LAKE FOREST -- Devin Hester is kind of like a football version of "The Little Engine That Could."

One can envision the fourth-year speedster telling himself, "I think I can, I think I can," in his quest to become the Bears' No. 1 receiver.

"I feel like the coaches are giving me an opportunity to step up and be No. 1," Hester said after an OTA on Wednesday. "Whenever you get an opportunity to do that, you want to come out and play, and make the best of it and take advantage of the opportunity."

As a result, Hester is determined to make as much of an impact in catching the ball as he did returning kickoffs and punts his first two seasons, when he scored a combined 12 touchdowns.

Last season, with Bears coaches wanting to capitalize on his speed, Hester began the transition to wide receiver.

"They want to take advantage of my play," Hester said. "When the coaches felt my role was to get the ball more and move the ball on offense, they put me in the mix, and I got my hands on the ball more often.

"I started playing more often toward the end of last season, and that's when they put their hands in it and put me in more offensive [situations]."

While he returned 32 punts and 31 kickoffs for 1,603 yards in 2008, he failed to score.

"I hate to say it, but the season I had last year was not up to my high expectations," Hester said. "This year, I'm trying to come out and be better than I was the first two years. My goal this year is just to come out and make big plays, like I normally do."

On the flip side, Hester caught 51 passes for a team-high 665 yards and three touchdowns in his first full season as a receiver.

It was on-the-job training, as Hester didn't play receiver in high school or in college at Miami.

"It's a learning process for a world I don't know," Hester said. "This is my first time to really get to learn, and now I got stuck learning at the highest level you can get.

"It was a slow process of me just learning the basics of receiving, and then from there, just moving up to the big leagues."

Admittedly, he made mistakes with five fumbles, but that was an improvement over the 15 combined fumbles he had during 2006 and 2007 as a return artist.

Things started coming together for Hester late last season, and it became apparent that the experiment was starting to see positive results.

That's one of the reasons why Bears general manager Jerry Angelo didn't place as high a priority on acquiring a veteran, high-profile receiver during the offseason.

"I really was hoping we'd have gotten a veteran earlier this year," Hester said, "but it is what it is and we're stuck with what we've got, so we've got to make sure we make the best of it and learn from each other."

With the acquisition of Jay Cutler, Hester finds himself with a quarterback who can help guide him as a pass catcher. And Hester has the type of speed that could make Cutler look better.

"Bringing in Jay Cutler, a Pro Bowl quarterback, speaks for itself," Hester said. "And my learning process as a receiver is just growing, and Jay is just helping it out a whole lot."

While Cutler still is learning the Bears' system, the connection he's made with Hester already is obvious.
"We talk about it every day, in practice; after a play, I ask him what he sees," Hester said. "Jay voices his opinion, that if the play's not there, then do [something different].

"When he tells me stuff like that, it really makes sense -- and it really seems -- like we're on the same page. … Each and every day, we're learning something new about each other."

While that all sounds good in theory, the fact remains that this is still just Hester's second year as a receiver. Is becoming the No. 1 receiver a realistic goal for a guy who is essentially serving an apprenticeship right now?
Offensive coordinator Ron Turner believes so. What's more, Hester the apprentice doesn't have to worry about having someone say "You're fired" if he makes a few more mistakes along the way.

"He should be [No. 1], and he definitely can be," Turner said. "At the end of last year, we were really pleased with how he was playing. He's like anybody; he's grown into the position.

"This is really only the second year full time in the position, and I can see the improvement and confidence. He's playing a lot faster and with a lot more confidence right now."

Hester appreciates the feedback. He wants to become one of the top receivers in the game in much the same way he became one of the pre-eminent return specialists.

"I've asked a lot of different coaches about how they see my development as a receiver coming along," Hester said. "Every coach is letting me know that I improved a lot last year, and that's my No. 1 goal, to just improve and get better."

If everything goes the way the Bears hope, the combination of Cutler and Hester could one day rival the league's best quarterback-receiver tandems.

"[Cutler's] a great guy for [Hester] to have," Turner said. "Devin's got a lot of confidence in him, and [Cutler's] got a lot of confidence in Devin. It's just a matter of those guys establishing the chemistry and their relationship on the field, which every day we get out here, they take another step."

Even as he continues his development as a receiver, Hester will keep his hand in the other thing he does best: returning punts. Danieal Manning will assume his role as the team's primary kickoff return specialist.

Hester can't wait for the regular season to begin. He has a lot to prove to himself, his team and his peers around the league.

"I was kind of hard on myself last year," he admits. "I'm kind of upset because when they'd show commercials on ESPN and the NFL Network, I'm not one of the players they show. So, I know there's a reason why, because of the season I had last year. Hopefully, I'll have a better season so I can get back on those commercials."



(espn.com)

One play into Wednesday's full-team Bears scrimmage session confirmed the most interesting bit of progress at Halas Hall still three months before the 2009 season-opener.

Jay Cutler glided back into a seven-step drop, set his feet in a pocket protected by left tackle Orlando Pace, and peered downfield where wide receiver Devin Hester had gotten a step on his defender.

For aesthetic purposes, ignore for a moment that cornerback Zack Bowman was limited in how physical he could get with Hester in this non-contact drill.

But that is beside the point.

