Punt and Kickoff Returners '08 (1 Viewer)

[duece2626]

TENNESSEE

Chris Johnson continues to impress with his scintillating speed. According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, during today’s practices, Johnson demonstrated his punt-returning prowess by catching all of the balls punted to him with relative ease. Much of the attention has been geared towards the role that Johnson will play in the running and receiving games, but his impact on special teams may be the place of his greatest impact as a rookie in 2008. Johnson has speed to burn, and that ability to accelerate should provide Vince Young and the offense with great field position on a consistent basis.

LINK

Didn't the Titans sign Chris Carr as a KR/PR?

 

[Jayrod]

What are the "safest" bets at KR/PR as far as depth chart goes at this point? Are there any?

Hester, Cribbs, Ginn..... that's about all I know of off the top of my head I'm sure there are a couple of others. Both Hester and Ginn will have some duties backed off due to increased roles in the offense, but they are both the primary guys on their teams. Cribbs is "the man" in Cleveland and the surest thing in the return game right now, IMO.Also, if Pacman is cleared to play, I'll bet he runs 90% of the returns in Dallas.

 

[Mike Herman]

TENNESSEE

Chris Johnson continues to impress with his scintillating speed. According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, during today’s practices, Johnson demonstrated his punt-returning prowess by catching all of the balls punted to him with relative ease. Much of the attention has been geared towards the role that Johnson will play in the running and receiving games, but his impact on special teams may be the place of his greatest impact as a rookie in 2008. Johnson has speed to burn, and that ability to accelerate should provide Vince Young and the offense with great field position on a consistent basis.

LINK

Didn't the Titans sign Chris Carr as a KR/PR?

Yes...

Kick Returners: Chris Carr; Chris Johnson; Chris Henry; Michael Griffin; Chris Davis; Casey Cramer; Calvin Lowry; Cortland Finnegan; Lavelle Hawkins; Cary Williams

After going through numerous returners last year, the Titans signed free agent CB Chris Carr this offseason. As a rookie in 2005, he stepped into the return specialist role for the Raiders and did a commendable job. He had 69 kickoff returns (25.5 avg.) in 2006, and 59 returns (22.5 avg.) in 2007. He's the frontrunner for the job, although rookie RB Chris Johnson could challenge. The first round draft pick averaged 28.0 yards (18th in NCAA) and scored once for East Carolina last year. Carr has experience, Johnson has speed. When not suspended, RB Chris Henry averaged 20. 9 yard on 13 returns last year. FS Michael Griffin handled kickoff returns the first part of last year (18 returns, 23.4 avg.). Potential backups and upmen include WR/PR Chris Davis (2 returns, 18.5 avg.), RB Casey Cramer (one return for 13 yards), and FS Calvin Lowry (one return for 15 yards). DB Cortland Finnegan averaged 25.1 yards on kickoff returns during his college career at Samford. In addition to Johnson, two other rookies could see work on kickoff returns. Fourth round draft pick WR Lavelle Hawkins averaged 22.0 yards on 42 returns and scored once for California last year. Seventh round draft pick CB Cary Williams averaged 28.6 yards and scored twice during his two years at Washburn.

LINK: FBG Titans Team Report

 

[Mike Herman]

What are the "safest" bets at KR/PR as far as depth chart goes at this point? Are there any?

Guys who should handle both kickoffs and punts, and that aren't competing for the job:Ari - Steve BreastonBal - Yamon FigursChi - Devin HesterCle - Josh CribbsDen - Eddie Royal ?Mia - Ted Ginn Jr. (unless it becomes too much with increased offensive role)SD - Darren SprolesSF - Allen RossumSea - Nate Burleson (unless it becomes too much with increased offensive role)StL - Dante Hall (unless age and salary make him expendable)

 

[Truman]

Dal: Adam Jones

 

[Mike Herman]

ATLANTA

The primary punt returner from last season, Adam Jennings (6.2-yard average), received work at the position during mini camp along with Jerious Norwood and Brent Grimes. Norwood returns as the team's leading kickoff return specialists, but General Manager Thomas Dimitroff expressed optimism that rookie Thomas Brown could contribute in that role.

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[KellysHeroes]

What are the "safest" bets at KR/PR as far as depth chart goes at this point? Are there any?

Cribbs / Breaston / Hester / Ginn Jr - those 4 will always be the top guys... no matter role they have; they will always get returns

 

[jerseydevil20]

What are the "safest" bets at KR/PR as far as depth chart goes at this point? Are there any?

Cribbs / Breaston / Hester / Ginn Jr - those 4 will always be the top guys... no matter role they have; they will always get returns

I appreciate all of the response to my question. My focus has been on either those that will get the lion share of return yards for their teams (see the four above), or will see significant field time on offense, and have either PR or KR yards. In that category I put MJD, Stewart, Washington, McGee, Hobbs?, Welker, and Norwood. Hester and Ginn give you the double bonus, and it looks like Breaston may see the field on 3 WR sets...

 

[Qmaster]

How about KR/PR that are DB's?

Who do you see as the top Returners with little competition, besides Adam Jones/DAL I'm not sure if Hobbs has the job anymore in NE

Any other DB returners?

