For God's sake, WHY the #$%@ is Brown returning punts?!?!?!

I've heard this brought up here and there but I'm really surprised there hasn't been more of an issue with this... it's crazy. I don't recall Jerry Rice returning punts. If we lose Brown our offense is goes from being awesome to just above average IMO. Brown has become to vital to our success. Having him return punts is nuts.

It would be like asking your starting kicker to make tackles in a preseason game. Sure nothing will likely happen but if it did.. you might end up trading away future draft picks for a guy who can't even make extra points. Then what?

 

Calm down. AB is the best athlete on the team and returning punts by him gives our team the best chance for winning.

 

He loves to do it and whok knows if you take it away from him it could remove some of his edge. I doubt it but you never know. He never takes big hits doing it and he really on returns it when he has clear lanes otherwse he calls for the fair catch. He is one of the most dynamic returners in the league and I don't see why you would remove that threat. As Tomlin says we don't live in our fears. He is just as likely to get hurt running a route.

 

Yes.. he's our best athlete. Sure he's better at it than anyone we have. That doesn't mean you have him do it. In a playoff game - sure. Regular season - no way. There's a reason through out the history of the NFL they don't ask their elite WR's, Corners, and RB's returning kicks and punts. It rarely happens and for good reason. You don't risk losing a great WR returning punts. If he gets injured everyone will be ripping their hair out asking why on earth is the best WR in the league returning punts.

 

I have more fear of him getting injured on those crowded bubble screens then I do with him returning punts. Would you rather they put Archer back there who goes down when a player sneezes on him or AB who has a chance to take it to the house each time he gets his hands on the football?

 

Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders immediately pop into my mind. When a guy is that good at it you don't remove him from it due to fear of injury.

 

Because he is awesome at it. I hope this helps.

 

Not every good receiver out there is capable of returning punts.. It requires a certain skill set, mentality, and physical attributes.. So I don't agree with that argument as to why other star receivers don't return punts. Brown happens to be one of the very best at returning punts. He's one of the best players with the ball in his hands period. You want to maximize the amount of times he touches the ball a game to give you the best chance to win. He's a threat to score literally every time he gets the ball in his hands in open space. I also don't agree with the injury risk thing.. If that's the case, then why aren't we limiting his touches by throwing his way less? If we're so worried about preserving him, then the 7+ receptions streak should end immediately. Most returners will say there's less of a risk of injury returning punts than receiving because pretty much everything is in front of them.. Blindside hits on punt returners are rare. Brown is so shifty, it's also difficult for any defender to properly line him up for a big hit. If he takes one to the house, that eliminates an entire drive that could have the ball thrown his way 3 or 4 times, with the chance of injury on each throw his way, block downfield, etc.. So, yeah.. AB should continue returning punts as long as he wants the job.

 

I don't like the risk either. Dri or DHB should do it.

 

I always thought the same thing when Santonio Holmes returned punts.

 

He's very calculating in his punt returns. He'll fair catch rather than take a risk, which will limit his chance of injury on a return. Plus the dude doesn't muff catches. That in itself is worth having him back there.

 

Me, too. I don't love it but that's just the way it is.

 

Been doing it for a while now. It may be luck but so far nothing has happened. He faces just as much risk on every play he's in at WR too I guess. it's a part of the game and a solid return can have a big impact on the outcome of a game. I'd hate to see him get hurt during a return but he's one of the best at it. Like TTF, i've learned to accept it.

 

I agree.

Football is a physical game, and injuries can happen whenever. He lines up for most of the snaps on offense, so we're talking about 3-4 extra plays a game on average. He calls fair half the time.

It would be nice to have someone as good returning them - like we used to do with Holmes, putting him in for important games but not others - but I don't think is Tomlin's approach. Given how important field position was for us last year, it's not an unjustifiable one.

 

I've never felt comfortable using Brown or any other wr on pr's, but when you don't have that competent player to get up the field you use your best. I'm don't know the statistics on wr's vs pr injuries but in comparison i would to dare say little. Your gunner is more susceptible to injuries than the returner but i still don't like using our gem. I was hoping when we signed Archer he could become our specialist but unfortunately that never materialize. Let's stop throwing the dice with Brown and get this fixed.

 

True, you found the 2 exceptions. BUT I do recall Woodson losing his punt return duty's in the second half of his career when everyone pretty much agreed he was the best corner in NFL history.

I'm guessing with Deon even his coaches found him to be the most annoying person on the planet and secretly were hoping he'd get injured.

 

He's returning punts, because he is one of the most dangerous players in the league with a ball in his hands.

Look at Deion Sanders he was an All Pro and Hall of Fame corner, and returned punts all the time.

Sometimes you got to have the best 11 on the field, call me crazy.

 

Brown is excellent at returning punts. He isn't going to run a lot back (though maybe some) but he does things like the game in NE where he caught the punt over his shoulder, in the rain, and running the wrong way. Other players can't do that.

Wait until AB stops returning punts, the new PR muffs a couple resulting in a loss and you will be like "Why isn't Tomlin using AB to return punts?! He is so good at it!"

 

I used to worry about AB getting hurt returning punts, but I'm used to it now. I sure don't want him to get hurt, but like others have said, he's on the field a lot more than just for the return plays, so it's a small percentage of field time compared to the rest, and he could get hurt during any of that time.

 

Woodson also tore his ACL and back then it wasn't something that players came back from like they do today he also moved to Safety. I would say Brown is one of those exceptions and I'm sure if I did some actual digging I could come up with more. Like I said those two immediately popped into my head.

 

Pretty much my take on the situation.

 

This complaint pops up a couple times a year and is asinine. He's a football player, special teams is a vital part of the game. Put the best people on the field