The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed free-agent punter Danny Baugher, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Baugher (5-foot-10, 194 pounds) is a first-year player who joins the Broncos after spending time with Cincinnati (2006 and 08) and New England (2006-07). Baugher entered the NFL with Cincinnati as a college free agent on May 4, 2006, after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right knee in November of his senior season at the University of Arizona. The Bengals waived Baugher on July 31, 2006. He joined New England's practice squad on Oct. 10 where he spent the balance of the 2006 season. New England allocated Baugher to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europa after he signed a future contract with the club on Jan. 23, 2007. The Patriots waived Baugher on Aug. 30. Baugher joined Cincinnati on Feb. 5 before he was waived on April 3.
Baugher, 24, punted 47 times for 2,040 yards (43.4 avg.), including 15 punts inside the 20-yard line, to represent the Rhein Fire on the All-NFL Europa squad in 2007.
Baugher, who was on the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award in 2005, led the nation with a 47.5 average before suffering a season-ending injury after seven games at the University of Arizona. He booted 37 punts for 1,758 yards, with 11 downed inside opponents' 20-yard line, seven fair catches and eight touchbacks. He completed his collegiate career as the school's all-time leader with 225 punts and 9,476 yards (42.1 avg.).
Baugher, who attended Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, was born on Jan. 24, 1984.