Danny

Baugher

Police allege Baugher was drunk at 4 AM and took his frustration out on his dad by hitting him in the face. He pleaded not guilty to assualt and battery last Thursday and was released on his own recognizance.

Danny Baugher and Tom Malone alternated punting duties, which is another bad sign for Miller, who has also had his holding job taken away from him. Baugher, who was named to the NFL Europa All-League team this spring, has the best chance at overtaking Miller’s job.

The release of Malone, a former USC standout, clears the way for Danny Baugher to be the Pats’ starting punter. Smith was merely a camp body.

Baugher made headlines last fall for assaulting his own dad in a parking lot after being cut by the Patriots. Buffalo isn’t trying to replace Brian Moorman.

Baugher was out of football in 2007 after being cut by the Patriots. This is his second stint with the Bengals - he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2006, but was cut after camp. Kyle Larson, the Bengals’ punter since 2004, will become an unrestricted free agent on February 29.

Finnerty was competing with Darrell Hackney for the team’s No. 3 quarterback job and Jacobs has disappointed since being a second-round pick with Washington in 2003. Jacobs was the only one who was on the Broncos last year.

Baugher was signed as an insurance plan in case Kyle Larson left via free agency. Larson signed a five-year deal, making Baugher expendable.

Denver had all kinds of kicking going on with Mike Vanderjagt and one-time Lion Kenny Byrd also at Dove Valley. None has signed a contract yet.

The Broncos love troubled punters. First Todd Sauerbrun, now a guy whose career was stalled because he was charged with assaulting his 54-year old father. Baugher and Sam Paulescu are the lone punts on Denver’s roster now, but more competition could be added before camp.