Union Wins Case to Make Sauerbrun Free Agent

The NFL Players Association won a case before league special master Stephen Burbank to make punter Todd Sauerbrun a free agent.

The former Pro Bowl selection likely will sign with the Denver Broncos.

Sauerbrun had signed a contract with the Broncos, but the New England Patriots had exercised their right to retain him by matching the deal. Sauerbrun had given that right to the Patriots when he signed with them last season after being released by the Broncos following a four-game suspension imposed by the league for testing positive for ephedra.

But the union took a case before Burbank, who's in charge of resolving disputes between the league and the union arising from the collective bargaining agreement, and argued that the Patriots did not follow proper procedures in the manner in which the clause was written into Sauerbrun's contract. Burbank agreed and ruled that the Patriots didn't have the right to keep him, making him a free agent.

The decision first was reported by the Boston Globe.

By Mark Maske |  April 18, 2007; 6:37 PM ET  | Category:  Broncos , League , Patriots
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