Chad Morton was a star with the Jets in 2002, but he was not much more than ordinary in two seasons with Washington.

09:12 AM EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2005

By TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

The Patriots don't believe in incumbents. They do believe in position competition, and they ratcheted it up at the kick-returner spot this week with the signing of Chad Morton.

Journal file photo / Bob Breidenbach

Kick return specialist Chad Morton, center, being hauled down by former Patriot Aric Morris in 2003, signed a one-year contract with New England Tuesday that, with incentives, could top $1 million.

Morton, 28, released by Washington less than three weeks ago to free up some cap space, signed a reported one-year deal worth $600,000 in salary and another $600,000 in incentives. His biggest impact in the league came with the Jets in 2002 as a kick returner, when he averaged 26 yards on 58 returns and took two back for scores.

Washington signed him as a restricted free agent in 2003 (five-year, $7.8-million deal) and got only modest returns -- a 23.4-yard average on 44 returns with one score. He got hurt in 2004 in Washington's seventh game, and finished the year averaging 22.4 yards on 16 returns.

Morton, who was drafted out of USC by New Orleans in the 2000 draft, has seen limited use in the regular offense (88 carries in five years, with a high of 48 in 2003 with Washington). He carried the ball only four times in his two seasons in New York. He has 48 career catches (30 as a rookie in New Orleans).

Morton also can return punts. He ran back 32 in his two seasons with Washington, averaging 8.3 yards per return. The Giants looked at Morton as a punt returner last week, and it was reported that the Vikings also scheduled a visit with Morton.

So now Morton is dumped into the fray in New England, presumably joining another off-season pickup, Tim Dwight, and Bethel Johnson as a prime candidate for return work.

Each player has a résumé with high points. And while none of them is coming off "good" campaigns in 2004, the spot didn't outwardly appear to be a position of dire need of upgrading this time.

No matter. It's a position of competition now. And the question that arises now is two-fold:

• First, is there a larger injury issue with Johnson or Dwight (or both) that necessitated signing Morton?

• Second, is the roster big enough for three guys with similar (and narrow) skill sets?

Johnson and Dwight were both non-participants at mini-camp two weeks ago. Johnson was seen with a wrap on his foot earlier in the month; Dwight's malady was undisclosed.

After leading the AFC in kickoff returns in 2003, Johnson's production slipped some last season although he averaged a still-respectable 24.8 yards on 41 returns with a touchdown.

The team tried to work him in as a punt returner late in the season. He fielded four punts in the season finale against the Niners and returned one for 14 yards in the Super Bowl against the Eagles.

Dwight returned 50 kickoffs for the Chargers in 2004, averaging 24.4 yards with a touchdown. He only returned three punts the last two seasons. His work as a receiver fell off precipitously in San Diego the last two years. He caught just 16 passes after grabbing 50 in 2002.

Johnson had just 10 catches as a wide receiver last year, a disappointing dropoff given that most players make a leap between their first and second seasons.

So where does Morton fit in? Presumably, the Patriots hope he makes a run at taking over punt-return duties, which were split last season between Kevin Faulk (20 punts fielded) and Troy Brown (12).

If he's able to assume that role and make some contribution as a third-down back, that would leave Dwight and Johnson battling solely for kickoff returns and work as down-the-depth-chart receivers. What, then, does Brown's role become? Part-time punt returner and another down-the-depth-chart receiver?

It would be a major upset if Johnson found himself on the outs in New England. He's too young, is one of the fastest players in the NFL, and is a long way from a finished product. Dwight and Brown, on the other hand, have less to recommend them at this point in their careers. (Dwight is 30 next month; Brown is 34 next month.)

That's a lot of players for what figures to be a little work. And that figures to make the competition between these pretty good players kind of cutthroat.