Here’s a piece of shocking news: Today’s Raiders-Browns game might actually be interesting.
At least, it will be interesting when Oakland is kicking, because the Raiders say they have no intention of kicking away from Browns return man Josh Cribbs.
Raiders punter Shane Lechler says the team has always kicked to great return men like Devin Hester and Dante Hall, and that Oakland’s special teams philosophy hasn’t changed.
“We’re going to do exactly what we did to Hester, what we did to Dante Hall four years ago when he was at Kansas City,” Lechler said, per Doug Farrar of Shutdown Corner. “When you [kick away from a returner], it goes to show that you don’t trust your guys. I’m willing to put my guys up against anybody. I like my guys. My punt team is outstanding; they play their butt off every Sunday.”
Whether it’s smart of the Raiders to trust their guys to stop Cribbs remains to be seen. But with Cribbs threatening the NFL’s all-time all-purpose yardage record, the fact that the Raiders are willing to put the ball in his hands makes the game worth watching. At least for a few plays.