Comments on: Devin Hester: I don’t know if I want to play anymore

By: John A.

John A. — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:19:26 +0000

It took all of two weeks for rookie Jeffery to take his place as flanker in the offense… and the Bears to decide to keep Jeffery in the line up over Hester in spite of him being a bonehead.

Three years with the Bears and mediocre rook still beat him out at WR. That pretty much says it all about him as a WR… that he really isn’t one.

In spite of that, Hester’s cap number for 2013 is less than $3m, same as the amount he’s actually due next season. He’s a 5th/6th WR, but still a decent return threat. At that low of a cap number, I doubt he’s going to get his wish and be released to go to another team.

By: orivar

orivar — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 07:09:04 +0000

“I want to be a stressed millionaire.”

And then you realize you have just about as much problems as you did when you made the statement and feel like an idiot because of it.

By: bearsfan4life

bearsfan4life — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 01:33:46 +0000

Anyone want a #4 WR that drops every other pass or a return man that runs in circles? Literally in circles!

Absolutely electrifying in his day but has been hot garbage for so long that he is irrelevant.

Good riddance.

You’re a has been and Knox and Manning are proof that it was as much Toub’s system as your ability.

“Number one wide receiver?” So happy I don’t have to hear that ever again!

By: jprcox

jprcox — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:43:51 +0000

@metalhead65…

“don’t let the door hit you on the way out” – spoken like a true Bears fan. Why would anyone want to play there. You guys will have 3-4 seasons of fighting for the first and second round picks.

Welcome to the term – REBUILD.

By: jprcox

jprcox — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:42:09 +0000

Chicogo didn’t do anything to help their free-agent signings. Not only will several leave, good luck signing players to a team that seems so unloyal.

There is no way a coach like Lovie, who took the Bears to a superbowl, winning record, and finished 10-6 barely missing the playoffs should be fired.

By: otis52gsh

otis52gsh — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:05:05 +0000

I didn’t even realize he still was playing.

By: metalhead65

metalhead65 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:41:20 +0000

thanks for the memories Devon. don’t let the door hit you on the way out. the bears can use the money they save if you go on getting Cutler some protection.

By: Pacific NW Mark

Pacific NW Mark — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:04:21 +0000

I hope he Hester does retire as a Bear this offseason.

He will leave behind a brilliant career as a kick returner, tying the career returns for touchdowns record. Even when opponents tried to limit his touches by kicking away from him, he made a positive impact on the Bears’ field position.

Obviously he’s had less success a wide receiver, and his return skills seem to have diminished over time. There are a number of proud veterans on the Chicago roster who should also be contemplating retirement.

By: blackandbluedivision

blackandbluedivision — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:03:00 +0000

That might be related to his comment that it felt “stressful” not to have his talents showcased more regularly.
_________________

What talents? You’re back there to return every punt and just about every kick. As a WR you’re on the field but you’re not catching the football!! You catch screens and run sideways. You field punts and run sideways! You field kickoffs and run sideways!! Dude Eric Weems has been more valuable by making Special Teams tackles alone.
This has to be the single dumbest move in all of Lovie’s tenure, making him a WR and paying him like one.

By: thetokyosandblaster

thetokyosandblaster — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:55:20 +0000

Man, I don’t know where the bears would find all those yards Hester provided.

By: surfinbird1

surfinbird1 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:46:06 +0000

Grow up. It’s a busness.

By: ajb3313

ajb3313 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:39:24 +0000

A shining example of how invaluable kickoffs are to the game. Without kickoffs, there’s no Devin Hester. And I don’t think there’s a football fan in their right mind who would tell you they didn’t enjoy watching this guy run back kicks.

By: whitecastleisafoodgroup

whitecastleisafoodgroup — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:29:53 +0000

I didn’t think you were still playing.

Whether Lovie was coming back next year or not I would hope Emery would jettison Hester anyway. Hester was fun to watch 4-5 years ago but has just been selling jerseys lately and nothing else.

