Fresh off their bye week break, the Broncos have added a new veteran face to boost them for the stretch run.
The team signed 16-year veteran punter Mitch Berger on Monday, it was announced. To make room for Berger on the roster, the club waived second-year punter Brett Kern.
A University of Colorado alum, Berger joins the Broncos after winning a Super Bowl with the Steelers last season. With Pittsburgh, he played a key role in the field position game, holding opponents to 6.4 yards per punt return. Berger also has stints with Arizona (2007), New Orleans (2003-05), St. Louis (2002), Minnesota (1996-2001), Chicago (1995) and Philadelphia (1994).
Over the last decade, Berger has ranked among the league’s best. Since 1999, he is fifth in the NFL in both gross (43.4) and net (36.6) average (min. 500 punts).
Over that 10-year span, Berger was voted to the Pro Bowl twice. His first honor came in 1999 with the Vikings, where he led the NFC and finished second in the league with a 44.7-yard average. The second honor came five years later with the Saints, where he led the NFL with a 39.0-yard net average.
Berger also brings plenty of postseason experience to Denver. He has punted in 12 career playoff games, including last year’s Super Bowl with Pittsburgh. In those contests, he booted 55 punts for 2,238 yards (40.7 avg.), with five touchbacks and 12 kicks inside the 20-yard line.
Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Mitch Berger, Roster Moves, Week 8
Go Spence.
rbf1, good analogy on the Ravens, Foxworth is moving around, isn’t he? Funny how some missed him last year with Dre Bly and such and we’re so deep this year, no one is giving it a thought. Karl “pay me more” Paymah, never liked the guy, was always out of position and could never get there on time. Did not see him, did I miss anything, or did he do all the missing? (tackles that is) LOL.
meant analysis.
What ever it takes to win. Maybe this is kind of a wake up call for Prater. If he keeps missing or doesn’t get it deeper he might be next. In Denver, you’d think he’d be able to kick it out of the end zone.
I haven’t had a chance to get caught up with the rest of the comments, but I’ll try to get caught up after my measly little comment. LOL.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!! Going Raven Hunting Sunday
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Welcome aboard Berger, I’m sure that you’ll be able to help pin the opponents deep in their own territory.
Now, for the Ravens, I’m a little worried going into this game myself. As some of you have mentioned, the Ravens might be a little hungry for a win and in the past the Broncos have kinda had problems getting a win after their bye. But I believe that the coaching staff and the players are a little hungry themselves (hence: that is why they picked up Berger. This game worried me a lot more when I first saw the schedule, but now, not quite as much. I’ll talk about Pittsburg next week.
Let’s make it 7-0 Sunday.
TEAM EFFORT BRONCOS
I liked both Kern and colquitt but McD has yet to dissapoint in player selection so I wish Kern the best of luck. Welcome Berger, you joined the broncos at a good time you luck b*stard lol….j/k.
ps: poor kern, if we win a superbowl this year he will be sooo mad lol
I already knew this was going to happen when they called Berger last week for a tryout
This makes no sense to me. If your net average is low, wouldn’t it signify problems with punt coverage, not the punter? His average punt was like 46.3 yards- pretty darn good. Even if you let him go, bring in Colquitt! He looked good in the preseason. But McDaniels has been right every time so far so I guess I’ll trust him to be right again. I just don’t see it.
GO BRONCOS!!! THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT GAME.
I’d say that winning 75% of the time after a bye wouldn’t be considered “having problems winning.” (tjnartw)
But here’s the Broncos’ results after a bye since it was put in place in 1990….
Broncos after the bye week
Overall record: 15-5
Home: 11-3
Road: 4-2
Miami 26, at Denver 17, Nov. 2, 2008
at Denver 31, Pittsburgh 28, Oct. 21, 2007
at Denver 13, Baltimore 3, Oct. 9, 2006
Denver 31, at Oakland 17, Nov. 13, 2005
Denver 34, at New Orleans 13, Nov. 21, 2004
at Denver 37, San Diego 8, Nov. 16, 2003
Oakland 34, at Denver 10, Nov. 11, 2002
at Denver 23, Oakland 17, Dec. 30, 2001
Denver 30, at New York Jets 23, Nov. 5, 2000
Kansas City 16, at Denver 10, Dec. 5, 1999
at Denver 37, Jacksonville 24, Oct. 25, 1998
at Oakland 28, Denver 25, Oct. 19, 1997
at Denver 45, Baltimore 34, Oct. 20, 1996
at Denver 38, Arizona 6, Nov. 5, 1995
at Denver 16, at Seattle 9, Oct. 9, 1994
at Denver 28, Seattle 17, Oct. 31, 1993
at Denver 35, Indianapolis 13, Oct. 3, 1993
at Denver 27, New York Jets 16, Nov. 8, 1992
at Denver 19, Kansas City 16, Oct. 20, 1991
at Minnesota 27, Denver 22, Nov. 4, 1990
Bill Belichick’s record (with the Pats) when he’s had a bye or 2 weeks to prepare (div. playoffs & Super Bowl)……….
NEW ENGLAND:
2000: Bills 16, Patriots 13
2001: Jets 10, Patriots 3
2001 div: Patriots 16, Raiders 13
2002: Broncos 24, Patriots 16
2003: Patriots 12, Cowboys 0
2003 div: Patriots 17, Titans 14
S.B. Patriots 32, Panthers 29
2004: Patriots 31, Bills 17
2004 div: Patriots 20, Colts 3
S.B. Patriots 24, Eagles 21
2005: Patriots 21, Bills 16
2006: Patriots 28, Bills 6
2007: Patriots 56, Bills 10
2007 div: Patriots 31, Jaguars 20
Needless to say, I like our chances Sunday.