 

[KellysHeroes]

How about KR/PR that are DB's?Who do you see as the top Returners with little competition, besides Adam Jones/DAL I'm not sure if Hobbs has the job anymore in NEAny other DB returners?

Parrish and McGee are up there in those leagues

 

[Mike Herman]

How about KR/PR that are DB's?Who do you see as the top Returners with little competition, besides Adam Jones/DAL I'm not sure if Hobbs has the job anymore in NEAny other DB returners?

No great answers unfortunately. Almost all of them are either competing for the job and/or only handle one type of return. Out of the bunch, Rossum is probably the closest thing to a lock to be the return specialist.Buf - McGee or McKelvinDal - JonesGB - Williams or BlackmonInd - RushingKC - SamsNE - HobbsNYG - McQuartersNYJ - MillerOak - BranchPhi - DempsSF - RossumSea - WilsonTen - Carr

 

[Mike Herman]

BUFFALO

Will Leodis McKelvin be a regular returner? He had an NCAA record eight returns for touchdowns in his college career (7 punts, 1 kickoff). When he was finished at Troy he had more return yards than any player in NCAA annals. An NFL rookie with that kind of resume would be considered a shoe-in to return kicks or punts. But in the NFL the Bills are the exception. With Terrence McGee and Roscoe Parrish giving NFL coverage units fits each and every Sunday, Buffalo arguably has the best kick-punt return combination in the league. McGee is a Pro Bowl returner who is one of just 10 players in league history with five career kickoff returns for touchdowns including last year's 103-yard run to pay dirt against the Cowboys. Parrish meanwhile flirted with an incomprehensible 20-yard punt return average for more than half the season and led the league at season's end (yes even better than Devin Hester) with a punt return average of 16.3.

So while McKelvin has proven himself an accomplished return man at the collegiate level, McGee and Parrish have done it at football's highest level and that carries weight with Bills special teams coordinator Bobby April. "Well, over the last three to four years we had exceptional production from our return game and we've got pretty much the same guys back," April said. "There have been some other guys that have contributed in the returns, but with Roscoe and Terrence, that's a lot of production. That's a lot of big plays that they've brought." At the same time April respects McKelvin's desire to make an early impact. "He's got such big play ability," said April. "He's really explosive and really talented. When you get taken 11th in the draft you have a lot of ability. He really wants to be good in our area and that's important."

McKelvin expects to make a difference for his team recognizing the importance of being a number one pick. And that inner confidence is evident when asked what made him such a successful return man at Troy. "All the fans stand up because they know something is about to happen," McKelvin told Buffalobills.com. "If they blink their eye I could almost be in the end zone. I just bring some excitement to the game. It's a three phase game and I'm a defensive player at heart, but when it comes fourth down and they're getting ready to punt to me and the other 10 guys block for me we're going to do a great job."

Outside the walls of One Bills Drive there's a line of thinking that perhaps McGee and Parrish would benefit from taking a break on a few returns here and there to reduce the wear and tear on their bodies over the course of a 16-game season, knowing McGee logs a lot of snaps on defense and Parrish is expected to have an expanded role offensively. But McGee thinks otherwise. "I'm like anybody back there," said McGee. "I'm sure (McKelvin) would say he'd like to get all of them. I'm going to say I want to get all of them. It might get to a point where I need a blow, hopefully that won't happen. We're all competitors out there so we all want the ball in our hands especially being cornerbacks. But I want to return and hopefully I get the chance to keep doing it."

One thing that is certain is it will definitely be an entertaining competition. "I think they're tremendous and they'll have to compete," said April of his returner contingent. "This kid wants to do it. He'll make Terrence better, or he'll beat him out or he'll make Roscoe better or he'll beat him out. I mean Terrence and Roscoe are our guys, but this guy comes in here hungry. He wants to play." Ultimately, April says it's the head coach's decision, but he plans to trim the reps for McGee and Parrish in camp and the preseason because he knows what both are capable of. "Just being selective with those two guys gives Leodis an open door to get quite a bit," said April. "But there's also a couple other guys we want to get some looks at. It's going to be interesting. It's going to be fun to see all of those compete and produce because I think they all can. It's a good group."

McKelvin just hopes those reps are enough to convince April and head coach **** Jauron that he deserves to at least share some of the return load. "It'll be very competitive," he said. "I'm a competitive person. I'm going to come in and be very hungry and whoever is the best person back there is going to be back there."

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[Toads]

 

[Mr. Soup Nazi]

 

[faux_bear]

 

[Mike Herman]

CLEVELAND

When special teams coach Darrin Simmons arrived in Cincinnati six years ago, he had one of the more explosive punt returners in the NFL in Peter Warrick. Warrick got hurt and was never the same. And neither was the Bengals' return game. Wide receiver Antonio Chatman is the player to beat at the position this year, but he battled a hamstring injury for much of 2007 and averaged a career-low 5.2 yards on 18 returns. Cornerback Deltha O'Neal also is being considered. Receiver Glenn Holt is expected to be pushed at kickoff returner by third-round pick Andre Caldwell, Simmons said.

