Emmanuel Sanders Will Return Kicks and Punts in 2012

by Neal Coolong on Feb 19, 2012 2:06 PM EST in News

Emmanuel Sanders was on ESPN Radio AM 970 Sunday morning, and confirmed he was told he would return kicks and punts for the Steelers in 2012.

Observer-Reporter's Dale Lolley tweeted the news.

Sanders will replace AFC Pro Bowl WR/KR Antonio Brown, the only player in NFL history with 1,000 return and receiving yards in the same season. It's likely due to the larger role Brown will play in the team's offense, but at the same time, Sanders performed well on returns his rookie season, picking up 628 yards on 25 returns.

Sanders added 60 yards on four punt returns in 2010. Last season, he fought through injuries and returned five kicks for 93 yards, and three punts for 22 yards.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin once said, "two dogs, one bone", of the competition between the young receivers that were both taken in the 2010 draft. They weren't both active for every game, but it seemed that kind of competitive mentality was paying off - especially in the second half of the season and the playoffs.

Sanders, a third-round pick out of SMU, had seven catches for 91 yards in the Steelers' three playoff games en route to a Super Bowl loss to Green Bay. Brown, a sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan, came up with a huge clutch reception that helped propel Pittsburgh past Baltimore and into the AFC Championship game that same year.

Brown stepped his game up in 2011 and will be counted on heavily again next year. But a healthy Sanders should be expected to perform at a high level as well.

Looks like they're still fighting after that one bone.

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I find it kind of funny...

Omar Epps said “Two dogs, one bone” but there’s talk of extending a contract to Cotchery…

I get it that 86’s future is in doubt, and they just released Battle, leaving Wallace, Brown, and Sanders, with only Brown and Sanders still under contract.

What used to be an embarrassment of riches at wideout, has turned into an almost panic button situation. If Ward, Cotchery and Wallace leave, there’s just the two 3rd year guys, and a bunch of unknowns/rookies…Not a very promising outlook for a team looking to win #7 in 2012.

"SteelFever gets #93. Just like Ron Artest. Great game just keep an eye on him that he doesn't go into the stands after a fan."
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by Steel Spike on Feb 19, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

When I will worry

When I see Wallace wearing another team’s colours I will begin to worry. Until then I am expecting the Steelers to resign him.

anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 19, 2012 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, I am expecting that as well

However, we must be objective about this stuff. There’s no point in just being fanboys, wearing blinders and hoping that everything will turn up sunshine and roses.

by Steel Spike on Feb 19, 2012 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

but

I like sunshine and roses! :-(

anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 19, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

How do you know?

There’s no such thing as sunshine and roses in Canada…Unless you have visited your neighbors to the south :P

by Steel Spike on Feb 19, 2012 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

Of course there are roses

I have a rose bush in my back yard and Manitoba gets a lot of sunshine, even where it is -35 outside. Seriously, I moved back from Vancouver, which has a very mild climate and which is a wonderful city, because I couldn’t stand the rainy season that started in the fall and lasted through most of the spring. I need sunshine more than I need heat.

anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 20, 2012 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

I like Sanders. I think he brings a lot to the table.

by Anthony Defeo on Feb 19, 2012 2:30 PM EST reply actions

ditto

This will keep him more involved and will reduce the wear and tear on Brown. When you have good athletes you want to find ways to use them.

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by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 19, 2012 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

I don't like it

Brown is one of the best PR in the NFL.

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by seton hall and steelers on Feb 19, 2012 2:32 PM EST reply actions

Not really. He only averaged 10.8 a return with one touchdown. Sanders could end up being better.

Can I get some hot sauce for my doughnut?

by FrankWyt on Feb 19, 2012 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

Cant risk brown getting injured.

by jollyrob68 on Feb 19, 2012 2:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

this

I don’t think the difference between the two is great enough atm to risk Brown especially since we will still have Brown in reserve for special circumstance.

anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 19, 2012 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

He was good

But I think he will definitly be able to make more of an impact with a larger role in the offense than returning kicks. But I feel few return guys are worth risking injury if they play a larger role in the offense. Devin Hester would be one of the few exceptions. I think we will be fine letting Sanders have a shot at it.

by steelerintexas on Feb 19, 2012 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

Holmes was a pretty good returner too...

by Steel Spike on Feb 19, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Not in his 1st year he wasn't

Pittsburgh Steelers fan - nuff said.
Miami Hurricanes fan - nuff said.
Georgetown Hoyas fan - nuff said.
Cleveland Cavaliers fan - um yeah, about that...

by StoneColdSteel on Feb 19, 2012 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

After the Ricardo Colclough years?

