GLENDALE, Ariz. • One of the tougher decisions the Denver Broncos have to make is picking a punter. The good news for the team is both candidates punted well enough in the preseason to earn the job.

Sam Paulescu and Brett Kern split punts again Friday, as they did in the first and second preseason games. Kern handled both punts in the third game.

Paulescu had a fantastic punt to start the game. He hit a directional kick to his right and it landed out of bounds at the 7-yard line. The punt went 48 yards. Kern answered with a 41-yard punt that went out of bounds at the 10. On Paulescu’s third attempt, he kicked a 47-yarder out of bounds at the 8.

Coach Mike Shanahan said after the third preseason game that the competition between Kern and Paulescu was very close.

Green’s comeback

Louis Green, whose preseason got off to a horrible start when he was carted off the field in the first game because of a neck injury, played well. On Arizona’s first possession, Green tackled Cardinals starting running back Edgerrin James for a 5-yard loss on third and 2. In the second quarter, Green recovered a backward lateral by quarterback Matt Leinart. Green, a key special teams player since joining the Broncos in 2004, is fighting for a roster spot.

Koutouvides plays

Niko Koutouvides lost a battle with Nate Webster to start at middle linebacker, so he started the final preseason game. Shanahan said earlier this week that Koutouvides might benefit from the extra experience. Koutouvides had three tackles in the first half and recovered a fumble. Rookie Spencer Larsen started the second half.