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[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

Devin Hester told the Tribune Wednesday he intends to hold out of training camp until the Bears grant him a new deal. "I'm not coming,'' he said by phone. "I have to make a statement. I showed by going to [organized team activities] that I was a team player. But then, I just felt like they weren't taking it seriously that I wanted to get a new deal. "I can't go out and play this year making $445,000. Come on, man.''

Hester, who is signed through 2009, is entering the third year of his rookie deal. The Bears have discussed the possibility of a raise with his agent, Eugene Parker, throughout the off-season. Each side has exchanged proposals. Complicating matters is the fact that the Bears have no other contracts to measure Hester's worth against. He wants to be paid as a receiver, but the Bears are willing to pay him as the league's highest-paid special teams player — a deal that would no doubt fall short of Hester's mark.

Efforts to reach Parker were unsuccessful while the Bears planned to address the situation after practice Wednesday.

"You should pay me like I'm one of a kind,'' Hester said. "It's like dating a girl. When you find somebody who is real special, you're going to do whatever it takes to keep her. You might cut back on what you're giving your mom to give to her. And that's how I feel they should treat me.''

LINK

 

[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo sounded willing to continue talking but unwilling to set a precedent in letting a veteran holdout get his way in absentia. "We have a policy," Angelo said Wednesday. "It's disappointing. If players are going to negotiate with us, we want them here." Somehow, Hester's decision to skip training camp to protest his contract caught Angelo off-guard. It had been several days since he spoke to Parker, who was immersed Wednesday in negotiating the contracts of six other clients. A source said the Bears just ran out of time trying to extend Hester's contract, which is like letting the shot clock expire with the game on the line. "Unexpected," Angelo said. "I talked to [Parker] a few days ago and he floated it out there, but I didn't really take it serious." Angelo really should talk more to his assistant coaches. When wide receivers coach Darryl Drake was asked if Hester's holdout surprised him, he shook his head. "No," Drake answered. "Were you?"

Considering coach Lovie Smith sounded as optimistic as ever Tuesday talking about a full team reporting, the news startled, yes. But in retrospect, maybe it shouldn't have. The minute Brian Urlacher agreed to terms on his new contract, which had four years left, it empowered Hester. Urlacher followed Tommie Harris, who followed Lance Briggs. Urlacher and Briggs got their new deals after making their own rather noisy stands. In some ways, this is just a young player emulating older teammates. "He is such a dynamic player and he has done so much in two years, he probably deserves a little more than what he's getting," Drake said.

Conservatively, Hester has been almost single-handedly responsible for two victories in each of his first two NFL seasons. Without Hester in 2006, maybe the Bears don't win road games against the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Without Hester last year, do they beat Kansas City and Denver at home? One could argue that, given the way the Bears are built, Hester affects outcomes more than any other Bear recently rewarded with a new deal. "We don't necessarily have a pecking order," Angelo said. "We did a lot this off-season in terms of our own team. We did tell Devin we were going to address this situation and we have."

The tricky part comes in finding the middle ground. The market for No. 1 wide receivers was set by free agent Bernard Berrian, who got $42 million over six years from the Vikings to leave the Bears. But Hester currently might be closer to a hybrid No. 2 or 3 receiver/return man such as Antwaan Randle El of the Redskins, whose deal in 2006 was for $31 million over seven years. That makes it hard to determine what to pay a historic kick returner with potential to be a game-breaking wide receiver but still is learning that position. "He does understand [how that complicates negotiations]," said Drake, who is close to Hester. "I'm not sure when this thing first started that his demands were somewhere out of the ballpark. I talked to him about that and I told him that's not going to happen. The ability is there to be an elite guy. But at the same time, there has to be a medium between the Bears and Devin Hester. … They have to meet halfway and it has to be both sides."

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"It is very difficult given the situation,'' GM Jerry Angelo on the team's showdown now with holdout Devin Hester. "It's probably one that I won't ever experience again. But again we're working at doing it. We want to do it. He's earned it. He is a very, very good player for us. We're all in agreement on Devin's value."

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[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

Today, the Bears will go through punt return drills for the first time. Nathan Vasher, you're up. The veteran cornerback will be the first to field punts. He's been a backup for Hester the last two seasons. While he's yet to return a punt in a regular season game, he did return one during preseason last year. Vasher was an All-American choice as a punt returner at Texas in 2001 and holds some Longhorns records, a proud distinction considering he followed Eric Metcalf at the school. Metcalf is one of the best returners in NFL history. "Vasher could start for a lot of teams as a punt returner and be very good,'' special teams coordinator Dave Toub said. "He wants to do it. Everybody wants to have the ball in their hands." Well, everybody cannot get the opportunity when Hester is their teammate. Not when he's here, any way. Next up on the depth chart will be rookie wide receiver Earl Bennett, who stood out catching the ball Wednesday. Bennett was used occasionally in the role at Vanderbilt and Toub cited his sure hands as a strength. "He did a real good job during OTA's," Toub said.

