun has the leg, no question, and his punts in practice this summer generally had better hang time. But he acknowledged Monday that he has to do better than he has in the games this month to justify the decision in his favor. It’s a question of whether he can turn back the clock to recapture the kind of numbers he notched in Carolina.

You are right and wrong. Right in the fact that the Broncos made the right choice. Wrong that you are calling out Mason. He runs this blog and he has the right to his opinion especially when he has the luxury to sit and watch the team practice EVERY DAY. Ernster young and he did have some shaky games last year. We gave up some good position on field and the kicker has to take some of that blame. If he produced more touchbacks, we would have been much more productive on special teams. It is sad when we come down to tackling ability when we are pulling for a kicker. They aren’t supposed to have to make the tackle. W have 10 other players on the team trained specifically to hit the wedges and the ball carrier. Sauerbrun can flat kick the ball. Consistantly. He has had issues, but asside from that kid in New England/Indy, which kicker hasn’t. They are loose cannons and have odd-ball personalities. You see them a handfull of times in a game, let em have some color. If they are effecting the game, they pay the price. He doped last year and paid for it. The guy is human. I think that it is great that Sauerbrun has a buddy-buddy relationship with the special teams’ coach. He is unstable from the look of things and the extra guidance can’t hurt. Good call, Coach!

Mason, your transparent attempt to root for Ernster based on pre-season comparisons was weak. Why use just one preseason, when you have full prior seasons as a much better barometer of what one should expect from a player?