Time to look back

FOXBOROUGH -- When punter Todd Sauerbrun signed a one-year contract with the Patriots last Friday, he arrived with a big leg and some big questions.

The 33-year-old Sauerbrun stepped forward to answer some of those questions yesterday.

First, there was his four-game suspension from the start of the 2006 season for testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance ephedra.

"I took it. I made that choice, I made that mistake," said Sauerbrun, acknowledging that he knew it was banned by the league. "I paid my penance for it. And I've been punished more than enough.

"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."

Sauerbrun did kick field goals for one week in 2004, before the Panthers signed a replacement, connecting on his lone field goal try and all four extra points .

There was another off-field incident in December 2004, when he was arrested for drunken driving. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired, was fined $100, and placed on unsupervised probation for a year.

Regarding his transgressions, Sauerbrun believes he's been punished more than others who have been in similar situations.

"What bothers me the most is that all the stuff around the league that's gone [on] with players, it's almost like they wash their hands [of] it. There's no penalties," he said. "Even if they do get suspended, they're back and everything is all fine. Something like this, for ephedra nonetheless. I could understand if I was testing positive for cocaine, heroin. It was a diet pill. It wasn't even steroids.

"That's what upsets me, and I get punished beyond belief on this. And you see all this stuff happen to other people and nothing happens to them. Their team welcomes them back with open arms. I get punished way beyond what it should be."

That's part of why Sauerbrun views his time in New England as a fresh start. The contract he signed is a one-year deal, although he hopes it could lead to something long-term. If he has his way, the talk will be less about his past off-field transgressions, and more about his on-field performance, such as earning three Pro Bowl selections from 2001-03.

As for his first game as a Patriot, Sauerbrun said he was "definitely rusty" last Sunday, when he totaled five punts and finished with a 35-yard gross and net averages.

"I didn't even have a day of practice with the team, so it definitely felt a little weird," he said, noting that he believes it will take two games to hit his stride. "You do need the timing and my timing was definitely not in synch. It probably won't be for a little while. But it will come quick. I'm hoping to get a lot of reps this week, so I'll feel really good going into the playoffs."

Sauerbrun added that he isn't concerned about not having punted in a game at Gillette Stadium before the playoffs. He also feels welcome by his new teammates, who have created an "open-armish type of atmosphere."

When asked how he might be able to clear his name, Sauerbrun said it will come down to actions, not words.

"How do you clean up a reputation? Just by playing, getting it done, and staying off the radar," he said. "That's it. That's all you can do. And that's what I plan on doing. I have 10 years left in my leg. I'm in such good shape, I take so good care of myself, I want to play for another 10 years, and I could, easily. That's what I'm working toward now, just getting back.

"I paid my penance. I'm ready to move on. I've been punished more than enough. And enough is enough. Let's get it on, now. Let's do it."

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.