Punter Kyle Richardson receives AFC recognition

The Browns punter kicked in wind gusts of 40 mph in last week's victory.
BEREA (AP) -- Browns punter Kyle Richardson noted last week that players in his profession are either "a hero or a zero" in the NFL.
He's been both in a span of two weeks.
Richardson, whose job was on the line a week ago after shanking three punts, was named the AFC special teams player of the week Wednesday for his performance against Tennessee.
"It was a good game," Richardson said.
Richardson, kicking in winds gusting at 40 mph, pinned the Titans three times inside the 15-yard line in the 20-14 win Sunday.
He had five punts for 203 yards (40.6 average), a net punting average of 34.4 yards and a long punt of 54 yards.
Tackled returner
Richardson also tackled Titans punt returner Lamont Thompson to end a 31-yard punt return.
"He went out and he performed," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "He didn't perform in some other weeks. But he came out and he performed this week, particularly with the wind the way it was."
Besides strong winds, Richardson was punting under pressure after shanking two punts, including a 10-yarder in the Browns' loss to Houston. He also shanked a punt against Detroit a week earlier.
"He bounced back the way I hoped he would, but you never know because the guy had been having some problems," Crennel said. "You don't know if the problems are going to continue or if he's going to come out of it. Fortunately, he came out of it at the right time for us."
Crennel had said last week that Richardson was on notice. The Browns looked at punters last week to replace Richardson and signed punter Gabe Lindstrom to the practice squad.
Not intimidated
Richardson said he didn't approach the game like he was punting for his job.
"I put the most pressure on myself to perform," he said. "That's pretty much the way I went into the game. I knew they had a guy that they had signed. That does add concern. But it is what it is."
Winning AFC special teams player of the week won't take the pressure off Richardson. With Lindstrom on the practice squad, Richardson is still on notice, Crennel said.
"Every NFL player is on notice, there are no guaranteed contracts," he said.