Why is Price returning punts?

[Trip]

Price was a great returner in College and he has SPEED...I like the move...

He returned 4 punts for 4 yards in college. You must be thinking of someone else. He hasn't done a lot better in the pros.

 

[Gibby!]

I agree with Trip to an extent, doesn't necesarily have to be Newman though. Was Adams returning kicks when he tore is ACL? Was Dat returning kicks when he got his neck contusion(whatever is wrong with him)? Was JJ returning kicks? I think you get my point. If BP doesn't want him to return kicks fine, but don't make excuses... Put the best player in the situation that is going to score points and win the game.

 

[baj1dallas]

I'd rather have Newman saving his energy for things like chasing down Randy Moss or blitzing the QB.

Now if he were a GREAT returner you might have a point. But he's not. He's shown that in preseason...he's alright but as mentioned, he's no Dante Hall (or even the pre injury Az Hakim).

 

[LaTunaNostra]

I'd rather have Newman saving his energy for things like chasing down Randy Moss or blitzing the QB.

Now if he were a GREAT returner you might have a point. But he's not. He's shown that in preseason...he's alright but as mentioned, he's no Dante Hall (or even the pre injury Az Hakim).

Energy seems to be a concern. Tuna mentioned having Tnew return punts just increases his already heavy workload. He's been all over the field the past few weeks, stuffing Tiki a few yards off the LOS as well as covering downfield.

Price, like Crayton, won't be taking every offensive snap.

 

[Trip]

I'd rather have Newman saving his energy for things like chasing down Randy Moss or blitzing the QB.

Now if he were a GREAT returner you might have a point. But he's not. He's shown that in preseason...he's alright but as mentioned, he's no Dante Hall (or even the pre injury Az Hakim).

Well, to complete the statistics session, Newman returned 27 punts for 417 yards and 3 td's, mostly all his last year in college. We've seen nothing of him running back punts in the pros. Can't make that assessment.....

 

[big dog cowboy]

In college, TNew was a threat to take any punt return to the house.

 

[AdamJT13]

In 1993, '94, '95 and '96, when Deion was in his prime, he played for three different teams and had only four punt returns. So even Deion wasn't always used as a punt returner. And when he was, it was for only about two-thirds of the time.

 

[Hostile]

He returned 4 punts for 4 yards in college. You must be thinking of someone else. He hasn't done a lot better in the pros.

 

[Trip]

Yeah, I was pretty frustrated when Deion first came to the Cowboys and wasn't running back punts. How did it turn out when they finally let him?

 

[TheSkaven]

You guys are missing the point, there really isn't many options. Crayton was a great choice because he was the third receiver and was both a kick and punt returner in college (and a very successful one). Without Crayton in the mix, your options are limited. Price, Newman, maybe Jacques Reeves, but who else?

You normally draw your punt returners from three positions, RB, WR or CB. Look at the roster and tell me who else is going to return punts.

Peerless Price will do fine. He has speed and he's shifty. I agree with the rest of you, can't afford to lose Newman right now, our defense is finally starting to gel.

 

[Nors]

Price - NFL Career

PR = 25-153 6.1 YPC

 

[Trip]

A few more points and I'll stop with this.

1. If it's really about the injuries, guys like Roy Williams and plenty of other players you don't want getting hurt should not be playing special teams. The ones running back the kicks aren't any more likely to get injured than the ones defensing them and getting blocked in the open field.

2. If it's not about the injuries, then Parcells must just think either (a) Newman is not as good as some of his other options, like Peerless Price, who has the preferred body type but no history of success, or (b) Newman's not in good enough shape to do it.

Personally, I'm leaning towards the body type. I think Parcells has this idea in his head of what the perfect punt returner looks like and Newman ain't it.

 

[Rush 2112]

Body type = Marion Barber.

Led Big 10 at 14.5 per sophomore year.

 

[JDSmith]

Body type = Marion Barber.

Led Big 10 at 14.5 per sophomore year.

Yup, the question is not why Price or Newman aren't returning punts - it's why Barber isn't returning punts. He returned both punts and kickoffs in college.

His college totals: 515 yards on 47 punt returns (11.0 avg.) and 514 yards on 23 kickoff returns (22.3 avg.)

So why doesn't he at least get a shot to return punts? Parcells wants backups to play ST, it seems like the perfect way to get Barber on the active squad even when JJ is healthy.

 

[Rush 2112]

MBIII had that foot infection and missed camp/practice time.

Crayton was there for everything.

Now things have changed.

As the season goes on MBIII will take on more roles including punt returns.

For now though, BP gives PP a full audition to be a BP guy to see if he's worth resigning.

Being a good a returner could go a long way, but doubtful he's back next year.

MBIII gets a bigger role as the season goes on.

 

[ddh33]

I don't think anything is set in stone. From the sound of things, Price will get first shot. It doesn't mean that someone else won't get a chance eventually.

 

[Nors]

Price is going to suprise Dallas Nation next month.......

Watch YAC -

 

[ATurkishSeaOtter]

Yea why don't we put newman at wr too like deion???? lol Newman is a defensive player we can't afford to lose and I say lets see what price can do. I also think Crayton was doing a good job on returns when he wasn't bobbling the ball.

 

[devotedfan]

Trip, I know it might sound bizarre, but Bill has mentioned more than once Tnew lacks the body type he favors in a returner. He thinks Tnew's more gangly, loose jointed frame is more conducive to injury.

He might be totally off the wall with this idea, but he at least is consistent.

Dave Megget, Leon Johnson, Dedric Ward, Joey Galloway, Patrick Crayton, and now Peerless Price are all the same body type - seamlessly muscled and fluid athletes who are both streamlined but more compactly built.

Like Sproule in San Diego. :starspin

 

[jterrell]

Yeah, I was pretty frustrated when Deion first came to the Cowboys and wasn't running back punts. How did it turn out when they finally let him?

I'm trying to remember but it seems he was hurt at the time.

TNew doesn't need to return punts on a regular basis. PERIOD.

Look at the list of current punt returners and tell me which guy is a front liner? How many of them are pro bowlers at another position? In the top 20 there is one guy I'd guess is a pro bowler and he is literally, 20th.

PP didn't return punts in college for the same reason TNew won't now.
Deion and TNew while in college could return punts because teams never threw on them at all so they remained fresh.

On 3rd downs we move TNew in the slot and ask him to run all over the place with a slot WR on 3rd down. Thats not ideal for your returner by any means.