Why doesn't Dez ever return punts anymore?

[robbieruff]

I mean NEVER?!! We all know he was a top returner his rookie year. And while I certainly get protecting him for his primary role, I also know we've seen him get injured pretty readily as a WR who has avoided punt return duties to protect him from that very thing. Other top players at their position have not been removed entirely from punt return duties. Antonio Brown certainly comes to mind. Deion back in the day was the MAIN returner. Even when he established himself as our lead corner, Terrance Newman would be called in for situational PR opportunities...when we had the other team pinned back and punting from the endzone.

Is it because of Dez's hard charging style that he must be protected from himself? Of course I know injuries and recovery thereof have been a factor these past couple of years but the hiatus started well before then. Thoughts?

 

[Ranching]

I mean NEVER?!! We all know he was a top returner his rookie year. And while I certainly get protecting him for his primary role, I also know we've seen him get injured pretty readily as a WR who has avoided punt return duties to protect him from that very thing. Other top players at their position have not been removed entirely from punt return duties. Antonio Brown certainly comes to mind. Deion back in the day was the MAIN returner. Even when he established himself as our lead corner, Terrance Newman would be called in for situational PR opportunities...when we had the other team pinned back and punting from the endzone.

Is it because of Dez's hard charging style that he must be protected from himself? Of course I know injuries and recovery thereof has been a factor these past couple of years but the hiatus started well before then. Thoughts?

They pay him too much.

 

[HomeBiscuit]

Precisely. Cause we play "safe" football.

 

[haleyrules]

The Cowboys need and will use Bryant as a WR only. He isn't returning punts. His latest request to do so is by design and another attempt to portray himself as the great team guy and by doing so extend his Cowboy career.

 

[Matt]

Didn't we draft switz for this?

 

[LocimusPrime]

For the same reason Romo didn't play gunner on special teams.

 

[Bullflop]

Dez is too valuable as a WR to put him at risk doing punt returns. He sees enough danger contending with injury risks with just that. I'm looking forward to seeing Switzer taking on the punt returns this year. His success returning punts in college was very impressive, to say the least.

 

[visionary]

We're lucky if he can play WR
In the last couple of years he has spent a ton of time on the sidelines

 

[robbieruff]

Didn't we draft switz for this?

Of course we did. As we did Lucky before then. And Dwayne Harris, etc. Not calling on him to be a regular returner again. I was merely reflecting on the fact that we shelved Dez completely after his rookie year when he averaged more than 14 yards a return and took 2 to the house. This is more a question about our philosophy. That other teams use top players in the role (or at least in spot duty when situation calls for it), which is what we've done in the past but that approach has not applied to Dez since 2011 (give or take).

 

[J_Allen]

Because it's too risky and his style of play makes him prone to injuries. He doesn't know when to go down.

 

[robbieruff]

Dez is too valuable as a WR to put him at risk doing punt returns. He sees enough danger contending with injury risks doing just that. I'll be looking forward to seeing Switzer taking care of the punt returns this year. His experiences doing so in college were very impressive, to say the least.

So why didn't we believe that when we used Deion back there regularly? Why doesn't Pittsburg have that POV re: Antonio Brown?

 

[Daillest88]

Man at this point just put him at punt return. Get your money's worth

 

[robbieruff]

The Cowboys need and will use Bryant as a WR only. He isn't returning punts. His latest request to do so is by design and another attempt to portray himself as the great team guy and by doing so extend his Cowboy career.

I agree with your point. But the why? He's shown himself to be an explosive returner early in his career. As a rookie. But we shelved him way before the major injuries started. Is he just too physical in your view? Why doesn't the Steelers protect Antonio Brown in the same way?

 

[J_Allen]

So why didn't we believe that when we used Deion back there regularly? Why doesn't Pittsburg have that POV re: Antonio Brown?

We were paying Deion to do all kinds of things. He was good at Fair catching when there was no one around and also running out of bounds. You never saw him fighting for yardage.

 

[haleyrules]

I agree with your point. But the why? He's shown himself to be an explosive returner early in his career. As a rookie. But we shelved him way before the major injuries started. Is he just too physical in your view? Why doesn't the Steelers protect Antonio Brown in the same way?

He runs too hard and they are paying him way too much for that role. The club needs Bryant in the redzone to support Prescott and the offense. Its far more important to the clubs success.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

For the same reason Romo didn't play gunner on special teams.

 

[Bullflop]

So why didn't we believe that when we used Deion back there regularly? Why doesn't Pittsburg have that POV re: Antonio Brown?

Nobody could catch Deion -- Dez, unfortunately, doesn't enjoy that advantage. We're not the only team to save our players from potential injury -- many others do the same. As far as Antonio Brown is concerned, he's more elusive than Dez and isn't prone to injury quite as much as Dez. I'm betting you won't be complaining at all, once you see Switzer handle that chore.

 

[xwalker]

I mean NEVER?!! We all know he was a top returner his rookie year. And while I certainly get protecting him for his primary role, I also know we've seen him get injured pretty readily as a WR who has avoided punt return duties to protect him from that very thing. Other top players at their position have not been removed entirely from punt return duties. Antonio Brown certainly comes to mind. Deion back in the day was the MAIN returner. Even when he established himself as our lead corner, Terrance Newman would be called in for situational PR opportunities...when we had the other team pinned back and punting from the endzone.

Is it because of Dez's hard charging style that he must be protected from himself? Of course I know injuries and recovery thereof have been a factor these past couple of years but the hiatus started well before then. Thoughts?

He can't stay hydrated even without returning punts. It would be worse if he did return punts.

 

[xwalker]

So why didn't we believe that when we used Deion back there regularly? Why doesn't Pittsburg have that POV re: Antonio Brown?

You can't really compare Deion to regular people. He rarely too much of a hit because he was so elusive. Also, he was not injury prone until the end of his career with the Cowboys.

 

[LocimusPrime]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/06/04/dez-bryant-asks-cowboys-to-let-him-return-punts/