Key Bengals camp question: Mario Alford -- contender or pretender?

Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons on Mario Alford, who is competing to be the team's punt returner: "He needs to step up, or we've got to go someplace else."CINCINNATI -- When the Cincinnati Bengals open training camp Friday afternoon, special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons will be paying strict attention to his punt returners.

Of course, he's seen enough of Adam Jones (six seasons) and Brandon Tate (five seasons), the Bengals' veteran punt-returning stalwarts, to know what they can do.

But the same can't be said about Mario Alford, the speedster entering what could be considered a make-or-break second season.

"We need to see if Mario Alford is a legitimate contender or if…