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With news of his absence from training camp blaring from a sports talk station in the background, Devin Hester said he's prepared to dig in for the long haul. As in the entire 2008 season. The most dynamic return man in NFL history -- and a guy who would have run with the first team at wide receiver had he attended the Bears' first practice Wednesday -- wants more money. And he's ready to call general manager Jerry Angelo's bluff that the organization will not negotiate with players who are AWOL. ''That's what they said to get me to start coming to OTAs,'' Hester told the Sun-Times on Wednesday. ''It's time for me to take a stand. We're going to stand by our decision to do this, and we feel like this can go down to whenever in the season or the end of the season. No matter what.''

Perhaps Hester was tuned into the radio to gauge public reaction to a decision that stunned the Bears. ''I would say 95 percent of Chicago fans are saying why not reward a player that's been here two years and has contributed to the team in the ways I have,'' he said.

Angelo spoke with Hester's agent, Eugene Parker, on Monday, when Parker floated the idea that Hester might boycott camp. The Bears didn't take the suggestion seriously, but they are now after placing Hester on the reserved-did not report list. Parker did not return calls seeking comment. ''Usually when you say, 'Hey, it's over, take it or leave it, we're out of money,' you might get a reaction like that,'' Angelo said. ''But as you're continuing on in negotiations as we have been, it is surprising. "We did tell Devin we were going to address his situation, and we have. That's where it is. The timing of it maybe wasn't satisfactory to him, but again, those things just kind of run their course.''

Hester said he felt like he didn't have any other choice after he watched the team hand extensions to Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, Robbie Gould, Desmond Clark and Kyle Orton and re-sign Lance Briggs and Rex Grossman. ''I feel like I should have been one of the top guys rewarded after the two seasons I had,'' he said. ''Now, I'm the last guy. I was not getting anywhere [in negotiations], and it was a big risk for me going out there and possibly being hurt. I couldn't do that. It wasn't a tough decision for me to make. Me and my agent agreed during OTAs [after he skipped some of the offseason program] for me to come back, and then they would start negotiating with it. That hasn't been done yet, and we have to make a statement: We're willing to do whatever it takes to get paid.''

Hester is subject to daily fines of $15,000, but the greatest impact of his absence will be on his work at receiver -- which is how he'll eventually command the big money he's seeking. It's makes it a real Catch-22. ''He can be, eventually, a No. 1 receiver,'' offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. ''Whether he is this year or not, I don't know, but he'll be a receiver that's going to play a lot of football for us. He needs to be here, but he also needs to make sure he's happy and doing what he has to do.'' Hester hopes outsiders can understand his position. ''I know [the fans] come out to watch me play at training camp and in games, and I apologize for not being in camp,'' he said. ''I wish they would understand it's business that I need to take care of. I want to get what I deserve, but I want the fans to know this is hurting me more than them.''

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[AnonymousBob]

CHICAGO

Devin Hester told the Tribune Wednesday he intends to hold out of training camp until the Bears grant him a new deal. "I'm not coming,'' he said by phone. "I have to make a statement. I showed by going to [organized team activities] that I was a team player. But then, I just felt like they weren't taking it seriously that I wanted to get a new deal. "I can't go out and play this year making $445,000. Come on, man.''

Hester, who is signed through 2009, is entering the third year of his rookie deal. The Bears have discussed the possibility of a raise with his agent, Eugene Parker, throughout the off-season. Each side has exchanged proposals. Complicating matters is the fact that the Bears have no other contracts to measure Hester's worth against. He wants to be paid as a receiver, but the Bears are willing to pay him as the league's highest-paid special teams player — a deal that would no doubt fall short of Hester's mark.

Efforts to reach Parker were unsuccessful while the Bears planned to address the situation after practice Wednesday.

"You should pay me like I'm one of a kind,'' Hester said. "It's like dating a girl. When you find somebody who is real special, you're going to do whatever it takes to keep her. You might cut back on what you're giving your mom to give to her. And that's how I feel they should treat me.''

LINK

Devin Hester is a special girl.

 

[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

Daily Hester updates...

Jerry Angelo sounded a slightly more upbeat note than others involved in the process. "We're optimistic and we want to reward Devin," Angelo said. "We told him that, he's earned that. He doesn't have to tell us how great he is. Or tell us any stats. We've all seen it for ourselves." The Bears have offered Hester a contract that would make him the highest-paid return man in NFL history, according to a source. Terms of that offer are unknown. The holdup remains that Hester and Parker began negotiations asking for a contract commensurate with that typically paid a No. 1 receiver. The conundrum facing the Bears and Hester: He wants to improve quickly to become that type of receiver, but each practice he misses threatens to ####### that process. "He is developing, doing a very good job [and] we certainly don't want that process to slow down or stop," Angelo said.