By: chitownborn5434

chitownborn5434 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:16:32 +0000

I would be sad too if I were him. The only other person, besides him, that believed he was a number 1 WR just got fired.

By: fuglyflorio

fuglyflorio — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:15:03 +0000

Ummm … then don’t you drama queen. But please … stop whining.

By: skinsfan4

skinsfan4 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:14:28 +0000

Let’s see…retire and go to work making $30k at some 9 to 5. Or keep getting paid millions to play a kids’ game. Maybe I won’t retire after all.

By: ninjapleazee

ninjapleazee — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:14:08 +0000

As a bears fan devin you were nothing more than a kick returner. You couldn’t run routes or even catch. Lovie’s game plan for you was go deep and draw pass interference. Glad to see you go.

By: descendency

descendency — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:12:22 +0000

What a huge burdon this would be for the new coaching staff. I mean, not having their kick return guy… where will they get one of them…

Lovie Smith (along with other coaches) just do not understand how to get a team playing well heading into the playoffs. If he did, he’d still have a job in Chicago.

Coaches that win in November and December do not get fired, period.

By: saberstud75

saberstud75 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:04:45 +0000

From a Bears fan, Hester is a one trick pony that wanted more money and fame than a punt/kick returner could justify.

He held out so Lovie and Jerry Angelo gave him a big contract and promised to turn him into a WR. Hester was not a top tier WR in college which makes it almost impossible for him to become one at the professional level.

I say trade him for what ever we can get. I hope the Hester experiment is over!

By: midwestwarrior

midwestwarrior — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:03:08 +0000

just another lovie smith lapdog whining and crying. why doesn’t he go follow lovie to the CFL where he belongs.

By: banlarson

banlarson — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:02:01 +0000

He’ll look good in purple next year along with Jennings from GB. That will allow Harvin to focus on WR. Gotta love Tice in Chicago, an OL coach running the Bears offense. How’d that work out for ya…oh, might want to get some OL help THIS off-season. Gonna be a long rebuilding process for aging Bears.

By: dukemarc

dukemarc — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:57:06 +0000

It’s going to take a really strong locker room personality to break up the boy’s club the Bears have had for years.

Prepare for a couple years of painful football and a lot of players whining, Bears fans.

By: whatjusthapped

whatjusthapped — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:56:55 +0000

It will force the Bears to look for a real WR, and lord knows they could use another one. While they are at it, maybe look for a QB too.

By: robmar924

robmar924 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:53:24 +0000

I do feel sympathy for athletes when their career ends. Yeah they make millions for their career but its not something you can do forever so its essentially the lifelong earnings of a upper management position in corporate america. These guys work hard all life at a job you can only do til your mid 30s at best. Let the guy be, hes allowed to have problems too. (end of athletes are people too rant)

By: gergie1957

gergie1957 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:51:37 +0000

By the looks of things he didn’t want to play much of this season either.

By: dfeltz

dfeltz — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:51:18 +0000

raiderufan – The Bears did try him out at db, he was terrible, that’s why they tried to find a spot for him because you can’t be that good of return man and not contribute somewhere else. Bears were wrong.

By: thepvyharvin

thepvyharvin — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:49:31 +0000

If I played for the Bears I would quit too,,,

By: reprob8

reprob8 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:46:45 +0000

Despite the inevitable erosion of talent as he aged, the pending elimination of the kickoff will limit the opportunities for return specialists.

All the best to Mr. Hester and many thanks to him for entertaining us.

By: FinFan68

FinFan68 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:41:25 +0000

Weak. He was a good returner but that is not as important at it used to be. He cannot play WR very well and he knows he is gone from the Bears before his bonus comes due. Lovie is a good guy but his time in Chicago was up a couple years ago. If he is devastated due to a coach getting fired then maybe he should just quit

By: myroncopesflask

myroncopesflask — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:40:18 +0000

Sorry Devin the game is now finished with you. You are the greatest kick/punt returner of all time. Too bad kickoffs are a thing of the past and nobody will punt to you anymore. When push comes to shove you are just a special teamer that will have to rely on the workers comp paperwork much sooner than you thought.