OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Three days after cutting returner Asa Jackson, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked if he had an idea of whom his returner would be and whether he would like to share it.
"Yes and no, basically," Harbaugh said with a smile.
No one asked Harbaugh whether the Ravens are second-guessing their decision to cut returner Jacoby Jones in late February for $750,000 in cap savings. But the answer is a simple one once you remove the emotional ties.
Take away the memories of Jones being a Super Bowl hero, and there should be no regrets in letting Jones go. Let's not forget the times he mishandled punts last season and made everyone cringe by running back kickoffs that he should have downed deep in the end zone. Jones' decision-making was so bad that coaches were asked about the possibility of benching Jones on multiple occasions. The Ravens could use the Jones from 2012 and 2013, not the Jones from 2014.
The absence of Jones has been magnified because of the Ravens' struggles in the return game. Jackson mishandled a punt in the last two preseason games, and the Ravens cut all five players who returned kickoffs in the preseason (Terrence Magee was later re-signed). The knee-jerk reaction is to wish Jones was back scoring touchdowns in the return game and dancing in the end zone. But Jones was underwhelming and overpaid (scheduled $2.5 million base salary in 2015). His punt return averaged dipped by 3.3 yards from the previous season, and his three fumbled punts were tied for the fourth-most in the league last season.
In Sunday's season opener, the Ravens have an opportunity to take advantage of one of the worst coverage teams in the league last season. The Denver Broncos allowed the fourth-highest punt return average (11.2) and the ninth-worst kickoff average (25.9).
After releasing Jackson, the Ravens' choices are to go with an inexperienced returner (Michael Campanaro for punts and Magee on kickoffs), use a starter (Lardarius Webb and Steve Smith are considered the "aces in the hole") or promote ex-Lions returner Jeremy Ross from the practice squad. The favorite is Campanaro, who has the best combination of sure hands and elusiveness.
"We have a pretty good idea of what we’re going to do," Harbaugh said. "We have options. Certainly, all options are on the table, and we’ll see going forward. I don’t think we’re in a position to make any announcements exactly, yet. Like I said, we have more than one guy capable of going back there and doing it, and some of them might be situationally as well. We’ll have a plan come Sunday."
Jones could certainly rebound from last season's rocky year. A change of teams in 2012 led to a Pro Bowl season for him. And, when Jones faces the Ravens on Nov. 1 as a San Diego Charger, he could break a long run or two.
But, based on his body of work last season, the Ravens had every reason to move on at returner. It was a tough decision because of a championship past, but it was the right one for the Ravens in 2015.