Jets coach Rex Ryan is telling his punter and kicker to use their pretty feet to kick the ball away from Bears return man Devin Hester on Sunday.
“I think it’s pretty safe to say we’re planning on not kicking to him,” Ryan said, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. “I think you can write that down as everybody else I’m sure doesn’t want to kick to him.
Ryan echoed Deion Sanders’ sentiments about Hester, saying he’s the best return man ever.
“I don’t think you can deal with him,” Ryan said. “As a returner, it’s ridiculous. He’s got to go down as the best punt returner in the history of the game.”
Of course, kicking away from a return man like Hester is easier said than done: Vikings punter Chris Kluwe tried to kick away from Hester on Monday night, only to have Hester grab a punt along the sideline and race to the end zone. And Giants punter Matt Dodge failed to follow Tom Coughlin’s orders to kick away from Eagles return man DeSean Jackson on the last play of Sunday’s game.
Will the Jets’ kickers similarly fail to follow Ryan’s instructions?
“I have no idea,” Ryan said. “I hope the ball when we kick doesn’t go to him.”