An NFL lifetime ago, when Bruce Arians was simply a good offensive coordinator with the Steelers and the Cardinals were trying to turn Kevin Kolb into their long-awaited replacement for Kurt Warner, Patrick Peterson electrified the league with his punt returns. He scored four times that season and would've had five, were it not for a shoe-tip trip tackle in the season finale.
Peterson's effectiveness at punt returning hasn't been the same since. There are plenty of arguments why, whether it's a safety issue -- no one wants Peterson to become Jason Sehorn the sequel -- or a blocking issue -- Peterson intimated as much during an appearance on the "Bickley and Marotta" show earlier this week -- or something else. But there is one thing Peterson still has that can't necessarily be said for anyone else on the roster when it comes to punt returns. He has Arians' trust.
Since Arians arrived the Cardinals have tried to find a legitimate replacement for Peterson on punt returns. Yet, as we stand here on the final day of OTAs, it looks like Peterson is headed for another season on the job. In a perfect world, the Cards would have a guy who could return kicks and punts, but rookie T.J. Logan should end up with the kick return spot and he's never returned punts, and frankly, he probably shouldn't start now. As excellent kick return man LaRod Stephens-Howling once emphasized, they are certainly not the same thing.
Smokey Brown is an option, although having your No. 2 receiver in harm's way isn't that much different than your No. 1 cornerback. J.J. Nelson has done it, but his double-whammy fumble/injury when he was doing it as a rookie in 2015 sticks in the mind. Nelson too is important to the offense and exposing his slight frame to more punishment would likely give pause.
Maybe it is as simple as getting Peterson better lanes within which to run. Maybe, as the Cardinals showed in 2015, as long as Peterson isn't turning it over, that's all they need in that part of the game. But getting a breakout return or 10 during the season wouldn't be bad either.
