Bears’ Hester could be mayor of Bourbonnais

Jul/31/07 09:14 AM Filed in: Devin Hester
RECEIVING LOVE: Bears fans are flocking to Bourbonnais in huge numbers, and the one guy they seem to love the most is Devin Hester.
And what’s not to love?

While returning an NFL-record six kicks for touchdowns last season (and another in the Super Bowl), he was the most exciting rookie athlete to hit Chicago since Michael Jordan. And now, coach Lovie Smith wisely has turned Hester over to offensive coordinator Ron Turner, who so far in training camp is having fun getting the ultra-quick kid.

Hester is lining up in the slot and catching slant passes. He’s lining up wide and beating defensive backs deep. He’s running reverses. Can Hester pass the football?

I’m guessing Turner will find out before the Bears break camp.

Meanwhile, every time Devin touches the football, the fans go wild. During Saturday night’s practice at Ward Field on the Olivet Nazarene campus, Hester actually made a grab while sitting on his keister after slipping. The ensuing ovation was so loud one would have thought he had ridden Evel Knievel’s motorcycle through a ring of fire.

The previous day, he caught a short pass and then juked out safety Mike Brown, who could only shrug and shake his head. That drew cheers and laughter from the crowd.

Don’t worry, folks. Hester is still fielding lots of punts and kickoffs. He knows where his bread is buttered. So does Lovie Smith.

(sj-r.com)