Tag: punt returner

Hall of Famer Tim Brown recalls setting NFL record for punt return touchdown vs. Chiefs in 2001

Hall of Fame WR Tim Brown sat down with our @EdEastonJr to discuss his record-setting punt return against the #Chiefs in 2001.

The AFC West is again stacked this season, with the other three teams trying to end the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominant run. The Las Vegas Raiders officially hired Antonio Pierce as their head coach after an impressive interim run, highlighted by the Christmas Day victory in Kansas City.

Retired Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown will compete in the third annual Invited Celebrity Classic on April 19-21 at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas. PGA TOUR Champions professionals will play 54 holes of stroke play for a purse of $2 million with the celebrities in a $500,000 competition.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. sat down with Brown to discuss this golf game, record-breaking punt return against the Chiefs, and the Raiders hiring Antonio Pierce.

“You would think I have many opportunities to play that course,” said Brown, a Texas native, of his experience playing at Las Colinas. “There is just something about it: when it becomes an official event, it seems like the course changes on you or something. There’s a couple of little places I know that maybe some of the guys won’t know, but I guess it doesn’t matter if you can hit the ball good.”

Brown was known for his versatility as a returner and receiver early in his NFL career but didn’t expect at 35 to be setting a record for his age returning a punt for a touchdown. The infamous play took place at the Chiefs’ expense in 2001.

“I remember not wanting to be back there; I think I started seventh on the depth chart that year. And I saw guys week after week falling, everybody’s going down, and finally (Jon) Gruden came to me and said, ‘Hey, man, I’m gonna need you to go back there and don’t worry about it, just try and catch I need somebody that I could trust to be back there to catch the ball. And I was like, okay; I got you, coach. No problem. So, that was my plan to just fair catch it, and i did fair catch it. Randy Jordan came back yelling and screaming at me, ‘You better return this ball!’ I say, Randy, if anybody touches me, me and you gonna be fighting. So I went 89 yards untouched; me and Randy Jordan are still friends today because of that play. I tell people at that stage of my career, becoming the oldest man in the league’s history to return a punt for a touchdown. I think it’s sort of put me in a different light than just being a receiver. I think that certainly helped. It didn’t help me be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but certainly, I think people had to consider that when they were looking at my Hall of Fame numbers.”

Brown last played for the Raiders over 20 years ago but has maintained his watch over the current team. He shared his thoughts on new head coach Antonio Pierce and his outspoken confidence in matchups against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I was saying during the year when he took over, if they like it, I love it, and it seems like the boys love it. They’re feeding off his energy to play hard and tough football; it doesn’t mean they gonna win every football game. There’s nothing like seeing the team compete right down to the last second. I think even in the games they lost, you saw that happen. You saw them compete like nobody’s business, and that’s what this thing is all about. You want to see the team is getting better. The team is working hard. They’re laying it on the line, so those things mean a lot to a fan base. Obviously, it meant a lot to Mark Davis for him to retain AP (Antonio Pierce). I think the future’s bright; I don’t have a problem with him at all. I think he probably thinks he has a secret that he did go to Kansas City and beat Kansas City on Christmas Day. So Talk That Talk, brother, just back it up. I’m all good with it.”

The Invited Celebrity Classic is free for the public and has raised $500,000 for charity these past two years. Top celebrity athletes committed are Tony Romo, Albert Pujols, John Smoltz, Adam Thielen, Pudge Rodriguez, Greg Maddux and more.

Fans can register for the event at www.invitedcelebrityclassic.com

Where Marvin Mims stacked up against NFL’s returners in 2023

Among players with double digit-returns, Broncos rookie Marvin Mims ranked 1st with 16.4 YPR on punts and 4th with 26.5 YPR on kickoffs.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims had a limited role on offense as a rookie, but he made a big impact on special teams.

Mims was elected to the Pro Bowl by players, coaches and fans after he returned 19 punts for 312 yards and 15 kickoffs for 397 yards and one touchdown in his first season as a pro. Mims is now set to handle return duties for the AFC at the Pro Bowl next month.