The point that will be driven home whenever the Bears offense takes the field from now until September came in the way Cutler's arching spiral hit Hester in stride and landed gently in his hands. And the way Hester kept running to the end zone like it was a play he would go home and watch on "SportsCenter."

All Hester had to do was get a step. The ball was there, easily within reach, right where the playbook said it should be. All he had to do was catch it, tuck it and run with that rare speed of his.

When the Bears keep saying they have confidence in their rather pedestrian corps of wide receivers, this is why. When general manager Jerry Angelo continues to espouse the theory that the quarterback makes the receiver, and not the other way around, this is why.

"As good as advertised," tight end Desmond Clark said of Cutler.

But that was not the only thing obvious on display Wednesday during Organized Team Activities.

(chicagotribune.com)

We got an e-mail question Thursday evening asking about the production of Devin Hester, who made strides on the field as a wide receiver last season but saw a drop off in his production as a return man, ultimately relinquishing kickoff return duties to Danieal Manning.

"How much more did Hester play as a wide receiver in 2008 vs. 2007? I think the Bears took away from his explosive ability on special teams by taking his focus off of it. He was the most valuable player on the team. Now he's just another guy as a wide receiver and nothing distinguishes him as a returner. David N., Chicago"

That has been a popular question all offseason, and it's a subject we tackled with special teams coordinator Dave Toub at the OTA last week. First, let's take a look at the playing time numbers for Hester over the last two seasons in combination with his statistics: 2008
Offense--631 snaps
51 receptions, 665 yards, 13.0 avg., 3 TD 6 rushes, 61 yards, 10.2 avg.
Special teams--121 snaps
31 kickoff returns, 679 yards, 21.9 avg., 51 long 32 punt returns, 14 fair catches, 198 yards, 6.2 avg., 25 long

2007
Offense--226 snaps
20 receptions, 288 yards, 15.0 avg., 2 TD 7 rushes, minus-10 yards, minus-1.4 avg.
Special teams--182 snaps
43 kickoff returns, 934 yards, 21.7 avg., 2 TD 42 punt returns, 6 fair catches, 651 yards, 15.5 avg., 4 TD

So, Hester was on the field for a total of 752 plays (offense and special teams) in 2008 after being on the field for a combined total of 408 plays in 2007. One thing that is interesting is Hester's touches per play on offense dropped from one year to the next. Hester touched the ball every 8.37 snaps he was on the field in 2007. That number rose to one touch every 11.07 snaps last season.

What's missing in the equation for the returns and cannot be defined with numbers is the turnover that Hester dealt with on special teams. Toub's units took on a different look in 2008 and many of the new faces were rookies. Missing were Brendon Ayanbadejo, John Gilmore, Rod Wilson, Brandon McGowan and others. Hester basically had the same personnel around him in 2007 as he did during his rookie season of 2006. Take away the blockers and Hester wasn't the same return man. That doesn't explain for Manning's success as a kickoff returner however. He took over full-time duties in Week 11 at Green Bay and wound up leading the league with a 29.7 average. As Toub explains, things were ironed out by mid-November.

"It had nothing to do with Devin being on offense,'' Toub said. "When you go back and look at it, we had some young guys in there early and we didn't get them started. Toward the end of the year, we started cracking it. I've said it a million times now, we were a couple guys away from getting one on multiple occasions. Hey, they're hard to get. Touchdowns are hard to get on special teams. If you get two in a year, you're Pro Bowl considered.

"We just kind of got spoiled for two seasons. That's what happened. He's going to be fine this year.''

The Bears don't have plans to lighten Hester's workload on offense, either. How can they when you consider the depth chart? Hester was on the field for 631 of 1,012 snaps on offense (62.4 percent). He'll probably be more involved in the offense in 2009.

Opponents are scheming to stop Hester each week and he's been a marked man since the middle of his rookie season. If Toub is right and the players around Hester improve, he'll be the same returner the Bears are accustomed to seeing.

(blogs.suntimes.com)d

Watching Devin Hester run past defenders in mini-camp this week made it easy to forget that his move to full-time wide receiver last season clearly was a failure if viewed within the context of a one-year vacuum.

Unless, that is, your idea of success is finishing 49th in the NFL in receiving yards and not having a single 100-yard receiving game.

The Bears clearly are counting on Hester progressing this season. That is not an unreasonable expectation, given his inexperience and ability.

But how much better will he be?

The thinking behind putting Hester at wide receiver full time was to get the ball in his hands more often. That barely happened. He had 120 touches in 2008, only seven more than the previous year, when he was primarily a return man.

His inexperience at receiver hurt his progress. According to STATS, Hester was thrown to 91 times but caught only 56 percent of those passes. By comparison, Carolina’s Steve Smith, the player with whom Hester often is compared, caught 60.5 percent of the passes thrown to him.

What Hester can give a team is rare big-play capability. That was diminished, however, as he returned fewer kicks.

In 2008 on offense and special teams combined, Hester had 15 plays of 25 yards or more. The year before, despite having fewer touches and despite opponents making a more concerted effort to prevent him from returning the ball, he had 22 big plays of 25 yards-plus.

When he was primarily a returner in 2007, 19.4 percent of his touches went for big plays. When he was primarily a receiver last year, 12.5 percent of his touches were big plays.

