Bernard Berrian will return punts for Vikings
Posted by Mike Florio on September 8, 2010 5:49 AM ET
After the Vikings shipped Darius Reynaud to the Giants, the defending NFC North champions had a void to fill at the position of punt returner.

In the past, the Vikings have used a starting receiver to return punts on a cameo basis, with Randy Moss and Anthony Carter providing high rewards in exchange for the corresponding injury risk.

The Vikings will start the 2010 season with a starting receiver serving as the full-time punt returner.

Coach Brad Childress said Tuesday that the job goes to Bernard Berrian. Two other receivers -- Greg Camarillo and Percy Harvin -- also are in the mix, along with cornerback Asher Allen.

Berrian has returned 21 regular-season punts in his career. In 2008, he converted one of seven opportunities into an 82-yard touchdown.

Miami Dolphins sign kickoff returner Clifton Smith

By DAVID J. NEAL
dneal@miamiherald.com

The Miami Dolphins signed Clifton Smith, the NFL's leading kickoff returner in 2009 while with Tampa Bay, Wednesday morning.

After trading erratic Ted Ginn Jr. to San Francisco during the offseason, the Dolphins were left looking for a returner who could put some explosiveness in the kickoff return game. Running back Kory Sheets, possibly the fastest player on the roster after Ginn's departure, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during kickoff return drills. Rookie Nolan Carroll showed some potential in preseason games, but veteran running back/backup kickoff returner Patrick Cobbs lacks the big play potential to go with his dependability.

So, when Smith got cut by Tampa Bay, the Dolphins were among several teams that called him. Smith led the NFL with a 29.1 yards per return average in 2009 with a long return of 83 yards. In 2008, as a rookie free agent out of Fresno State, he averaged 27.9 yards per return with one touchdown.

By comparison, despite touchdown returns of 100 and 101 yards against the Jets last season, Ginn averaged 24.9 yards per return on his 52 kickoff returns.

Smith's 2009 season ended with a concussion after a hit from Carolina's Dante Wesley that got Wesley fined by the NFL.

As a general rule, I like how Ted Thompson has built this team. But dear Lord....the fact the Packers cannot produce a single, dynamic return guy on a roster full of premier athletes is troubling. I mean, isn't that what your 4th/5th WR, or bottom of the roster CB/RB, is/are for?

At some point, a guy like Brett Swain...and just how often does he see the field....must be replaced by a guy who touches the ball multiple times every game....and knows what the fuck to do with it when in his hands.

Slocum...that is another story. I REALLY like Mike McCarthy, but his allegiance to Slocum leaves me scratching my head.

"digsthepack" wrote:

Does anyone know why one of the best returners was released by one of the worst teams?

Initially I was fairly irked that the pack didn't sign him, but it seems very suspicious that Tampa wouldn't retain him...possibly some lingering Harvin-esque symptoms from the concussion, or maybe it was just that Tampa couldn't justify a roster spot for a specialist, I don't know.

"musccy" wrote: