Brun's fat!

Sauerbrun: Refund fines and I'll kick

PAT YASINSKAS

STAFF WRITER


Panthers punter Todd Sauerbrun said Wednesday that he told the Carolina Panthers he wouldn't add place-kicking duties to his punting chores unless they refunded him the money he has been fined all season for being overweight. He said he had been fined about $40,000 for consistently being a few pounds over the stipulated 217.

Sauerbrun also said the Panthers mentioned the possibility of signing kicker Bill Gramatica to fill in if John Kasay, who has a strained calf muscle, is unable to kick Sunday against Arizona. Sauerbrun, who got into a verbal war with the Gramatica kicking family in 2002, said he did his best to veto that idea.

And Sauerbrun said he believes he has a shot at being the first punter to make the Hall of Fame and that legendary Oakland punter Ray Guy and other kickers from past are overrated.

Excerpts of Sauerbrun's interview:

Q. Would you have liked a chance to handle the kicking duties if Kasay can't?

A. Yeah, I would definitely like to do it, but we'd have to come to agreement about something because I've been fined a lot this year. If we were able to work something out, get some of my fine money back ... That's the only reason I was adamant about not doing it. I'd love to do it, but they'd have to give me some of that fine money back.

Q. Just to clarify, you told the team you'd only do both jobs if you got your fine money back?

A. Absolutely. Absolutely. Other than that, I wouldn't do it.

Q. And the team said no to that?

A. Yeah, they don't want to pay any money for it. (Special teams coach) Scott (O'Brien) also thinks that would be a lot of wear and tear on me. I'm fine with it all. I'm not disgruntled about anything. But I'd like to do it. It would be fun. But I'd want my money back.

Q. What were you fined for?

A. Being overweight. That just doesn't make any sense to me. It's my fault, but I don't agree on it.

Q. What weight are you supposed to be?

A. It's like 217 (pounds) and I'm like 218 or 219. Those fines add up. They fine you every day, every pound. The one week I was like four or five pounds overweight. That, every day until the next week, it adds up. Probably at least $20,000 or $25,000. That's net. So that's probably like $40,000 (for the year) and that (ticks) me off bad.

Q. If it's only a pound or two, why not just lose it?

A. I try. I'm telling you man, I just can't stop eating. I just love food.

For more of the interview, read Thursday's Charlotte Observer.

 

phat

 

Sauerbrun's Gal needs to get busy and help him work off those extra lb's

:getaroom:

 

...just as I start to try and like the guy again

cut that asshole

fucking locker room cancer muthafucker piece shit non-team playing can't take care of own damn eating habit bitching ass

billy gram can kick, if Kasay can't go, he's prob the best available...fuck Todd stupid son of a bitch

 

I like him more.

 

me too

 

lazy fatass piece of shit needs to shut the fuck up and kick the ball and stop being a complete fucking pussy

he makes 2 million a year to kick a ball for Christ's sake

get rid of him as soon as it's feasible, we can get just as good of a punter for less than that

 

good grief, what a crock of shit

 

There are Pro Bowl punters on every corner, yes.

 

he's nowhere near a pro-bowl punter, 9th in league in gross yards

I don't want to be a team that relies on a pro-bowl punter to lead them to a 2-7 record