"I made some dumb choices and I think I've been pretty humbled through that. I really feel like that if this isn't a lesson learned, I'm an idiot."
Sauerbrun, who doesn't believe ephedra should be banned by the NFL, was released by the Broncos after serving his suspension. While he had a few tryouts, he remained without a job until the Patriots called.
Sauerbrun believes part of the reason he was unemployed was because his name was part of a "60 Minutes" report in which he was alleged to have filled prescriptions for a banned steroid in the weeks before playing in the 2004 Super Bowl. Sauerbrun was one of three Carolina Panthers named in the report, along with center Jeff Mitchell and offensive tackle Todd Steussie.
Asked about the "60 Minutes" report yesterday, Sauerbrun said, "It's all [alleged]. Nothing is proven. We passed all their tests. They tested me. They had nothing, they got nothing on me. There is nothing more to say. That's it."
When asked if that meant he didn't take steroids, Sauerbrun said, "I'm saying it's allegations. That's it. It's all alleged. That's just what they were thinking. There is no proof anywhere. They're just going to say what they want to say, and so be it. And I can't say anything about it [because it's a federal case]."
Sauerbrun did talk about another mark on his off-field record, when he played for the Panthers (2001-04) and supposedly balked at kicking field goals when the team needed an injury replacement.
Sauerbrun explained yesterday that he never told the Panthers he wouldn't kick field goals, but before agreeing to the added responsibilities, he asked the team to remove fines he'd incurred for not making his targeted weight of 215 pounds.
"They were fining me because I was [close to] 2 pounds overweight -- it was coming out to about a couple thousand dollars a week -- and then on top of that, they were like, 'You want to kick field goals?' " Sauerbrun said. "[I said], 'Can you not fine me every week for being 2 pounds overweight?' What kind of trade-off is that? Where is the love here? The love was lost there. I just wanted [them to] give me a break."