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First, Brian Mitchell joked that if Devin Hester holds out for a while, Mitchell's place in the NFL record book will be secure for a little while longer. Then the most productive kick returner in NFL history started doing the math. It added up in a hurry for Hester, who is holding out of Bears training camp. 'In 1996, I signed a five-year, almost $10 million contract,'' Mitchell said, who played for the Redskins, Eagles and Giants. ''Chad Morton got $2.5 million to sign on an $8 million deal from the Redskins [in 2003], and he couldn't sniff my jock or get even close to Devin Hester. What does Devin deserve? Well, there are third receivers out there making $3 million and $4 million a year, and they don't have near the impact Devin does. ''He gives you great field position all day, and even if he's on the field and doesn't touch the ball, you have to prepare for him in all facets. Why isn't he worth $5 million a year or more? He's the best out there. They don't go to the Super Bowl two years ago if he wasn't there. ''Too many times we're praising offense and defense, and you have a guy consistently getting you the ball close to the 50 or on the other side? He's the closest thing to a most valuable player the Chicago Bears have.''

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[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

Devin Hester's resolve to sit out the entire 2008 season, if necessary, to get a new contract ended after two days of training camp. The wide receiver arrived at training camp happy teammates reported at breakfast this morning, in time for a morning weightlifting session and today's 3 p.m. practice. Hester shows up after accruing roughly $30,000 in fines for missing two days of practice. "It's time for me to take a stand,'' he told the Sun-Times Tuesday in explaining his absence. ``We're going to stand by our decision to do this and we feel like this can go down to whenever in the season or the end of the season. No matter what.'' There was a change of heart between then and now, and this puts Hester in position to compete for a starting job as a receiver. He was slated to work with the first team on Wednesday and will not be far behind now. Teammates and coaches were understanding of his position as he's scheduled to earn $445,000 this season. General manager Jerry Angelo spoke with Hester's agent Eugene Parker on Thursday and expressed that he didn't want Hester to feel slighted that the club got a slew of contracts done and not his, that it remained a top priority for the club. Perhaps that was good enough to motivate Hester to appear. Maybe he just wanted to grab their attention, which he did by stunning Angelo and Co. by not reporting Tuesday night.

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[Mike Herman]

Name two players that each muffed two punts during special teams practice for their respective teams...

If you said Reggie Bush and Josh Cribbs, you're a winner.

 

[Jayrod]

Name two players that each muffed two punts during special teams practice for their respective teams...

If you said Reggie Bush and Josh Cribbs, you're a winner.

Both of these guys are on my dynasty squad in a return yardage league. This isn't exactly the kind of news I was hoping to read in this thread. Thanks for nothing, Herman.

However, I think catching an NFL quality punt has to be ridiculously hard. I returned punts in HS and it wasn't very easy (and those were like 30 yard punts with 2 seconds of hang time).

Bush and Cribbs are two of the best punt returners in the league. I'll be worried if it happens in pre-season games, but not during one practice.

Keep the updates coming, I love this thread.

 

[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

Devin Hester has arrived at Bears' training camp and he has a curiously timed, maybe even luckily timed hamstring pull. The club failed him on his physical and placed him on the non-football injury list meaning he cannot practice until he passes a physical. Hester made it clear Wednesday when his two-day boycott began that he was concerned about getting injured before he secured a longterm contract. There's no fear of that if he's not suiting up. He also doesn't have to fear a $15,000 daily fine, which he would have had he stayed away from camp. Asked if he would begin practicing before signing a contract extension he replied, "I have no comment on that." Coach Lovie Smith said the injury is not serious. Draw your own conclusions here but it could be he's healed just in time to put his name to a contract. How soon that will happen, who knows. There wasn't any negotiating going on late Friday afternoon with agent Eugene Parker as the club's entire front office was out watching practice. Stay tuned.

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[Mike Herman]

NEW ORLEANS

Late Friday afternoon, Saints running back Reggie Bush revealed his desire for a role on special teams this season. "I want to be the full-time punt-returner, " Bush said. "And it starts right now at practice, with just proving to the coaches that I can be the guy back there to make it happen and them giving me a shot." Asked if he thought the coaches would give him that chance, Bush said: "Yeah, definitely, I think so." Bush returned three punts for 12 yards in 2007. Receiver Lance Moore led the team by returning 20 punts for 185 yards. Bush had 28 returns for 216 yards and a touchdown in his rookie season. He dropped two punts during practice Friday morning, even punting one ball back across the field after a miss. But he seemed to catch all of the punts in Saturday morning's session.

More competition for Bush arrived at training camp late Friday, when cornerback Tracy Porter, the Saints' second-round pick, signed his contract. Porter returned punts at Indiana, and Payton said Saturday that Porter will be worked into the Saints' return game. "The only thing you can do is notify the coach and let him know that it's something that you want to play, it's something that you have in your arsenal, " Porter said. "And the coaches, they do know that I played that at Indiana. So they have me back there in the rotation, catching punts, getting reps, and ultimately it's going to be the coaches' decision on who they want back there."

linkCHICAGO

Devin Hester fielded some punts on the side at the start of the evening practice and spent time chatting with general manager Jerry Angelo during practice. The team was in contact with his agent, Eugene Parker, during the day. ''We anticipate him coming back shortly,'' Smith said. ''He's making progress. He seemed like he's ready to go, and we're ready to get him out on the field.'' Hester is on the non-football injury list with a hamstring pull, and he's not expected to begin practicing until he has a new contract.