The quality of his big plays was better the year before too. He averaged 46.9 yards on his plays of 25 yards or more in 2007, compared with 33.6 yards on them last year.

Ultimately, this is what it is all about—two years ago Hester put the Bears in position to score more points than he did last year.

They scored 76 points in 2007 either with his big plays or on the ensuing drives and only 45 last year.

When Hester had a big play in 2007, points were the result 54 percent of the time, compared with 46 percent last season.

For all the offensive snaps he had in 2008, he had only five more big plays as a wide receiver—seven total—than he did the year before. But he had seven fewer as a punt returner and five fewer as a kickoff returner.

Hester, obviously, was not as effective as a return man when he was a full-time wide receiver.

Consequently, the Bears were more dynamic when his principal duties were on special teams.

The Bears won’t reduce his role on offense now, in part because they don’t have any other wide receivers who could take his place in the lineup.

Moreover, they already have bet too much on this hand to fold at this point. There still is a chance that they can win the hand—and win big.

Former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski, who probably watches more game tape than any current NFL quarterback in his job as host of ESPN’s “NFL Matchup,” has studied Hester’s transition. And he is thinking like Bears coach Lovie Smith.

“He has improved dramatically as a wide receiver,” Jaworski said. “He has improved in every area, … I thought he learned how to run routes, he learned how to read coverages on the move and he learned now to stem and separate from cornerbacks and safeties.

“I saw a guy who got better and better and better the more experience he got. I think he is going to make a significant contribution as a wide receiver.”

The Bears need for Jaworski to be right.

But if Hester does not improve rapidly and dramatically on offense in 2009, going back to special teams would be the best return he ever could make.
(chicagotribune.com)

The Bears' coaching staff believes that Devin Hester "turned the corner" as a receiver when he caught 25 passes in the last six games last season.

Hester also finished as the fantasy WR35 overall from Week 5 on, showing how much he improved on a week-by-week basis. He'll probably never be a great red-zone threat and still has never had a 100-yard game, but Hester is setup for a career year as the Bears' No. 1 receiver with Jay Cutler at QB.

(rotoworld.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Bears wide receiver Devin Hester will host a football camp for boys and girls ages 7-14 July 11-12 at Niles West High School in Skokie.

The Old Spice Devin Hester Football Camp presented by Fifth Third Bank will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The superstar return specialist will be on hand to direct the activities of the camp and provide instruction.

“It’s a great honor to work with the kids,” Hester said Tuesday at Halas Hall. “When kids get to work with a football player or anybody else in sports, all of their eyes light up and they pay attention to whatever you say.”

The camp will focus on teaching fundamentals and the team concept. Individual groups will be small to assure that each camper receives personalized instruction.

All campers will receive an autographed team photo, a T-shirt and the chance to win contests and prizes. The cost of the camp is $199. For more information, log onto www.devinhestercamp.com or call (513) 793-CAMP.

It seems reasonable for Devin Hester to get less work on special teams as he continues to evolve into a No. 1 receiver. Of the 32 receivers with 60-plus catches last season, only four -- Wes Welker ( Patriots), Steve Breaston (Cardinals), Eddie Royal (Broncos) and DeSean Jackson ( Eagles) -- doubled as the primary punt returners.

But even with a couple of capable rookies at the Bears' disposal, coach Lovie Smith has no plans to give Hester a break from punt-return duties.

"No way," he said. "Devin has the chance to score every time. If one of those [rookies] is a better returner than Devin, then we will put them back there.

"Devin can be a full-time receiver and handle one other return. And we're very comfortable with him doing that."

Regardless, don't count out Juaquin Iglesias, Johnny Knox and D.J. Moore contributing on special teams. All three saw action in the return game during rookie mini-camp, which concluded Sunday.

"D.J. Moore is probably the most polished [punt returner] right now," special teams coordinator Dave Toub said. "Johnny Knox's got potential. Obviously, the speed is there. He just has to catch more punts. It takes a lot of work. And then Juaquin, he's really a kick returner. He's really a good kick returner, when you go back and watch his college tape."

Maybe the plan is to give kick returner Danieal Manning more rest so he can settle into his role on defense -- nickel back or free safety.
(chicagotribune.com)

While Bears receiver Devin Hester gets to keep his No. 23 jersey, Earl Bennett is making a change for the 2009 season.

There was some speculation last season that Hester would have to change his number, per NFL rules, because he evolved into a full-time receiver. In case you missed the story on chicagobears.com, the league ruled this off-season that Hester doesn't have to change because No. 23 is an eligible number that will allow him to play the position without reporting to the referee. No doubt jersey sales entered into the equation somewhere. The NFL requires wide receivers to wear numbers 10-19 and 80-89.

(chicagotribune.com)

Sources considered the presence at Cutler’s first press conference of both WR Devin Hester and TE Greg Olsen — who figure to be the primary targets for Cutler’s passes — as a very positive sign.

“The players were all genuinely sorry to see Orton go,” the insider said. “But the prevailing feeling seemed to be that it was time to move on.”

(profootballweekly.com)

Devin Hester will be one of the players most impacted by the acquisition of quarterback Jay Cutler.

He reacted to the news on Sporting News Radio on The Monty Show.

