Reynaud faces challenge from another return specialist

The way it works in the NFL is one door opens, and another hits you in the rear on the way out. New Giants kick return candidate Will Blackmon and current return man Darius Reynaud have seen both sides of that door and very well might pass each other going through it in opposite directions in the near future.

When Reynaud returned to work Monday after the Giants' bye week, he was surprised to see a new guy wearing No. 30 fielding kickoffs. Admitting he was unaware the Giants signed Blackmon last week, Reynaud said: "I did not know. I saw him out there behind me catching kickoff returns. I can't worry about that. I just worry about what I'm doing."

Reynaud has averaged only 5.9 yards on 22 punt returns and 18.4 yards on 21 kickoff returns since the Giants signed him after his release by Minnesota. Both are below his career numbers of 8.4 and 20.5, suggesting it might not be entirely his fault. But coach Tom Coughlin knows special-teams performance must be improved this season.

"He hasn't had an awful lot to work with, so there's plenty [of blame] to be shared," Coughlin said of the help Reynaud has received. "A lot of work can be accomplished in that area."

Blackmon also was released earlier this season by Green Bay after reaching an injury settlement. He blew out his left ACL last season and suffered a training-camp setback when his quadriceps in that leg was losing strength. As soon as Blackmon felt he was healthy enough, he chose the Giants over offers from five other teams.

One reason was the opportunity to play with former Boston College teammate Mathias Kiwanuka. The two had dinner last week after Blackmon's workout, and then the veteran defensive lineman was placed on injured reserve for the season with a neck injury.

"I was excited to come here to play with him," Blackmon said Monday. "Little did I know I was the one replacing him."

It's possible Blackmon and Reynaud each might remain on the roster for awhile. Backup cornerback Bruce Johnson had arthroscopic knee surgery last week and was placed on IR Monday, and Blackmon can replace him as an extra defensive back. But the main reason the Giants wanted him is his career average of 11.0 yards on punt returns and 21.1 on kickoff returns.

Describing what it takes to succeed as a punt returner, Blackmon said: "I would just say you've got to catch the ball first. After that, it's an 'it' factor, an instinct thing. The No. 1 thing is you have to be fearless to go back there because there are guys running down just to kill you."

If Blackmon proves he has "it," he gets to stay.