Position Battles: Punt Returner/ Kick Returner

When Domenik Hixon was lost for the year, an immediate hole opened up in the return game. Now, with Hixon formally dropped, the hole is still there on the roster.

The Giants tried to go outside their current roster, and signed Chris Davis, a kick off return specialist. However, he failed his physical and was thus waived after sitting out all last season with hamstring problems.

Three internal candidates seem to come right to mind: cornerback Aaron Ross, and wide receivers Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham. Personally, all these three candidates I like Ross the least. As you’ll no doubt see if you continue to follow this site, I am by no means at all a fan of Aaron Ross, and while he’s a burner, the less he’s on the field the happier I will be. Manningham is no doubt explosive, but he carries the ball so precariously, it seemed he was fumbled once every few catches if he wasn’t bobbling it. That’s the main thing you need out of a returner: ball security. Excellent returns and fantastic field position are a large part of the game. But very few things are as devastating to a team, especially a defense, as stopping a team and then immediately fumbling the punt. The winner, by default, in my eyes, is Moss. Moss is quick, and always seems to perform during training camp and preseason. He has not been able to crack the field consistently, however, perhaps this is just the role he needs to excel.

At this poibt nothing has been decided. It’s a three way race, and there’s still the possibility the Giants could reach outside the organization again for an answer as more cuts come from other teams.