What is your vision knowing Jay Cutler will be in Chicago? DH: "As far as the GM, they went out there and made a pretty good move. My thoughts go out to Kyle Orton, I feel like he was getting ready to come to his peak, but the NFL is a business and things happen for a reason so... but on the other side of the hand now we have Jay Cutler, which has proven himself as a pro bowl quarterback. I think he'll come in and kind of boost up the team and probably fill in some of the pieces we're looking for."

Do you think this changes the way you guys will play offense? DH: "I think Jay is a great quarterback. I've watched the film on him, I've played against him and you know just hearing rumors around that he throws some of the most incredible passes. Jay Cutler is a great quarterback, and I'm looking forward to playing with him this year and I think he's going to come out and shock the world. He's a great quarterback. He's got the ability to move inside and outside the pocket and squeezing those passes into areas that need to be thrown in."

This is going to give Matt Forte more space, which will in turn give you more space. DH: "Right, you know it works hand in hand. In order to run the ball you've got to pass the ball, so that right there is hand in hand. With Matt Forte coming back, with the rookie year he had last year, I'm looking for something even better. We're moving on to new things that I guess with picking up Jay Cutler we're looking forward to throwing the ball a little bit more."

With Jay Cutler coming and Orlando Pace coming to Chicago, this is a big day for your offense. DH: "I feel like Jerry and those guys are really making big steps and they're going out and doing whatever it takes and they're shocking me because they're making big moves and things that you know we've been striving for to get back to being a Super Bowl team. The moves that they're making are incredible and we're striving to be a Super Bowl team."

(blogs.suntimes.com)

Plans for Devin Hester to participate in a promotional air stunt Thursday had been, well ... up in the air.

As part of his new partnership with Red Bull energy drink, the Bears wide receiver/kick returner originally agreed to ride in an "acrobatic" helicopter that can perform flips.

Then came word Monday morning that tornadoes along the East Coast would prevent the Red Bull stunt helicopter from leaving its base in Florida.

The decision was made Monday night to have Hester ride in an Albatross aircraft, which is capable of landing on lakes, rivers, oceans or runways. The Albatross will make its way from Tennessee to Palwaukee Airport for Thursday's event.

A Bears official said the team's contract concern regarding Hester's off-the-field activity with Red Bull depends on exactly what he winds up doing. A player could get hurt doing almost anything off the field and there is a non-football injury list for that.

It was also pointed out that players often discuss their proposed risky activities with team officials to reach accord.

Hester, who returned an NFL record 11 kicks for touchdowns in his first two seasons (none last year), admits Thursday's ride will demand more of a daredevil attitude.

"It will be an experience for me. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I want to take advantage of it and experience it," he said. "Whenever you can get exposure, it only helps you."

(chicagotribune.com)

Based on their inactivity in the free agent market, it’s obvious the Bears are counting on Devin Hester to be their go-to wide receiver. But they’re impeding his progress by not acquiring another threat to distract defenses that will realize what most of us already know: there are no other reliable weapons among the Bears’ wide receivers.

Last year, the combined total of the five other wide receivers currently on the Bears’ roster – John Broussard, Devin Aromashodu, Rashied Davis, Brandon Rideau and Earl Bennett -- was 35 catches and 445 yards, all by Davis.

That deficiency must be addressed in the draft – and early. The good news is that the Bears now have four picks in the first 99 selections, including the late-third-round compensatory pick they were awarded Monday. The Bears were also given a pair of compensatory picks in the seventh round.

Those compensatory picks were the Bears’ reward for losing Bernard Berrian, Brendon Ayanbadejo and John Gilmore last year in free agency, while not signing any free agents. The Bears now own the 18th, 49th, 84th, and 99th picks, in addition to one pick in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, plus the two compensatory picks in the seventh.

During last week’s minicamp, Hester said: “It’s important for me to play like a No. 1 receiver. That’s my biggest goal. I feel like I have the ability to play as a No. 1 receiver, and I’m feeling real good and confident.”

But, if the Bears don’t provide Hester with a legitimate threat to prevent constant double teams, he’ll struggle to realize that ability, no matter how much natural talent he has.

(dailyherald.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Sitting atop the depth chart at wide receiver, Devin Hester knows that the Bears have high expectations for him this season—and that’s just fine with the electrifying playmaker.

“It is important for me to play like a No. 1 receiver,” Hester said. “That’s my biggest goal. I feel like I have the ability to play as a No. 1 receiver, and I’m feeling real good and confident.”

Hester performed well in last week’s minicamp at Halas Hall, exploding in and out of his breaks and catching virtually everything that Kyle Orton threw in his direction.

“Kyle is coming out here throwing great passes and organizing the receivers and putting them in the right spots,” Hester said. “That’s what it’s all about; being on the same page as the quarterback.”

Hester began to emerge during the second half of last season, catching 25 passes for 347 yards in the final six games after compiling 26 receptions for 318 yards in his first nine contests. His production improved after he gained a firmer grasp of the Bears offense.

“He’s just got to keep working,” said offensive coordinator Ron Turner. “He’s got to keep making the progress that he made at the end of last year. He wasn’t thinking; he was just going out and playing, and you could definitely see that, and he’s picked up [at minicamp] right where he left off.”

While some outsiders have questioned whether Hester is polished enough to play such a significant role on offense, Bears coaches are not among them.

