The St. Louis Rams’ long search for a return man ended Wednesday when the team acquired Dante Hall from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this weekend’s draft.
“We have filled a need with one of the top players in football at his specialty, returning punts and kicks,” Rams coach Scott Linehan said. “Dante will fit nicely on our special teams and can be utilized as a receiver in certain situations.”
The trade could have draft-day implications. The Rams had expressed strong interest in Ohio State’s Ted Ginn Jr., as much for his return ability as for his résumé as a receiver. St. Louis also has several needs on defense.
As part of the trade, the teams swapped positions in the third round – the Chiefs moving up to 82nd overall, the Rams down to 84th.
“We have to get younger, and the only way you can do that is through the draft,” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. “You’re going to have to give up something to get something.”
The trade also gives Kansas City seven draft choices.
Hall, 28, has returned 11 kickoffs and punts for touchdowns in his seven-year career, including four (two kickoffs, two punts) in 2003. Brian Mitchell holds the record with 14 kick-return touchdowns, followed by Eric Metcalf with 12.
Last season, Hall averaged 22.8 yards on 53 kickoff returns and 8.9 yards on 27 punt returns. He also caught 26 passes, two for touchdowns.
Hall, who has two return touchdowns against the Broncos, needs one more kickoff return for a touchdown to break the record of six he shares with Ollie Matson, Gale Sayers, Travis Williams and Mel Gray.
Seahawks: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will participate in the team’s first minicamp early next month, eliminating initial fears he might not return from surgery on his nonthrowing shoulder until summer.
Dolphins: Miami re-signed former Broncos linebacker Donnie Spragan to a one-year deal. He had 46 tackles in 2006.
Lions: Detroit signed wide receivers Marcus Robinson and Cliff Russell and re-signed cornerback Keith Smithy.
Robinson was cut by the Minnesota Vikings with one game left last season despite leading the team with four touchdown receptions in 10 games. He started 19 of his 41 games over three seasons in Minnesota, catching 107 passes for 1,553 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Russell was released by Miami during last season after catching two passes in three games.
