Seahawks’ Richardson: ‘I’m going to be a punt returner’

Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson sat down for an interview at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere last month, and one of his answers might have revealed something about the role he’ll have in 2014.

Richardson

The interview was posted on YouTube earlier this week. Richardson is asked at the 1:05 mark what he’s been told about the way Seattle’s coaching staff plans to use him this season.

“My role is to come in and just do what I can on special teams,” he said. “I’m going to be a punt returner, so I look forward to doing that and making an impact and changing the game when I can from punt return.”

Richardson went on to say that he’s expecting to play both inside and outside as a receiver, but it’s what he said about returning punts that is most interesting. He wasn’t one of the players coach Pete Carroll mentioned two weeks ago while listing Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Percy Harvin and Bryan Walters as candidates to replace Golden Tate as Seattle’s punt returner. Richardson’s comment suggests that, at the very least, he’s in the mix.

Richardson only returned four punts during three seasons at Colorado – those coming as a sophomore in 2011 – but Seahawks general manager John Schneider said there was a reason for that.

“He hasn’t done it because he’s been their … whole offense,” Schneider said during the draft, “so they were kind of afraid to put him out there.”

Follow Brady Henderson on Twitter @BradyHenderson.