They are purposefully making it a part of the game. You can't look back a year to a year and a half ago and make assumptions when the return game is not the same. It's been made into a more return friendly game, what he did in the past can't/shouldn't be regarded now IMO. Not only that, but he just never really did it before, so when they put him in that situation he was totally green.
I know you just don't like the guy, and that's fine, but to just throw him out with the dishwater, well I think he offers more than that situation.....If he is tried there and succeeds he has saved that draft selection for an added spot as CB, LB, whatever rather than selecting a return man.