Ladies and Gentleman, Meet Our New Punter, Danny Baugher

by John Bena on Apr 16, 2008 7:51 AM MDT in Strictly My Opinion

I knew I remembered this name for some reason. So I did a search. This is the guy who was cut by the Patriots and allegedly took it out on his 54 year-old father --

The day after being cut by the New England Patriots, punter Danny Baugher is alleged to have turned his anger and frustration on his 54-year-old father.

Baugher, released by the team on Aug. 29, has been charged with assaulting his father, Erle, in a fast-food parking lot at 4 a.m. on Aug. 30, police said.

Police said Danny Baugher, 23, was drunk at the time and told them that he "was released by the New England Patriots [Aug. 29] and he was not handling it very well," according to a police report obtained by the Boston Herald.

Baugher pleaded not guilty to assault and battery last Thursday in Hingham (Mass.) District Court. He was released on his own recognizance with the condition he refrain from domestic abuse, according to the Herald.

The Patriots signed Baugher to their practice squad last season after his release by the Cincinnati Bengals. He did not appear on New England's 2006 roster but was hoping to win the full-time job for 2007 when the team released veteran Josh Miller.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick signed 30-year-old veteran Chris Hanson for the job out of training camp. Hanson, who was released by the New Orleans Saints earlier that week, has 428 punts for 18,347 yards with the Green Bay Packers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has averaged 42.9 yards per punt.

"Coach Belichick always says he has to make a lot of decisions on a daily basis and he always tries to make the decision that's best for the football team," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said, according to the Herald. "I don't get the sense that [Baugher's release] was anything non-football-related."

According to the police report, a spat between father and son inside a vehicle escalated to the point where Danny Baugher punched Erle in the face. Erle Baugher declined medical treatment.

Officer Timothy Kane, responding to a 911 report of two men fighting, said Danny Baugher had "bloodshot glassy eyes, slurred and thick-tongued speech, as well as the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath."

He described Baugher as "very evasive with his answers" and, when ordered out of the car, unable to keep his balance "due to high level of intoxication."

I am all for second chances, but after what we got from Todd Sauerbrun this move surprises me a bit. A guy has a few drinks, can't control his temper and beats someone up. Where have we heard that before?

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Ahh crap.....

What is it with punters and alcohol abuse?

Zapparulez's MHR Homepage

by Tim Lynch on Apr 16, 2008 7:59 AM MDT reply actions

It may seem trivial

but a father isn't a COP.

For all we know the boy was lashing out after years of psychological abuse.

Domestic violence, by its nature, is very tied up in a long history of events. We can't even begin to break this down and do justice for either side.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 16, 2008 8:32 AM MDT reply actions

I'd agree....

with 99% of occupations out there. Professional Football is not one of them, in my opinion. It is a privilege, and if the guy handles adversity by drinking and beating up family members then he can kindly find a job elsewhere.

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena on Apr 16, 2008 8:37 AM MDT up reply actions

Good point

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 16, 2008 8:44 AM MDT up reply actions

I still say end of story

Paulescue is our punter. So many people are willing to write him off so fast, but some of those people probably scoffed at us wasting a third round pick on Elam. I think he will get his fair shake.

Davis to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 16, 2008 12:22 PM MDT reply actions

Agree

I like Paulescu as well. I'd love to see coffin-corner kicks all day long. This signing just holds his feet to the fire a little, a good test for the lad.

Or so I'm told.

by MN Bronco on Apr 16, 2008 1:57 PM MDT up reply actions

I figured we avoided Vanderjagt...

...because (despite being an accurate kicker), he's a d!(k. So now we get a punter who's even worse. I'm a pro Shanahan guy, but this move just stinks. I hope Baugher doesn't make the final cut.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 16, 2008 5:21 PM MDT reply actions

Somewhere

I read they were going to wait until after the draft (to see what happens) to sign Vanderjagt.

Is there more to his phallousness than the "liquored up idiot kicker" thing that you know of? If it's just that one instance, it could just speak to his frustration rather than a character issue. Seems I remember he and Manning got resolved on that.

Or so I'm told.

by MN Bronco on Apr 17, 2008 8:37 AM MDT up reply actions

Here in Indiana...

...Van is still talked about and hated all this time later. As far as I know, the situation was an isolated one, but so public and so ill advised that it only took the one incident.

The reconciliation seemed very staged and (of course) Van was out of here in no time.

I don't have a dog in this fight and don't care much about Van one way or the other. He was a good kicker, but also had the incident. He has had problems holding a kicking job since then, and I'm not sure if that is based on production or word amongst managers about locker room issues.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 17, 2008 8:56 AM MDT up reply actions