“How cool for Marvin in his rookie year to be able to come in and be selected as a starter?” Broncos safety Justin Simmons said last week. “Well-deserved for him.”

Among players with double-digit returns, Mims ranked fourth in the NFL averaging 26.5 yards per kickoff return (first in the AFC). He averaged 16.4 yards per punt return, best in the league among qualified returners.

The three players above Mims on kickoffs were KaVontae Turpin (29.2 YPR), Velus Jones Jr. (27.2 YPR) and Raheem Blackshear (26.9 YPR). Here’s a quick look at where Mims stacked up among kickoff and punt returners in 2023.

Chiefs coordinator Dave Toub prefers WR Richie James as primary punt returner

#Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub wants wide receiver Richie James to be Kansas City’s primary punt returner.

The Kansas City Chiefs on special teams have seen a variety of options on punt returns this season. The role has been passed to several players as the unit continues to evaluate following Monday night’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub has juggled multiple players, including an unexpected change in Week 11 due to Mecole Hardman’s injury. Kadarius Toney stepped into the role during the game, providing positive yardage, but it doesn’t appear clear it will remain his role. Toub addressed the change and his suggestion for the role in his Zoom press conference with reporters on Tuesday.

“We haven’t even gotten a report yet from our trainers; it’s so early,” Toub explained. “So we have to see how Mecole (Hardman) is. We have to see Kadarius (Toney). He runs so hard and tough that he kept getting banged up in there, too, like his hand got hurt and his foot, you know, all different things.

“We just have to wait, see, we’ll get the doctor’s report. We’ll move forward from there. But yeah, I mean, he gave us a little bit of a spark. He runs hard. You know, he’s a good catcher. He’s fearless back there. So, we’ll just have to evaluate as we go forward.”

A player expected to play that role when he signed in the offseason is Richie James, who has been dealing with injuries and was activated off of injured reserve before Week 11. He wasn’t active for the game but could play a significant factor for Toub and his unit once he’s active for a game.

“He would have to be; we would like him to be the punt returner if he’s going to be active. If he’s going to help us at all on special teams, that’s where he would have to help us,” said Toub. “Well, for me, I mean, offense, they could use him a lot of different ways. Obviously, he’s a wide receiver, but if he’s going to help me, I would use him as a punt returner. He’s not really a cover guy or gun or anything like that.”

James’ knee injury has only allowed him to play two games this season, tallying only 24 yards on six returns.

Dave Toub says WR Mecole Hardman is the fastest Chief

Kansas City #Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub says wide receiver Mecole Hardman is the fastest player on the team.

The Kansas City Chiefs completed a trade for wide receiver Mecole Hardman, reuniting him with the franchise after a brief departure. The speedy receiver was a favorite in head coach Andy Reid’s system and a reliable star on special teams.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub was delighted to discuss Hardman’s return and possible utilization moving forward during his pre-practice press conference on Thursday.

“He could; I mean, if Andy (Reid) has him up, and if he’s up, he’s going to be a guy that I’ll play on some special teams for sure,” said Toub. “But obviously, he just got here and he’s got to get established again. And Andy will make that decision, probably pretty soon.”

Hardman was named to the 2019 Pro Bowl for his exceptional work as a returner on special teams, so the role is something Toub is very comfortable potentially handing over to him.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Toub explained. “He’s the fastest player. He’ll be the fastest player on our team now, as soon as he got here. So it’s that breakaway speed ability. We’ve seen the last time we had a touchdown was Mecole in the return game. So we welcome him back, and he’s got the right attitude right now. And he’s ready for a fresh start.”

Hardman’s speed is undeniable, but only time will tell if he will be used in the offense more than special teams in the immediate future.

Chiefs Dave Toub reveals the complexity of returning punts

Kansas City #Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub reveals the complexity of returning punts. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into Week 3 of the season with some parts of their system to fix. A facet of the team that could use improvement is special teams in the return game.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub has sorted multiple options over the last two years at punt returner. The Chiefs’ current punt returner, Richie James, notably fumbled away an opportunity in the first half of last Sunday’s victory in Jacksonville. Toub addressed the mishap during his Thursday press conference with reporters.