He was a god.

by Superstar25 on Feb 19, 2012 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

This wasn't Browns first year either...

Brown is an almost carbon copy of bluntonio, but I think he’s faster and doesn’t have that “me first!” attitude Holmes did/does.

by Steel Spike on Feb 19, 2012 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

I still like

“Sandoobieo” better, but “Bluntonio” is classic.

by HandsofSweed on Feb 19, 2012 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

ABrown got the bone....

…but there’s plenty left on the meat wagon.

As a great leader of men once said, “together, we all eat.”

I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson

by Homer J. on Feb 19, 2012 2:58 PM EST reply actions

Julius Hodge?

I love the Steelers.

by tannofsteel84 on Feb 19, 2012 6:09 PM EST up reply actions

I thought that was, "I'm hongry!"

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 20, 2012 9:13 PM EST up reply actions

lol

When we hungry, we eat!

I love the Steelers.

by tannofsteel84 on Feb 21, 2012 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

Sounds good... at least until Brown takes over by week 3

I like Sanders, but I’m not over confident that he’ll stay healthy the whole season. He’s been injured a lot with a limited number of snaps so far. Not sure how long he’ll be healthy returning kicks.

by lkwdsteel on Feb 19, 2012 5:26 PM EST reply actions

He seemed to be healthy his rookie season...

But this move is definitely “score one for Brown.” We can’t risk Brown in the return game… But we CAN risk Sanders. Time for Sanders to come back with a healthy & productive season…

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by Fifty-Eight on Feb 19, 2012 5:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Amen

I’d love for him to do great next year.

by lkwdsteel on Feb 19, 2012 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

They will both, of course, share the duties. I’m not too concerned about which guy gets 60 percent of the returns and which guy gets 40, they are both quite capable.

by jedmiller71 on Feb 19, 2012 5:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Why not AB?

by Lamarr56 on Feb 19, 2012 5:57 PM EST reply actions

Colbert comes through in the clutch again...

To land Wallace, Sanders, and Brown with 3rd-3rd-6th round picks is nothing short of phenomenal drafting. Plus it allows us to spend our premium picks on big uglies to protect Ben and increase their production even further. The F.O. will find a way to keep all three. They are the future. The scary part is we can/will also add a taller red zone threat.

by StarSpangledSteeler on Feb 19, 2012 6:35 PM EST reply actions

I think this is the right call.

Let’s keep Brown in the game as a receiver. Sanders is a very talented guy and I don’t think the drop off on kick returns or punt returns is much at all.

by JDSpartan on Feb 19, 2012 9:02 PM EST reply actions

It seems like some of you guys have forgotten....

I went back and watched our Superbowl run in ’10 playoff games against Jets and the Ravens, and it was very obvious that Sanders was better than Brown, and played very very well. On the other hand, Brown, I know he made those two great catches but Sanders was actually the guy who was making the plays… Of course we know he got injured and never recovered this past season…

We hope that Sanders gets back to full fitness to better his 2010 form, and with Brown Sanders and Wallace we could have a very dangerous (and young) trio of WRs..

by stoco40 on Feb 20, 2012 2:03 AM EST reply actions

Of course. At one point Tyler Palko was so good that a certain AFCN QB was forced to transfer to a division 8AAA school. So obviously, what happened years ago is the only thing you should go off of. I understand though, people are aware that Brown is the best receiver on the team now, so there has to be someone to say he’s not. Natural order of things. Nothing about the 2010 season said Sanders was better. There were things that said they’d be amazing compliments to each other, and that we were extremely lucky to have them both, but absolutely nothing to say he was better.

Can I get some hot sauce for my doughnut?

by FrankWyt on Feb 20, 2012 2:20 AM EST up reply actions