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[massraider]

Quick little blurb from Raiders beat writer:



– Competition? The Raiders were fielding punts in a variety of down-and-distance scenarios for more than 15 minutes to open practice and had exactly one return man _ Higgins.

http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/

 

[Gary Davenport]

Odds are I just missed his name, but Ted Ginn Jr. HAS to be at or near the top of your wish list if you're in a league that awards return yards. #1 WR on a bad team that will get scored on a lot. You add the return yards (and a TD or two) to the receiving yards/TDs and outside Burleson (assuming he keeps his return duties in '08) he's at the top of the heap IMO.

 

[Yenrub]

Is there any place to find projections for return guys? My league is thinking about adding points for return yards this season

 

[smackdaddies]

 

[Jayrod]

Is there any place to find projections for return guys? My league is thinking about adding points for return yards this season

I haven't found any anywhere.An equally good question is, will FBG's be doing any in-season return yardage projections?

 

[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

Devin Hester "passed" his "physical" last night, signed his new contract extension worth up to 40 million around noon today, and was practicing this afternoon. All is well.

 

[Mike Herman]

OAKLAND

“If we were to play today, preseason, we'd look at Branch on the kickoffs and Johnnie Lee on the punts. Johnnie Lee's fielding the ball really well for what situations we can put him into now. We've just got to see it carry over to the game because he had some ball security issues last year. His confidence continues to grow as a receiver and as a returner. We've always got Darren there as well if we need to use him at a certain time.”

- HC Lane Kiffin, link

 

[Mike Herman]

MINNESOTA

The Vikings' special teams were much improved last season, but they hope to do a better job on punt returns. "The thing I talk to our guys about is getting a first down," special-teams coordinator Paul Ferraro said. "If you average 10 yards in this league, you're in the top five or six, and that's what we're looking to do." The Vikings averaged 8.3 yards per punt return last season, and Bobby Wade managed just 7.0. Ferraro said Wade and Berrian are punt-return options, along with wide receiver Aundrae Allison, cornerback Charles Gordon and rookie wide receiver Jaymar Johnson. Running back Maurice Hicks is the clear front-runner to return kickoffs, but Ferraro said Allison and rookie running back Albert Young would get a look, and running backs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor could see spot duty. "Adrian Peterson is going to be an option for us," Ferraro said. "That's the head coach's call, but we have discussed that, and he's always going to be an option based on the situation."

LINK

 

[scratcher]

For Philly:

Lorenzo Booker was named the #1 guy for kickoffs in a press conference with the ST coach. Quentin Demps will back him up there.

Desean Jackson will likely be #1 guy for punt returns but nothing official yet.

 

[Mike Herman]

PHILADELPHIA

In follow-up to scratcher's post...

Why is Lorenzo Booker the favorite to return kickoffs instead of DeSean Jackson? Because Booker is a running back, and Jackson is a wide receiver. Special teams coordinator Rory Segrest says running backs are better fit to return kickoffs than are small receivers like Jackson. “[Jackson] is more of an open-field type, using his space,” Segrest said. “He’s not a point-of-attack guy where you’re going to just try and ram him up inside. He’s a guy that you’re going to utilize the field and try and spread him out some. Again, he brings something to the table in terms of kick return as well, but right now we feel really good with what Booker’s got.” Which is? “He’s a guy that has great speed, great speed and great vision,” Segrest said, “very similar to the running back position: he knows where the reads are, he knows where to break off of those reads.”

Both Booker and Jackson are 5-foot-10, but Booker weighs 191 pounds – 16 more than the diminutive Jackson. “Kick returns, you kind of have to get it up in there,” Booker said. “More guys will have an opportunity to hit you on kick return as opposed to punt [where] you can make one guy miss and be off to the races. I think it takes a certain toughness to be a kick returner as opposed to a punt returner.” Booker is anxious to finally get a chance to return kickoffs. He spent time at Florida State behind Leon Washington, who last year finished tied for the league lead with three kickoff returns for touchdowns. “Been practicing for like six years, though,” Booker said. “He’s one of my best friends. The guy is as good of a kick returner as anybody.”

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[T Bell]

WASHINGTON

Special teams coach Danny Smith also praised running back Rock Cartwright's season as a kickoff returner and reaffirmed that Cartwright is the team's top returner despite the signing of former Pro Bowl returner Jerome Mathis and the experience of draft picks Devin Thomas and Justin Tryon in the return game. "Rock had a great year, he really did, and Rock is our kickoff returner," Smith said. Smith laughed when discussing Tryon, the Redskins' fourth-round pick out of Arizona State, who boasted after he was selected that if he returned kicks the team's starting position would be at the 50-yard line. "I'm not even going to make a comment on that because if it were to happen that he was back there then the other team would be looking forward to that game," Smith said. "If he was on another team I couldn't wait to play him, because I haven't seen that happen."

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I agree Cartwright is the front-runner to return KR's, but he'll be back deep to recieve with someone and who that is remains to be seen. Still, Cartwright is the guy to have for KR.The PR battle is more open, and while Randle El figures to be the favorite the team has also said that guys like Tryon, Thomas (if/when he gets healthy) and even Moss will get looks there.

