Bears, Devin Hester express confidence in his returning punts

This is not about Devin Hester. This is about a 2-0 team trying to defeat the hated rival Packers to show it's no fluke.

Hester understands the big picture, which is why the Bears receiver refuses to get entangled in the debate over whether he should stop returning punts.

"I don't say what I want to do, what I don't want to do,'' Hester said. "I just do what the coaches ask me to do.

"I'm not going to volunteer, but if a coach approaches me about it, I can't outweigh what a coach thinks.''

Relieving Hester of punt returns doesn't appear to be in the Bears' immediate plans. True, Hester has not returned a punt or kick for a touchdown in almost three years — his last was a 64-yard punt return for a score against the Saints on Dec. 30, 2007 — but he still strikes fear in opponents based on his past. Hester has a franchise-record 11 career returns for touchdowns, not counting the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI and the 108-yard field goal return against the Giants in '06.

"Devin is our returner,'' coach Lovie Smith said. "He hasn't scored as many touchdowns, but when you're special like that and do some of the things that he did, you are expecting him to score every time. Sometimes you have to take a step back. … I expect he'll be the old Devin in the punt-return game this week.''

Hester, who was pulled off kick returns last season, has gained 12 yards on six punt returns through the first two games. He has gone 30 consecutive games without a special teams touchdown, a span that includes 62 punt returns. Hester had seven touchdowns on the first 89 punt returns of his career.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub has no plans to replace Hester, although he has options with Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, and D.J. Moore.

"He's still one of the very best punt returners in the entire league,'' Toub said. "That hasn't changed.''

But the blockers around Hester have, which no doubt has contributed to the drop-off.

"I'm not going to make excuses,'' Hester said. "If they put another guy in there and returns are popping up, then I'm happy.''

Despite Hester's drought, an improved Packers coverage team is certain to be on full alert. Hester's first-career return for a touchdown was 84 yards off a punt at Lambeau Field.

One has to wonder if the Packers will even kick his way.

"Every week, teams kick it out of bounds and (opposing) players are running off the field saying, `We're not kicking it to you,' so I know (the fear) is still there'' Hester said.

"Teams are worried that I'm still capable of taking it the distance.''

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(chicagotribune.com)