“This makes no sense to me. If your net average is low, wouldn’t it signify problems with punt coverage, not the punter? ”
nah. average and net are 2 diff things. if punt is 46 yds and returner comes back for 22, net is 24. hangtime makes all the diff…..lets our guys get off blocks and then they either fair-catch or have shorter returns; yields higher net.
kern’s punts were too low, almost line drive. returners able to get going before gunners arrive.
Berger’s experience speaks for itself and we’re glad to have a proven winner. Anything that can enhance our kicking game, I will accept. Keep up the good work. GO BRONCOS!!!
I’m good with this move. More hang time means less returnable punts.
Funny how in the Spring McD couldn’t make a right move, and now he can’t make a wrong one. I heard somewhere winning cures everything, no kidding! LOL.
Ill go with McD i wanna win real bad
Interesting…why did Pittsburgh drop him?
I was one of the very few that didn’t like all the mess that went on in the off season but I knew because of the experience McDaniels has had with the Patriots, he would be SUCCESSFUL I was surprised that we play so hard for him right away because alot of players were upset with the trading issue with J.Cutler- most of the team was in love with his arm stregnth and was upset with alot of moves that was being made including the mess with B.Marshall. Winning does cure all ills and McDaniels is proving that he KNOWS how to WIN.We bought into the system McDaniels has bought to Denver and it is working very well so far.As long as we keep 1st- playing hard 2nd- protect K.Orton 3rd- Keep pressure on opposing quaterbacks and 4th-don’t give up the BIG PLAYS we will continue to win. It’s other things that contributes to us winning like getting our D-Fence of the field on 3rd downs, keep a fair balance between run and pass play’s, keeping player’s on both sides of the ball fresh by substituting players frequently. We have good depth at alot of positions. We are a very solid team and we will only get better the more we learn and play in this system. McDaniels will continue to brring in players that fits his scheme/system the way he needs them to. Right now things are working out great but when he get all the player’s he wants in all the positions he needs, we will be one if not the best team in the N.F.L. I am so excited about our future. We are headed in the right direction and that is up. I forgot to mention that we need to keep winning the turn-over battle and that we need to stay as healthy as possible. We do have capable back-ups but it’s nothing like having your starter’s there to fight for you. I love this team from top to bottom and will continue to forever. I’ve been a die hard BRONCOS fan since 1983 ” The Year Of The ELWAY ” and has stuck with them through thick and thin. My blood runs ORANGE and BLUE and alway’s will until my heart stops beating. Go BRONCOS………. On another note, I met TREVOR PRYCE recently and he is one hell of a guy !!!! I met his wife and kids first and they are the BEST. They are a class act of a family. He is a Raven now but I would give my right arm to have him back as a BRONCO. We or Shanahan should have NEVER let him get away. He was by far the BEST D-Line men we had and we didn’t give him the long term contract he deserved. It was probably because of his back injury but he had already proved his worth to us and he was on his way bacxk to stellar form when we didn’t re-sign him. He is all muscle and is as tall as a tree. On T.V. he looks more stout than lean but in person, the guy is a MONSTER, all lean MUSCLE. I would love to have him back in the Orange and Blue. TREVOR PRYCE and family I love you and I am very GREATFUL to have met you all in person ! You all are down to earth great people and you all never act like you’re better than other’s. Trevor’s parent’s are great also. I met them too and they are the best. I can clearly see where he got his greatness from because his MOM and DAD are very special and you feel it when you are in their pressence. Thye were down to earth also and they had no problems with meeting me and talking with me for awhile. I could have talked with them for hours but I did’t want to bore them or take all their time from what they were at that location for but I want them to know that they are the BEST and they raised a great son. The PRYCE’s are a great family and from the little time I’ve known them, I truly love them.I am going to the Broncos vs Ravens game this Sunday. I love Trevor Pryce and his family and all but I think I love the BRONCOS more so you know who I will be voting or rooting for………… Of course………..The BRONCOS……………Go BRONCOS and I love you The PRYCE’S ………………
I live in Baltimore,Maryland but i love the BRONCOS
baylinor: No you didn’t miss anything… they called his name when he got burned on a completion to Santonio Holmes. (Karl Paymah).
IWILLX2, when you state that a lot of players were upset with the Cutler trade, I have to take strong exception to that. Other than Marshall and Scheffler, who got 90% of Cutler’s throws, the majority of the players were glad to see Cutler go because they had grown tired of his antics. I understand that you felt real bad about the trade, but to back yourself up with the team is just plain wrong.
I also met Trevor, but when he was a rookie in 1997, at a hotel in Atlanta where we played the Falcons that year. He was with Keith “Tractor Trailer” his mentor/buddy back then, and Trevor was surprised that I recognized him, he didn’t know I was a Bronco junkie, LOL. Trevor was a giant of a man, specially height wise, while Tractor was absolutely all around HUUUGE. I got both their autographs on a football of mine and the next day after the game I got the same ball autographed by Bowlen, Shanahan and Barney Chavous. Worthless to say, it is one of my prize posession, signed memorabilia from the season of the year we won our first SB!
We had Price signed. Shanny let him go. He thought after the back injury that he was done. I remember cuz i was really PI$$ED BY THAT MOVE . It was the start of our DEFENSE decline. I voted for Trevor for the 50th team and was glad to see him make it.