*Story Credit Goes to ESPN and Josh Weinfuss*
Bryan McCann's path to the NFL has been a long one. He was an undrafted free agent in 2010, signed by the Dallas Cowboys out of Southern Methodist looking to make his mark in the NFL. In only his rookie year he did that. He had a 97 yard punt return touchdown, to go al,ong with a 101 yard interception return for a touchdown. His career looked promising.
However, in 2011 he bounced around from the Cowboys, to the Oakland Raiders, and the Baltimore Ravens. He played in 12 games for the year recording only two tackles and a pass defended.
In 2012, he spent eight games playing with the Miami Dolphins, recording 10 tackles and a sack.
He started 2013 in Cardinals camp, only to be released during the preseason and not make the 53 man roster. However, and injury to Teddy Williams made the Cardinals bring him back to play as a gunner opposite of Justin Bethel. He solidified the gunner position after injuries began to take their toll.
McCann find himself in a strange position. He wants to find a place where he can start, but as Arizona's fourth cornerback on the roster, finding a team to start will be tough, if not impossible. Arizona gives him an opportunity to build his resume. The team heads into 2014 with uncertainty at multiple positions at which McCann can fight for a role.
Fans have been calling for a punt returner to replace Patrick Peterson, and Tyrann Mathieu appeared to be first in line for that role, but an LCL and ACL injury put to rest ambitions for that to happen. Andre Ellington is also another likely candidate to try for the role, but he is a key offensive weapon, and the risk of injury on special teams, could deter Coach Arians from using him.
Bryan McCann seems like a guy who could surprise a lot of people. Anytime a player returns a punt 90+ yards for a touchdown and intercepts a pass and takes it 101 yards for a touchdown, shows they have play making abilities.
He has shown interest in returning to Arizona, not something many players do, stating (according to his agent) that Arizona is a "team on the rise".
McCanns agent also believes Arizona will re-sign him, based on his talks with the team.
This writer says to bring McCann back on a two year deal and let him compete for a punt/kick return duties this year. He cannot fair any worse than how our return game played last year, both on punt returns and on kick returns.
What say you ROTB best and brightest?