What Zero and Zombie said. Desmond Howard, SB XXXI MVP.

The one time that has happened in the history of the NFL.

Pointing to such a marked aberration is hardly a good way to support one's argument that an outstanding return team is essential to winning a championship.

Before someone trots out the phrase, "The exception that proves a rule," let me point out that that aphorism dates back to a time when the word prove meant "to test" (as its cognate probieren still does in German), not "to demonstrate that something is true."

Might I remind you that the Bears lost both the Super Bowl and the NFC Championship despite having Hester on the roster -- and that was with Peyton Manning doing his best to give the Lombardi Trophy away.

---

I am with NSD and Bozz.

If the average ST rank of the Super Bowl winner for the last 10 years is worse than 16th, it doesn't seem to be a deciding factor. Of course you want to be better everywhere, but ST is not that critical. Wasting a pick, roster spot or the salary of a return guy is not going to make the team more likely to win a Super Bowl. You go with what increases your odds them most.

Hint, it is D and Passing.

Hester averages 3 TDs a year. A decent number 1 WR would probably get 8-10. The Bears would be better off trading Hester for a good WR.

Indy had a ST ranking at or near the bottom of the league when they won. The Bears were near the top when they lost.

I thought Reggie won the super bowl for us. We already had a lead when Howard scored. Reggie held up that lead. We didn't really need Howards return to win. We did need Reggie to step up and take over the game. He did.

---

Using the Colts vs. Bears example is a little silly, imo. Of course a good return man isn't going to win the game by himself. In order to become a champion, a good team is generally needed all the way around. While an elite special teams unit can certainly help, God himself can only do so much for Sexy Rexy Grossman. And while the Bears defense was very good, I feel as if it's pretty rhetorical that, at minimum, a decent defense and offense is needed in addition to an elite ST's unit in order to win a super bowl.

Geez I even consider the game against the pats when the offensive lineman returned it to the 5 against us a momentum changer.

---

Is it really such a stretch to project a second round draft pick, who was a decent returner in college, to beat out a few guys who have already proven themselves to be below average? Highly drafted players often start at positions that are much more important than kick returner, and I think Cobb is clearly the front runner for the job at this point.

I tend to side with bozz about kick returner not being hugely important, but a GM should do every little thing he can to help his team compete. I'm not sold on Cobb being anything better than an average returner, but average would be an improvement, and maybe he'll break a long one occasionally.

---

Why do you think Cobb will never be more than average? Do you think he is too slow?

I didn't mean never, I just meant right now. I don't get the impression that he was a great college returner. But he could improve.

---

Personally, I have hopes for young Cobb.....he's on my short list.

I would rather Cobb produce at WR than at returner. But if he can be effective at punt returner then I am all for it to replace Williams there.

---