The race is on for Ravens’ return men

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, July 25, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Baltimore Ravens
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His nickname is "Yo," and the number on his back ought to be 4.29 instead of 16.

That's how fast Yamon Figurs reeled off one of his 40-yard dashes at the NFL Combine, tying him for the fastest time ever. And that number has become his signature.

Figurs was one of four draft picks who signed with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday, and the Kansas State product may well be scampering up the depth chart very quickly.

His official position is wide receiver, but Figurs is generally considered a bit frail (5-foot-11, 174 pounds) to pull his weight there on the NFL level.

Not that he's a wimp -- Figures can bench over 300 pounds and did 275 in the clean and jerk -- but his muscular but lean frame offers very little natural padding against the ferocious onslaught of pro tacklers. He is also thought to be vulnerable to jams at the line of scrimmage.

So what do you do with a guy like that? You have him return punts and kickoffs, which Figurs did quite successfully at K-State.

You know about Devin Hester, the dynamic return man for the Chicago Bears? Figures beat Hester in the 100 meters in high school.

Thus, one of the intriguing questions as the Ravens opening training camp is whether incumbent return man B.J. Sams' days are numbered.

True, Sams was outstanding last season -- better than outstanding, in fact, topping 1,000 yards in return yardage and averaging 25.7 yards per kickoff return. But if Figurs can prove himself as a receiver, even as a No. 4 or No. 5 option, that could make him more valuable in the salary-cap age.

Also, Sams is coming off a broken leg and a 2006 DUI charge. The former has healed and the latter was dismissed, but those factors may not help if it comes down to a very close decision between him and Mr. 4.29.
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