“I think he thought he was, you know, and I’m speaking for him, but I think he thought he was in a perfect position to catch it,” Toub explained. “I mean, could you watch the tape and you can really, you know, the TV copy, you can see his eyes like he was looking at the ball. It wasn’t like he was looking at the coverage or anything.

“He thought he was looking at the ball. And then also it kind of moved late on him and obviously, you know, didn’t work out like we want it to but that, you know, he was a he’s a good catcher, you know, and that was an oddball. That was a thing that, you know, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem going forward. And we just need him to get better.”

James suffered an injury in Jacksonville and hasn’t practiced, creating doubt about his availability against the Bears. Toub explained the difficulties of becoming a good punt returner and hinted at what he is looking for in a player at the position.

“It’s way different,” Toub continued. “It’s way different catching a real punt and catching a punt for jugs totally different, like the jugs (machine) will give you the perfect turnover every time upon that you’re gonna get the crazy pump, you know, the crazy turn rotation of the football and the wind affects it differently.

“So it’s harder to catch a real punt. So that’s why we try every time we have a chance to catch Tommy’s (Townsend) punt. So we want to do that as much as we can. But you can’t have Tommy; he can’t; he’s not a human juggs machine. So you can only get so many.”

Here’s what Sean Payton is looking for in a Broncos kick returner

Broncos coach Sean Payton wants to see reliability and ball security from the team’s kickoff and punt return candidates during preseason.

The Denver Broncos averaged 8.3 yards per punt return last season, marking the 12th-worst average in the NFL. On kickoffs, the team averaged 17.5 yards per return, which ranked dead last in the league.

When new head coach Sean Payton arrived this offseason, he made it a priority to improve special teams. The Broncos changed punters and kickers this offseason, and the kick return job will be up for grabs this summer.

So what is Payton looking for in the team’s next returner?

“The first thing is reliability and ball security,” Payton said on July 29. “There is nothing worse than when the ball is in the air and you have that, ‘I hope he catches it’ [feeling]. That is something where the preseason will help show its hand a little bit. I kind of get back to [Mike] Westhoff, [Ben] Kotwica and even [Chris] Banjo, but the investment we’ve made in our special teams, both on the field and upstairs, is significant.

“We’re going to have the opportunity to return in the kickoff and hopefully — I know it’s tough here because of the altitude — when we get those return opportunities in the punt game, we’re going to have great schemes and designs to give these guys a chance. The key is then — we have a great producer, let’s find someone that can take advantage of that. That will be important.”

Candidates to handle return duties for Denver this season include Montrell Washington, Marvin Mims and Jaleel McLaughlin. The players vying for the return job will get their first in-game chance to impress when the Broncos face the Arizona Cardinals in their preseason opener on Friday.

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Bears place WR Dante Pettis on Non-Football Injury list

The veteran receiver will not be practicing when the Bears take the field on Wednesday.

The Chicago Bears begin training camp practice on Wednesday but will be without one of their receivers and special teams contributors when they do. On Tuesday afternoon, the team announced they placed Dante Pettis on the Active/Non-Football injury (NFI) list.

The NFI list is for players who have ailments that are unrelated to football activities, or injuries that occur outside of NFL practices and games. Pettis can come off the list at any point and he counts toward the team’s 90-man roster during camp.

Pettis joined the Bears in 2022 and had a modest year on both offense and special teams. He caught 19 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. He also became the team’s primary punt returner, averaging 9.1 yards per return.

The former 2018 second-round draft pick re-signed with the Bears earlier this offseason and will compete for a reserve receiver spot with players such as Velus Jones Jr., Daurice Fountain, and newcomer Isaiah Ford, who was signed earlier in the day, when he’s activated off the list. Pettis will also look to retain his hold on punt return duties.

Broncos ST coach Ben Kotwica eager to track Montrell Washington’s progress this summer

“I love his work ethic,” Ben Kotwica said of returner Montrell Washington. “He’s always asking questions and wants to be out on the field.”

