Emmanuel Sanders will return kickoffs and punts next year

**CowherPower** · 02-19-2012, 02:37 PM

I was surfing around some daily sites that I check and my twitter timeline and came across a tweet a few minutes ago where Emmanuel Sanders was on ESPN 970 and said he was told he'll return kicks and punts next season.

Dale Lolley @dlolleyor - Emmanuel Sanders said on ESPN 970 that he has been told he will return kicks and punts in 2012 for #steelers

This tells me that Antonio Brown is going to continue his bigger role in the offense and the Steelers want to get Sanders more involved in the return game to help ease the pressure on Brown. Either that or they just want to have a backup ready to go. I would think though they'd rather use Sanders if they can because of the pounding returners take. I'd hate to lose that explosiveness that Brown gave last year so maybe they still use him in key situations?

**cmerrifield** · 02-19-2012, 03:23 PM

I still like Sanders as the number 3 WR, so I hope they draft someone who can return punts. Maybe the Steelers are thinking Cotchery (I know he is a free agent, just assuming he returns) is the #3, so Sanders as the #4 can return punts.

**jnes1216** · 02-19-2012, 03:41 PM

Love it! Tough to replace Brown on punt returns but give 'er hell, Manny. Kick off returns are a smaller impact with the new rules.

**Nolrog** · 02-19-2012, 07:14 PM

Really hard to place any value on that right now. Training camp is what, 4 months away, 5? A lot can happen between now and then that would mean he's not returning anything.

**jnes1216** · 02-19-2012, 08:05 PM

Not that hard really.. Steelers FO keeps Sanders imo, and since when have they let young draft picks just disappear into free agency? I think getting the ball into Sanders' hands is a good thing.

**Real Deal Steel** · 02-19-2012, 10:57 PM

I put no stock in the tweet. Because if Cotchery isn't resigned, the Saunders is the defacto # 3 WR.

**Zachintosh66** · 02-19-2012, 11:28 PM

Same thing they did w/ Santonio... but when it counted he was back there...

**SteelDad** · 02-20-2012, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Zachintosh66

Same thing they did w/ Santonio... but when it counted he was back there...

Excellent point. IMO, it's like night and day between Brown and Sanders in the return game. I understand the importance of Brown as a WR but he is too dangerous not to use in the return game.

**Nolrog** · 02-20-2012, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Real Deal Steel

I put no stock in the tweet. Because if Cotchery isn't resigned, the Saunders is the defacto # 3 WR.

And if Wallace bolts, he becomes #2 and then he's not returning anything. I agree, no stock on that at all, at least not yet. Too many things can happen in the off season to make any declarations.

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 02-20-2012, 01:23 PM

I have no doubt whatsoever that when i counts, AB will be back there returning kicks for sure. Sanders had decent return yardage in his rookie year but last year he did next to nothing. Injuries were a part of that but still, the Steelers used Randle El in the punt return game for years and he was a starter.

Here's Sanders' stats from 2010 and 2011 returning:

2010: Punt returns- 4/60 yds. Kickoff returns - 25/628 yds.
2011: Punt returns - 1/3 yds. Kickoff returns - 5/93 yds.

vs Antonio Brown:
2010: Punt returns - 19/110 yds. Kickoff returns - 17/397 yds. 1 TD
2011: Punt returns - 30/325 yds. 1 TD. Kickoff returns - 27/737 yds.