“He definitely has No. 1 receiver-type ability,” Smith said. “At the end of the year, Devin was definitely playing like a No. 1 receiver, and I’m excited about this second year of him being a full-time wide receiver.”

“He’s going to make a huge step this year, which he did at the end of last year, just because he’ll know so much more,” Turner said. “Last year, every day it was learning something about playing the position. The only way you can learn is through experience; getting reps and seeing the different looks.

“Toward the end of the year last year, he started playing a lot faster. He’s picked up where he left off, so he’ll be fine, and he’ll be able to handle all that we can give him.”

(chicagobears.com)

Watching Devin Hester run past defenders in minicamp this week made it easy to forget that his move to full-time wide receiver last season clearly was a failure if viewed within the context of a one-year vacuum.

Unless, that is, your idea of success if finishing 49th in the NFL in receiving yards and not having a single 100-yard receiving game.

The Bears clearly are counting on Hester progressing and becoming better this season. That is not an unreasonable expectation, given his inexperience and ability.

But how much better will he be?

The thinking behind putting Hester at wide receiver full time was to get the ball in his hands more often. That barely happened. He had 120 touches in 2008, only seven more than the previous year when he was primarily a return man.

His inexperience at receiver hurt his progress. According to Stats, Inc., Hester was thrown to 91 times but he caught only 56 percent of those passes. By comparison, Carolina's Steve Smith, the player with whom Hester often is compared, caught 60.5 percent of the passes thrown to him.

What Hester can give a team is rare big-play capability. That was diminished, however, as he returned fewer kicks.

In 2008 on offense and special teams combined, Hester had 15 plays of 25 yards or more. The year before, despite having fewer touches and despite opponents making a more concerted effort to prevent him from returning the ball, he had 22 big plays of 25 yards-plus.

When he was primarily a returner in 2007, 19.4 percent of his touches went for big plays. When he was primarily a receiver last year, 12.5 percent of his touches were big plays.

The quality of his big plays was better the year before too. He averaged 46.9 yards on his plays of 25 yards or more in 2007, compared with 33.6 yards on them last year.

Ultimately, this is what it is all about—two years ago Hester put the Bears in position to score more points than he did last year. They scored 76 points in 2007 either with his big plays or on the ensuing drives and only 45 last year.

When Hester had a big play in 2007, points were the result 54 percent of the time, compared with 46 percent last season.

For all the offensive snaps he had in 2008, he had only five more big plays as a wide receiver—seven total—than he did the year before. But he had seven fewer as a punt returner and five fewer as a kickoff returner.

Hester, obviously, was not as effective as a return man when he was a full-time wide receiver.

Consequently, the Bears were more dynamic when his principal duties were on special teams.

The Bears won't reduce his role on offense now, in part because they don't have any other wide receivers who could take his place.

Moreover, they already have bet too much on this hand to fold at this point. There still is a chance that they can win the hand—and win big.

Former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski, who probably watches more game tape than any current NFL quarterback in his job as host of ESPN's "NFL Matchup," has studied Hester's transition. And he is thinking like Bears coach Lovie Smith.

"He has improved dramatically as a wide receiver," Jaworski said. "He has improved in every area, … I thought he learned how to run routes, he learned how to read coverages on the move and he learned now to stem and separate from cornerbacks and safeties.

"I saw a guy who got better and better and better the more experience he got. I think he is going to make a significant contribution as a wide receiver."

The Bears need for Jaworski to be right.

But if Hester does not improve rapidly and dramatically in 2009, going back to special teams would be the best return he ever could make.
(chicagotribune.com)

Coming off a 51-catch season with a team-best 665 receiving yards, Devin Hester is the only player on the roster who can be considered even close to a No. 1 wide receiver, and with no help expected in free agency, he's destined to be the main man again, unless the Bears happen to strike gold in the draft.

"It's important for me to play like a No. 1 receiver," Hester said. "That's my biggest goal. I feel like I have the ability to play as a No. 1 receiver, and I'm feeling real good and confident. Kyle (Orton) is coming out here throwing great passes and organizing the receivers and putting them in the right spots. That's what it's all about, being on the same page as the quarterback."

Asked if Hester could be a go-to guy in the passing game, coach Lovie Smith seemed comfortable with the idea.

"You talked to Devin, right?" Smith said "What did he tell you? He told you he was the No. 1 receiver, right? He definitely has No. 1 receiver-type ability. At the end of (last) year, Devin was definitely playing like a No. 1 receiver and I'm excited about this second year of him being a full-time wide receiver."

In his last six games last season, Hester caught 25 passes for 347 yards. At that pace over 16 games, he'd have 67 receptions for 925 yards.

(dailyherald.com)

NFL stars Randy Moss and Devin Hester, and Dolphins players Anthony Fasano and Jake Long are among NFL players who will play in a charity softball game against the Palm Beach County Sheriff's SWAT on Friday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Heath Evans Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and families affected by sexual abuse.

Evans, the New England Patriots fullback who graduated from King's Academy, said he also received commitments from several of his Patriots teammates, including Vince Wilfork and Jabar Gaffney.

The game is at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, available through Ticketmaster.

(sun-sentinel.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – As each week passed during the 2008 season without Devin Hester returning a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown, the pressure intensified and he started to press.