 

[Mike Herman]

CLEVELAND

Pro Bowl kick returner Joshua Cribbs wants to restructure his contract with the Cleveland Browns, multiple sources have told ESPN.com. But progress has been slow this summer because Cribbs has five years remaining on his current deal. Cribbs signed a six-year contract worth just under $6 million before the 2007 season. Since then Cribbs has led the NFL in total return yards, in addition to leading the Browns in special teams tackles last year. Now, according to sources, Cribbs and his representation are seeking a pay increase and recently approached the Browns about their desire for a new deal. Perhaps prompting even more urgency is the recent contract for Chicago Bears kick returner Devin Hester, who received a four-year extension worth up $40 million with $15 million guaranteed. Both Cribbs and Hester are widely regarded as the top special teams players in their respective conferences, yet there is a big salary disparity between the two. Hester's average annual salary was bumped up to approximately $5.5 million, compared to Cribbs' annual average of $997,000. It's unknown at this point what type of deal Cribbs is seeking. But based on his production, it's likely Cribbs wants a contract comparable to Hester's in terms of guaranteed money.

linkNEW YORK GIANTS

Punt returns might be the best chance for two veterans -- CB R.W. McQuarters and WR Michael Jennings -- to make this team. From the reps in practice, it appears McQuarters is still No. 1 with Jennings, RB Ahmad Bradshaw and WR Domenik Hixon working behind them. If Bradshaw or Hixon can impress, the Giants could dump McQuarters and Jennings to save themselves two roster spots at positions that are already crowded.

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[duece2626]

"Mewelde Moore is listed No. 1 at both kickoff and punt returner on the depth chart the Steelers released yesterday."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_581135.html

 

[Mike Herman]

BALTIMORE

"Punt returns are a little hard, but kickoff returns are natural. I always wanted to do that at Rutgers."

- rookie RB Ray Rice

 

[Buckeyedawgs]

Way to early to answer u jersey. 4th week of pre season it will be much better defined.

I am thinking Ginn will be one of them this year if he indeed returns kicks again.

Of coarse Cribbs and Hester are in a class of there own.

Burelson I;ve heard is being removed. He was a great play last year if you got combined stats.

 

[NOONAN]

Way to early to answer u jersey. 4th week of pre season it will be much better defined.

I am thinking Ginn will be one of them this year if he indeed returns kicks again.

Of coarse Cribbs and Hester are in a class of there own.

Burelson I;ve heard is being removed. He was a great play last year if you got combined stats.

link?

 

[Mike Herman]

Way to early to answer u jersey. 4th week of pre season it will be much better defined.

I am thinking Ginn will be one of them this year if he indeed returns kicks again.

Of coarse Cribbs and Hester are in a class of there own.

Burelson I;ve heard is being removed. He was a great play last year if you got combined stats.

link?

"We are going to have to see how that goes. [burleson]'s a valuable special teams player and he's good for us. But if he is our starting split end I might have to reevaluate that. Then, I have to see if someone can do what he did. We are working on that."- HC Mike Holmgren during minicamps

“It's way, way too early to even speculate on anything like that.”

- Special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven recently on who will handle returns

 

[Mike Herman]

CAROLINA

The Panthers are going to be without wide receiver/returner Ryne Robinson for most of the preseason, though he hopes he's back in time for the regular-season opener. Robinson went down last week after a collision with safety Nate Salley, and an MRI revealed he suffered a sprained medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee. That's typically a three- to four-week injury. He shrugged when asked when he thought he'd return, saying "it's at least a couple of weeks." "He's been evaluated, and it's a sprained knee and we're doing rehab on that as we speak," coach John Fox said. "He's week-to-week."

linkPITTSBURGH

Mewelde Moore, Eddie Drummond and Jeremy Bloom will return punts against the Eagles, coach Mike Tomlin said. Moore will also return kickoffs, along with Willie Reid and rookie Rashard Mendenhall. "The big thing we want to do is to give everybody an opportunity to show what they're capable of doing," Tomlin said. The Steelers were 30th in the NFL in punt returns last season (6.1 yards per return) and 21st in kickoff returns (24.6). Moore is first on the depth chart at both kickoff and punt returner.

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TAMPA BAY

Rookie return man Dexter Jackson is finally able to display his full repertoire as his hamstring injury appears to have healed. As a result, Jackson said, he expects to return some punts against the Dolphins and possibly play some receiver. "It's been a long time coming," said Jackson, who was limited for the first week of camp. "I strained my hamstring a little and I've been getting a lot of treatment. The swelling has been going down and it's reacting real well (to practice)."

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[lolabukowski]

If you get 1 point for every return along with other standard scoring (1 pt per 10 yards, 6pt TD) and Hester/Cribbs are off the board, who would you take? Or if Hester and Cribbs are gone, do you wait until one or two of the next tier (Breaston, Figurs, Ginn, Sproles, Rossum) are left since several rounds will most likely pass before the next KR/PR is drafted?

 

[Mike Herman]

If you get 1 point for every return along with other standard scoring (1 pt per 10 yards, 6pt TD) and Hester/Cribbs are off the board, who would you take? Or if Hester and Cribbs are gone, do you wait until one or two of the next tier (Breaston, Figurs, Ginn, Sproles, Rossum) are left since several rounds will most likely pass before the next KR/PR is drafted?

