Every Football Team Needs An Olympian With World-Class Speed To Return Kicks

Ever since Brandon Tate was released prior to last season, the Patriots kick return game has been awful. I'm not saying that will change overnight based on one player but you have to like their chances after they signed free agent Jeff Demps to a three-year deal tonight.

A running back at the University of Florida, Demps was undrafted in April since he wanted to concentrate on his track career. Otherwise he would have been a mid to late round draft pick. I'd say that was a smart decision since he qualified for the London Olympics and came home with a silver medal from the 4x100 relay team that finished second to Usain Bolt and Jamaica. When he decided, he wanted to return to football, he was quickly snatched up by New England before other teams could sign him (Jets missed out).

He was a true weapon for the Gators. Demps is only 5-foot-7 and 191 pounds so he obviously won't be an every down back in the NFL but he could be Darren Sproles. In his senior year on a rebuilding team, he rushed for 569 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games last season. In four years of college football, he put up 2470 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. He had 31 rushes for more than 20 yards at Florida, most in the Southeastern Conference (by far college football's best/an NFL feeder system) since 2008.

Demps could be a project but when the Patriots main kick returners in 2011 were Danny Woodhead and Julian Edelman, they can afford to think outside the box a little bit. Demps only returned two punts at Florida so Edelman's punt returning duties seem secure. Keep in mind, New England head coach Bill Belichick and former Florida head coach Urban Meyer (who recruited Demps) are tight and the Pats have greatly benefited from two Gators on their roster: tight end Aaron Hernandez and linebacker Brandon Spikes; let's not talk about defensive end Jermaine Cunningham.

Here is a sweet highlight package from Demps' college career. Note the kickoff return that starts at 2:35. With his breakaway speed and ability to make guys miss in the open field, I have no doubt that he could be an elite kick returner and unique weapon for Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to utilize down the road.



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We'll Get Our Dose Of Doc Rivers During The London Olympics, Don't You Worry

It's one adventure to the next for Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers who never seems to take any time off. Tonight, he's in Newark, NJ to see his younger son Austin Rivers get drafted by the NBA. In a few weeks, he'll be a basketball analyst on NBC for the London Olympics.

From ESPNBoston.com
The network announced an announcer lineup for the London Games full of familiar faces Thursday. Bob Costas will serve as prime-time host for the ninth time. Al Michaels and Dan Patrick will handle that role for NBC's live weekday and weekend daytime coverage.

Eight-time Winter Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno will work as a reporter.

Collins and Rivers have worked as TV commentators during stints between coaching jobs. Collins will call games alongside play-by-play announcer Bob Fitzgerald, the voice of the Golden State Warriors for CSN Bay Area. One of his players with the Philadelphia 76ers, Andre Iguodala, could make the U.S. team. Rivers, the Boston Celtics' coach, will be a studio analyst.

You'll remember that Doc was a very popular commentator on TNT between coaching gigs in Orlando and Boston. Clearly, he loves the game of basketball since I doubt that he really needs the money and neither does his family. That is assuming he doesn't pull a Mark Jackson and have a stripper on the side looking for cash.

Seriously though, it's a pleasure to hear Rivers speak with the media before, during and after games; with his experience both as a player in the NBA and coach, it's no wonder that he's one of the best analysts (that has taken a break from that very different life). You know that whenever he decides to retire from coaching that a great TV gig will be waiting for him.

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