With a record-breaking 11 TD returns in his first two NFL seasons, Hester had set the bar so high that he needed a stepladder to reach it. He also had signed a long-term contract extension at the start of training camp, which ratcheted up already high expectations.

During an interview on WSCR-AM 670 Friday in Tampa at the site of Super Bowl XLIII, Hester vowed that he would no longer allow outside influences to affect him.

“This year I felt I had a lot of pressure on myself, contract-wise, and then the past two years the high expectations I had on my back,” Hester told Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley on the Score.

“But I was trying to please man instead of the man up above. I found myself trying to please everybody and sidetracking myself [instead of] giving all the glory to God. This year I’m not out to try to please man. I’m going to go ahead and please the man up above.”

Hester also said that he believes he's capable of being the Bears' No. 1 receiver in 2009 and that he felt much more comfortable on offense late in the 2008 season than he had previously.

Hester caught 25 passes for 347 yards in the last six games after registering 26 receptions for 318 yards in his first nine contests. In the finale in Houston, he equaled a career high with six catches for 85 yards, his second-highest yardage total of the year.

“Toward the end of the season I really started understanding the game on the offensive side of the ball as far as reading coverages and knowing when the ball is coming to me,” Hester said.

“It was just [a matter of] getting the feel of the game. You can’t really try to overplay every play, but just be relaxed and play the game that you know and everything will speak for itself. Don’t go out and try to do too much; just relax and play football. That’s what you get paid for.

“Just go out and have fun. When you understand the game and start having fun, that’s when all the big plays come.”

Hester also revealed that he thinks the Arizona Cardinals will upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.

“I know the Steelers will try to put a lot of pressure on Kurt Warner,” Hester said. “He has a lot of experience in this game. He’s been in this game for over 10 years, and that’s the type of ballgame he wants to have. There’s going to be a lot of quick slants and hot routes that could go the distance.”

Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin is upset with his contract situation and may seek a trade in the offseason. Hester deftly sidestepped a question about the possibility of the Bears acquiring Boldin.

“Right now we’re in the process of gradually getting better,” Hester said. “We made a couple changes with the coaching staff. I know we’re going to go out and get a couple players who are going to help out and try to get back to where we were when we were in the Super Bowl.”

(chicagobears.com)

TAMPA--When evaluating the season Devin Hester had, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said expectations needed to be reshaped. Hester's record-setting first two seasons had to be put in perspective with him working as a full-time receiver because, as Angelo pointed out, never has an elite returner doubled as a No. 1 wide receiver.

Deion Sanders is here to say it can be done and Hester is the man to do it.

"He could do it,'' Sanders said in between Super Bowl XLIIII media day sessions Tuesday morning at Raymond James Stadium. ``You get the right personnel to block for him, sure he can. When I returned punts it wasn't that I was so great, it was the 10 guys in front of me were great and they were blocking their butts off. That's what made me who I was as a returner. That's the same as Devin in his previous years.''

Sanders targeted the players Hester had with him on special teams, a group coordinator Dave Toub was forced to remold this past season. Hester lost his kick returning job in mid-November at Green Bay and averaged just 21.9 yards on kickoff returns before yielding to Danieal Manning, who wound up leading the league. Hester remained on punts and never found his groove, finishing with an average of 6.2 yards and a long of 25, the kind of production the Bears used to get from Leon Johnson. Even with a return game that wasn't what it was from 2006-2007 when the Bears were No. 1 in the league in special teams, Toub's personnel was still good enough to rank eighth this past season.

"There's never been a No. 1 receiver and a No. 1 kick returner,'' Angelo said after the season. "If there's never been one, there's probably a reason for that. So I anticipated the potential of Devin's returns to fall off given the fact that we were going to escalate his play time at receiver. We wanted to escalate his play time and that's the course we chose to go down. His returns did suffer. Now, is that to say that's the absolute reason why? I don't know that. Teams got better with their coverages, being there was more of a sense of urgency. I'm sure they did a lot more studying and how to cover with Devin. There are probably other things there too.

"He wasn't the returner he was in the last couple years. We're going to look at that real hard too and make sure we continue to define what his role is because the one thing that we know about Devin and he showed it at receiver is that he's a playmaker, and when you get a playmaker, you want to make sure you get him the ball the best way you can to make as many plays as he can on Sunday."

Toub has said Manning will remain in the role of kickoff returner but the Bears could take some time away from Hester at receiver next season in order to jump-start his game on special teams. Sanders is convinced it's more a function of those around him.

"They had good [special teams personnel] the year they went to the Super Bowl,'' Sanders said. "It wasn't the same caliber. Devin has always said it wasn't him, it was the blocking in front of him and he made some great reads. That wasn't the case this season. I don't think he had the same personnel. Not to say he made all the right decisions, but he did make some good decisions. The personnel had a lot to do with it."

As far as his development as a receiver, all parties seemed pleased with the strides Hester made in the final six weeks or so of the season. He finished with 51 catches for 665 yards (13.0 average) and three touchdowns.

"I think he did great,'' said Sanders, who is still a close mentor to Hester. "Devin is the kind of kid, when he received the new contract he placed pressure on himself to perform. A lot of people think they get a new deal and they can chill. Devin is the direct opposite, `I got a new deal and I want to prove that I am worthy of this deal. I want to prove that I am one of the best in the game.' That's why he was frustrated."

