Playmaker Hester needs to play WR

The final leg of our NFC North tour would have made the Chicago Bears a lot happier if we had stopped in Mankato and kidnapped Bernard Berrian.

"If you see Bernard up there, tell him I said hello and I miss him," said Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner, referring to the former Chicago receiver and current member of the rival Vikings.

"I was crushed when he left, to be honest with you. He was a great football player in his prime and getting ready to play better. It was a huge loss for us, and he's going to have a huge impact in Minnesota. With that running game they have, and Bernard on the outside ..."

The NFC North tour caught the Bears in the early stages of training camp Wednesday. But it still seemed later than usual to find an NFL team still so unsettled at key positions such as left tackle, where rookie first-round draft pick Chris Williams has been injured; running back, where second-round draft pick Matt Forte is showing promise; quarterback, where Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton are rotating days with the starting unit; and receiver, where Berrian left via free agency to sign a six-year, $42 million deal with the Vikings and Muhsin Muhammad was released.

The candidates to help replace Berrian's team-leading 71 catches and 951 yards include Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd, Mark Bradley, Rashied Davis, third-round pick Earl Bennett and last but definitely not least Devin Hester, the league's best return man.

"We definitely think Devin Hester can be a No. 1 receiver for us," coach Lovie Smith said.

This year? With no career starts and only 20 catches? And having never played receiver on a regular basis since, well, ever?

"Definitely so," Smith said. "I wouldn't doubt anything that Devin Hester could do. Whether it's returning punts, taking a couple of snaps at quarterback, playing cornerback. I think he'll be able to figure it out."

(startribune.com)