National Football League

Breaston steps into Boldin's role with Arizona

Published Aug. 5, 2010 12:41 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Steve Breaston came out of college with pro scouts believing he was a kick and punt returner, at best.

There were questions about his ability as a receiver, and he fell to the fifth round of the 2007 draft. After 132 receptions for more than 1,700 yards the last two seasons, nobody should be wondering about that anymore. Now Breaston comfortably steps into Anquan Boldin's old role as No. 2 receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.

He says there are no butterflies. After all, he often filled in when Boldin was injured, with 15 regular-season starts and four in the postseason the last two years.

''For me, it's all about having confidence,'' Breaston said. ''I've shown that I have the potential and the ability to come in and perform that role. But the biggest thing is carrying it over to a 16-game season and the playoffs. The fact is I earned the respect of my teammates and my coaches. I know they've got confidence I'm going to go out there and do the job.''

His role as a punt returner, something he loves, probably will be a casualty of his ability as a receiver. Coach Ken Whisenhunt is auditioning replacements because of Breaston's increased role in the offense.

''I think you have to,'' Whisenhunt said. ''If he's going to get X-amount more snaps as an offensive player, which we anticipate, then you have to be careful about putting him out there to take those shots as a punt returner and a kick returner. ... It was difficult to tell Steve that because he takes a lot of pride in it and he didn't want to do that.''

Breaston has been the Cardinals' punt returner since he was a rookie, when he returned one 73 yards for a touchdown in a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last year, he returned one 64 yards to set up the tying score in a win over Minnesota. LaRod Stephens-Howling replaced him as a kickoff returner a year ago and he is sad to lose the punt return job.

''You understand it,'' he said, ''but it's a role that you've been doing a long time. But you've got to understand what the coaches are trying to do and what's good for the team.''

His days as a punt returner probably aren't finished altogether. Whisenhunt said the team may turn to Breaston at times.

''The thing you have to be very clear about, which I was with him, is that 'There may be a time when we call on you to do that,''' Whisenhunt said. ''You have to stay up to it because if we have a critical situation where we know the guy has to catch the ball, definitely Steve is the guy that we would put in there because of his track record.''

With Boldin unhappy with his contract situations the last two years, Breaston knew this day was coming. So did Early Doucet, who stepped into Breaston's third-receiver role when Boldin was hurt late last year. Although they may not bowl over would-be tacklers the way Boldin did, the trio of Larry Fitzgerald, Breaston and Doucet still can make a lot of yards after catch, Breaston said.

''We make plays,'' he said. ''Don't get me wrong. We lost a lot. Q was the leading receiver in franchise history. Whenever you lose a big part of the offense, it's' going to hurt a little bit. But when Q was here, we were preparing for this role.''

Despite all his confidence, Breaston said he never forgets why he was drafted so late, that so many doubted his ability.

''I kind of feel that every day when I step on the field,'' he said. ''I feel like someone is waiting for me to falter, so they could say `I told you so.'''

Fitzgerald watched then-offensive coordinator Todd Haley and passing game coordinator Mike Miller work with the eager Breaston early in his career.

''They worked with him tirelessly to try to get him right, and you see it helped him develop into a great receiver,'' Fitzgerald said.

Breaston, who has been nursing a sore groin in camp, is sporting a sort of mini-dreadlocks look. He said he wasn't sure if he liked it and he may get it cut.

No, said Fitzgerald, the leader of what might be the No. 1 dreadlocks team in the NFL.

''It looks good on him,'' Fitzgerald said. ''He looks distinguished. We're not going to let him cut it.''

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League