(suntimes.com)

Bears special teams coach Dave Toub confirmed that Devin Hester will stay on punt returns, but Danieal Manning will be the full-time kickoff returner.

While Hester made obvious progress as a receiver in 2008, his paltry 6.2 punt return average was a concern. A more cautious approach and divided responsibilities were blamed for Hester's fall-off, but he should be due for a bounce-back on punts in 2009.

(rotoworld.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – In the first of a two-part series, special teams coordinator Dave Toub answers email questions from fans exclusively on ChicagoBears.com:
How much do you think Devin Hester’s decline in production this season in the return game had to do with his role expanding as a wide receiver?
Pete B.
Wisconsin

I think it was part of it, but it wasn’t the entire reason his production was down. In terms of his thought process, the amount of time he spent working as a wide receiver took away a little bit from him returning punts. When he goes out to return a punt, that’s the first time he’s thinking about it. He’s getting the ball on offense, so not all of his touches are coming on special teams. Returning punts isn’t the only way he’s going to score a touchdown, so it’s not the first thing on his mind.

Devin Hester seemed more tentative on punt returns in 2008 than he was during his two Pro Bowl seasons, making more fair catches and running laterally and even backwards instead of attacking a seam. Do you agree with that, and in what other ways did he appear different to you in terms of how he returned kicks this past season compared to the two previous years?
Martin R. Chicago

I agree that he appeared that way. He was a lot more cautious this past season. He was a little bit more of a risk-taker in his first two years because he wanted to make the most of his opportunities to touch the ball. It goes along with what I just said. He’s getting more touches on offense, so he has more opportunities to make big plays there. He was a little more cautious, but on the other hand he was a lot more careful with the ball. He made smarter decisions. There’s a fine line. You want your punt returner to make good decisions but at the same time you want him to be a risk-taker so he can make those big plays.

What steps do you plan on taking to help Devin Hester revert to his All-Pro form, and do you think he’s capable of once again becoming the same return man he was in 2006-07?
David K. Indianapolis, Indiana

We’re going to emphasize with him to get a first down; get the ball up the field north and south, get 10 yards and then make a big play from there. We’ve already made cut-ups of all his returns this year and we’ll go back and watch them together and see what we could have done differently and how the new thought process would fit with getting up the field, getting that first down and then making your moves.

We also have to give credit to the other teams, too. They punted away from us a lot of times; there were a lot of punts out of bounds. They made Devin run to the ball. They had high hang-times and we had to call a lot of fair catches. It wasn’t because he wasn’t a risk-taker; it was because the punts were better. Everyone is game-planning and preparing and doing a better job.

In terms of his ability, he’s still Devin Hester. He still has all that ability. You see his ability to make people miss when he catches the ball on offense. He had some big returns during the season that were called back because of penalties. His numbers would have been a lot better if those returns hadn’t been wiped out. On his first return of the year against the Colts, he looked like the old Devin. I think if he would have gotten a touchdown early in the year, the pressure would have been off. Later in the year, the pressure started to build. The questions from the media snowballed a bit on him. He pressed a little bit late. That was part of it also. I’m looking for him to bounce back and be the Devin of old.

Did the rib injury to Devin Hester early in the season affect his play more than we were led to believe? He seemed to be more hesitant about attacking the holes after he was hurt.
Stan M. Honolulu, Hawaii

I don’t think that had anything to do with it. He missed only one game. He’s a tough guy. He takes a lot of shots and he’s very durable. He’s been durable since he’s been here. He didn’t even get hit when he got hurt. It was a twist. It wasn’t like he took a blindside shot and then was shell-shocked. That’s not an issue. There was no one hit that happened, and he’s not losing confidence in our blocking or anything like that. We got better as the year went on, too. We have a lot of young players. They got better and better and they’re only going to keep improving.

(chicagobears.com)

Devin Hester was the Bears' most watched player going into training camp after two dominant seasons as a return specialist. He signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension that required him to reach lofty benchmarks as a receiver through 2011 to earn the full value.

Hester got off to a good start in that endeavor, leading the Bears with 665 yards on 51 catches. Meanwhile, his performance as a return specialist tailed off shockingly.

After 13 special-teams scores through two seasons, Hester had none in 2008. He eventually yielded the kickoff-return duties to Danieal Manning.

"I still like Devin an awful lot as a player," Smith said. "I know his returns dropped off a little bit this year, but his plate was full there for a while. We think we have a happy medium now for him as a punt returner and continuing to develop as a receiver."

(ssm.nwherald.com)

I wanted to bring you an additional nugget from Brendon Ayanbadejo's interview with WMVP-AM radio in Chicago, the one we referred to earlier Tuesday morning.

Ayanbadejo became one of the first "football people" to acknowledge what some fans and media members suggested for much of the season: It was unreasonable for Chicago to ask Devin Hester to continue as an elite kickoff/punt returner while making him a full-time receiver.

(Ayanbadejo spent three seasons with the Bears before moving to Baltimore via free agency last winter.)

Here's the full text of what Ayanbadejo said Monday:

''You can't expect to have the best receiver in the league and the best returner in the league. It's such a specialized league. Just look at the Ravens -- we have three kickers. We have a guy who does kickoffs, a guy that does field goals and a punter. You're asking [Hester] to be the best punt returner in the league, the best kick returner in the league and the best receiver in the league? ... They asked a whole lot of Devin, which I thought was kind of unfair.''

