10B SPORTS
NFL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2009
Broncos sign veteran punter Berger
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ENGLEWOOD,Colo.- Sixteen years into a vagabond NFL career that most recently featured a cham-
pursuit season
punter Mitch
Berger has come
full circle.
Berger, 37, had his first practice Wednesday with the Denver Broncos since being signed this week as the
sorts for the Canadian-born Berger, who starred at the University of Colorado in the early 1990s.
"it's been a long time since I've been back in this area," Berrer
"We just felt like... Mitch would give us an opportunity to improve in that area."
second-year pro Brett Kern, who was waived. It was a homecoming of
JOSH MCDANIELS Broncos coach
Philadelphia steady their
a long time since I've in this area." Berger said. "I loved being at Colorado and have good memories of that. It's been awhile since I've been there and I'm happy to be back."
The Broncos are counting on Berger, who joined his 12th NFL team since being drafted by the Eagles in 1994, to punting game. He'll
make his Broncos debut Sunday, when the Broncos (6-0) visit the Baltimore Ravens (3-3).
Kern had the 10th-best punting average (46.1 yards) in the league, but struggled with his directional game.
He put an NFL-high six of his 27 punts into the end zone for touchbacks, a no-fo for coach Josh McDaniels, who places a high premium on the battle for field position.
The capper may have come Oct. 19 in Denver's 34-23 victory at San Diego, when he got off a long pint with little hang time that Darren Sproles returned 77 yards for a touchdown.
"It certainly wasn't something where Brett was the only person that had made any mistakes or had done anything that we didn't like on the punt team," McDaniels said.
"We just felt like, with some of the things we're asking our punter to do, that Mitch would give us an opportunity to improve in that area," he said. "We made the change and we're going to work hard to make sure that it's the right move."
Berger, who won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, was out of football until being signed Monday by the Broncos.
NFL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman throws a pass Sept. 4. Freeman will replace Josh Johnson in an attempt to improve the team's winless record.
Buccaneers change starting quarterback
BY FRED GOODALL
Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers have changed starting quarterbacks again, with rookie Josh Freeman taking over the offense.
Freeman was the 17th pick in the first round of this year's draft. He made his NFL debut last Sunday, in the fourth quarter of a 35-7 loss to the Patriots in London.
“It's definitely something I've been working toward. It finally going to be great to get an opportunity to step out there and do something," the former Kansas State standout said Wednesday.
"My mindset right now is to prepare the best I can and then go out and do what I do, which is play football and try to find a way to
get a win."
Coach Raheem Morris was noncommittal about his quarterback plans after Freeman completed two of four passes for 16 yards and was sacked twice for 16 yards in losses against New England.
Morris officially made the change when the team practiced for the first time since returning from London.
The Bucs (0-7) have a bye this week, meaning Freeman will have extra time to prepare for his first start Nov. 8 at home against Green Bay.
Freeman replaces second-year pro Josh Johnson. Johnson, a fifthround draft pick in 2008, made four starts after former Jaguars and Falcons starter Byron Leftwich led the team the first three weeks of the season.
A Friend Dies. Who Cares?
Toxic drinking is an epidemic on campuses all across America.
It means consuming so much alcohol the drinker passes out. But while "sleeping it off," the victim may be quietly dying.
When you come right down to it,students themselves are the best ones to tackle this problem. So, in growing numbers Stony Brook students have joined together in the Red Watch Band movement.
Working with experts, they fine-tuned a course in techniques to handle these alcohol emergencies. Red Watch Band members can act fast, when every second counts. They know the quick steps they can take to rescue a passed-out student from a drinking death,and can immediately summon professional help.Everyone completing the course is given the distinctive red watch for identification.
Since its inception at Stony Brook University in March 2009, approximately 40 schools across the country have signed on to implement this lifesaving program.
To prevent toxic drinking deaths, go to redwatchband.org
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