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After being picked by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of last year’s NFL draft out of Samford, return specialist Montrell Washington struggled to make an impact as a rookie.

Washington averaged 8.5 yards per punt return and 18.9 yards per kickoff return through 15 games last year before being benched by interim coach Jerry Rosburgh for the final two games of the season.

The Broncos now have a new head coach in Sean Payton and a new special teams coach in Ben Kotwica, giving Washington an opportunity to make a good impression with a fresh start.

“There are a couple things about Montrell. First off, I love his work ethic,” Kotwica said when asked about the returner on June 14. “He’s always asking questions and wants to be out on the field. Under the parameters that we have, we can’t be out there all day, but he is a player that would be out there all day [if allowed]. We’ve talked to him about that.

“He has that athletic ability. I think it’s continuing to [show] confidence in the player. I’m excited about where it will take him during training camp.”

Washington ran a 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds last spring, but his speed did not directly correlate to success in the NFL. He fumbled five times as a rookie, and following the arrival of second-round pick Marvin Mims, Washington won’t be a lock to make the 53-man roster this summer.

Washington will get an opportunity to redeem himself, though, and if he looks good during camp and preseason, he can earn a spot for 2023.

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Broncos CB Pat Surtain ‘wants to be part of special teams’

“He wants to be part of special teams,” Ben Kotwica said of PS2. “Everybody is buying in, so it’s really cool to see that out of Pat.”

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The Denver Broncos turned heads this spring when they had star cornerback Pat Surtain line up to catch punts during minicamp this spring.

Don’t worry, Surtain won’t be the team’s starting punt returner this season. Ben Kotwica, Denver’s special teams coordinator, explained last week that Surtain is merely being considered as a fallback option.

“You’re always looking for depth at various positions, whether it be a core player or somebody on the perimeter,” Kotwica said on June 14. “Here in the spring, you’re trying different things. Now is the time to try a different formation in your punt game or try a fake. Pat going back there to catch punts was something that we wanted to explore.

“The cool thing about Pat is that he wants to be part of special teams. Coach Payton, Coach [Mike] Westhoff and myself made it an emphasis, and Coach Payton is one of the best teachers I’ve ever seen, whether it’s offense, defense, situational ball, and even special teams. Everybody is buying in, so it’s really cool to see that out of Pat.”

Surtain returned punts in high school, but he did not have that role in college. Broncos rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims seems to be the early favorite to return punts this season — Surtain is just a backup candidate.

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Pat Surtain could return punts ‘when needed’ for the Broncos

“If [Pat] Surtain can help us as a returner when needed, then we’ll have him ready,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

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Last year, former Denver Broncos special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes scoffed at the idea of cornerback Pat Surtain being a candidate to return punts.

“[T]o put him in harm’s way — that would be idiotic by me,” Stukes said.

New head coach Sean Payton and new special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica don’t seem to think it’s such an idiotic notion.

To be clear, Surtain will not be the team’s starting punt returner this year, but the star cornerback got reps on punt return this spring. He’d merely be a fallback option at the position.

“He did it in high school. I want to know who we are going to if [Option A] isn’t ready,” Payton said on June 13. “There are 53 on your roster and 47 on gameday. If I need a gunner taken out of the game, then who better to do that than Patrick? That’s what he does for a living. It’s not just offense go over here; defense go over here, and the kicking game go over here.

“I watched Lawrence Taylor in a game with the Giants where they were winning and the team they were playing, came back with a couple of kick returns. I watched Lawrence Taylor remove about five guys on the kick coverage unit and brought defensive players out, lined them up and covered a kick. That’s when you have something. These are snaps. There are snaps in a game that are valuable. If Surtain can help us as a returner when needed, then we’ll have him ready.”

Surtain did not return punts at Alabama, but he did in high school as Payton noted. Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey returned punts in 2002 while playing in Washington, but he did not return a single punt while playing in Denver.

Most coaches feel that the potential reward of a big return does not outweigh the injury risk that star players could suffer on special teams. So Surtain won’t be listed as the team’s starting returner on the depth chart, but he will be an option for the Broncos, albeit perhaps just an emergency option.

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