In addition to the names you listed, consider the following:Eddie Royal: could be busy in many ways this yearDante Hall: appears to be on a mission this year to return to the topSleeper picksevale Ellis: a dark horse candidate that if he wins the job, should see many KR opportunitiesGlenn Holt: had some good numbers last year despite not taking over on kickoff returns until part way thru the season, and should also get plenty of KR opportunities

 

[NOONAN]

Way to early to answer u jersey. 4th week of pre season it will be much better defined.

I am thinking Ginn will be one of them this year if he indeed returns kicks again.

Of coarse Cribbs and Hester are in a class of there own.

Burelson I;ve heard is being removed. He was a great play last year if you got combined stats.

link?

"We are going to have to see how that goes. [burleson]'s a valuable special teams player and he's good for us. But if he is our starting split end I might have to reevaluate that. Then, I have to see if someone can do what he did. We are working on that."- HC Mike Holmgren during minicamps

“It's way, way too early to even speculate on anything like that.”

- Special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven recently on who will handle returns

That is a long way from "being removed". I have also read these items, but nothing along the lines of Nate being replaced. He started and was the main receiver in a few games last year, yet retained his return duties. I have not heard of any particular player unseating Burleson. Even Holmgren said "I have to see if someone can do what he did". That sounds to me like they would rather not use Burleson, but have not found anyone to replace him. So, he is just as likely to retain the KR duties while starting as not, IMHO.

 

[Mike Herman]

ARIZONA

It may or may not happen in today’s game, but the Cardinals plan to give safety Antrel Rolle a serious look as a kick returner. That doesn’t mean Steve Breaston’s job as punt returner is in serious jeopardy, but Rolle has fielded kicks in practice during training camp. After he returned two interceptions against Cincinnati last season (a third TD was nullified by a penalty), and three overall, coaches like the former cornerback’s ability in the open field. “I’d like to look at him in that role and see what he can do,” Whisenhunt said. The fact that Rolle switched positions and will be a starter in the secondary has no impact on the team’s decision whether to add special teams to his workload. “Those are big-time plays in games that can really change the outcome,” Whisenhunt said. “I never look at it that way. You put your best guys back there because it’s the start of a series or change of possession, and field position is a big thing.”

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[Mike Herman]

CINCINNATI

Due to a disappointing 2-6 start in 2007, the Bengals' future arrived earlier than originally planned. Rookie first-round draft pick Leon Hall replaced Deltha O'Neal as a starter opposite second-year cornerback Johnathan Joseph, the team's first-round pick in 2006. Now heading into his ninth NFL season and last of a five-year contract with the Bengals, O'Neal sees his role changing further. He might not even be the third cornerback - second-year player David Jones has the inside track on that job - but O'Neal still is in a position to contribute. Earlier this week, O'Neal learned he has leapfrogged wide receiver Antonio Chatman and, for now, is the team's No. 1 punt returner. Previously too indispensable as a starting cornerback to expose on punt returns, O'Neal could improve the Bengals' league-worst 4.9-yard average on punt returns from 2007. He has a 10.1-yard average and two touchdowns on 136 career returns, though his eight attempts in Cincinnati yielded just a 5.4-yard average. There are no guarantees. "I have to see the explosive cuts," Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said. "I have to see him explode at things and accelerate away and look like the youthful guy he did several years ago." And O'Neal, now 31, said he is at peace with his likely place on the team. Good for the Bengals. Aptitude was never the problem with O'Neal, a physically gifted athlete who is one of the most articulate men in the locker room. The knock has been O'Neal's attitude. He can be frustratingly hot or cold emotionally. He appears to simply lose interest at times.

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[Mike Herman]

GREEN BAY

If Will Blackmon can stay healthy — and special teams coordinator Mike Stock realizes that’s a big IF — then the Green Bay Packers have their return man on kickoffs and punts. Entering Monday night’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field, Stock said Friday that Blackmon, who won the return job in training camp last season only to lose it to a broken thumb suffered in the preseason finale, will be the guy. “He’s got lots of talent. We said that from the very beginning,” Stock said. “He’s just been unlucky physically. Right now, the question is, how healthy can he be? And if he can be healthy, we’ll see what he can do.”

So far, they’ve seen glimpses. After having his rookie season of 2006 derailed by a foot injury, Blackmon broke his foot again last Oct. 3 and missed the next seven games. He returned and regained the punt return job in late November, and against Oakland Dec. 9, he returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown and on the coverage unit fell on a fumbled punt in the end zone for another TD. But he aggravated the foot injury in the Dec. 30 regular-season finale, missed both playoff games and sat out all of offseason workouts. In camp, he’s missed a few practices to rest the foot, but he was the primary returner in Sunday’s intrasquad scrimmage and will line up on kickoffs alongside Tramon Williams against the Bengals. “That way, if they want to kick away from one guy, the other guy can take it to the house, too,” Stock said. Stock said rookie Jordy Nelson will also get some work.

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