We all know the story: The Bears eventually pulled Hester as a kickoff returner and he finished the season ranked No. 57 overall among NFL punt returners with a 6.7-yard average. Worse, his longest punt return was 25 yards. Hester did catch a career-high 51 passes on offense, tops among Bears receivers, but clearly reasonable people can debate whether that contribution was worth a decrease in special teams performance.

It will be interesting to watch the Bears' offseason relative to Hester. Will they carry the same plan into 2009, hoping that a year's worth of experience will make him more efficient in all areas? Should they abandon his special-teams role altogether? Or should they augment the receiving corps and reduce their dependence on Hester as an every-down wideout?

(espn.com)

Hester led Bears wide receivers with 51 receptions for 665 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 65-yard score at Minnesota that was the team’s longest play from scrimmage all season.

“At times he played like a [No. 1] receiver,” said coach Lovie Smith. “If you just look at the progress that he made from start to finish, locking in at one position for the first time in his career … we like the progress he made, so there’s no reason to think he can’t take another jump.”

Hester finished strong, catching 25 passes for 347 yards in the final six games after registering 26 receptions for 318 yards in his first nine contests. In the season finale at Houston, he equaled a career high with six catches for 85 yards, his second highest yardage total of the year.

“The beginning of the season was really kind of shaky,” Hester said. “As the season started going, I felt myself growing a lot the last month. From that point on, I really felt comfortable, the last four or five games. Even though the season didn’t go the way we expected, I feel like I have grown as a receiver a lot.”

While Hester improved as a receiver, he struggled in the return game. After setting an NFL record with five kick return touchdowns as a rookie in 2006 and then breaking it with six in 2007, he failed to return any kicks for scores in 2008.

Hester was replaced on kickoff returns by Danieal Manning in mid-November and finished the season ranked 23rd in punt returns with a 6.2-yard average with a long of 25 yards.

“I still like Devin an awful lot as a player,” Smith said. “I know his returns dropped off a little bit this year, but his plate was full there for a while. We think we have a happy medium now for him as a punt returner and continuing to develop as a receiver.”

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo wasn’t surprised that Hester failed to make the same type of impact on special teams after being elevated into the starting lineup on offense.

“We said that was a possibility,” Angelo said. “I made this statement to Devin and I think I’ve said it here to some of you if not all of you [reporters] at one point: There’s never been a No. 1 receiver and a No. 1 kick returner. If there’s never been one, there’s probably a reason for that.

“So I anticipated the potential of Devin’s returns to fall off given the fact that we were going to escalate his play time at receiver. We wanted to escalate his play time and that’s the course we chose to go down.

“His returns did suffer. Now is that to say that’s the absolute reason why? I don’t know that. Teams got better with their coverage, being there was more of a sense of urgency. I’m sure they did a lot more studying in how to cover with Devin. There are probably other things there too. He wasn’t the returner he was in the last couple years. 

"We’re going to look at that real hard and make sure we continue to define what his role is because the one thing that we know about Devin—and he showed it at receiver—is that he’s a playmaker. And when you get a playmaker, you want to make sure you get him the ball the best way you can to make as many plays as he can.”

(chicagobears.com)

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said he anticipated Devin Hester’s fall from grace as a kick returner after doubling up as Chicago’s No. 1 receiver.

“There has never been a No. 1 receiver and a No. 1 kick returner. If there’s never been one, there’s probably a reason for that,” Angelo said. “We wanted to escalate his playing time and that’s the course we chose to go down, and his returns did suffer.”

Angelo doesn’t regret it because Hester finished with 665 yards on 51 catches in his first full season as a receiver. No other Bears wide receiver had even 450 yards.

“The one thing we know about Devin, and he showed it at receiver, is he is a playmaker,” Angelo said. “When you get a playmaker, you want to make sure you get him the ball the best way you can to make as many plays as he can on Sunday.”

Hester, who smashed NFL records for returns his first two seasons, was benched as Chicago’s kick returner at midseason and finished 23rd in punt returns (6.2 average). Danieal Manning replaced Hester on kickoffs and led the NFL (29.7). Manning will continue to lighten Hester’s load next year.

“His plate was full there for a while,” coach Lovie Smith said Monday of Hester. “We think we have a happy medium for him now as a punt returner and for him to continue to develop as a receiver.”

(galesburg.com)

When Bears coach Lovie Smith said back in training camp that he thought Devin Hester could become a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, he didn't necessarily mean this year, but that's how quickly it has happened.

Over the past four weeks, Hester has caught more passes (17) for more yards (250) than any wide receiver, tight end or running back on the team. His yardage is double that of any other player on the team in the last month.

In the past four games, he has caught more passes than all of the Bears' other wide receivers combined and has more than twice as much yardage.

Hester and the Bears will be playing for more than just pride tonight when Green Bay visits Soldier Field, thanks to some huge breaks over the weekend.

For starters, the Bears must win tonight and Sunday at Houston to have any chance. Then, if Minnesota, which lost Sunday at home to Atlanta, loses again Sunday to the New York Giants, the Bears will be NFC North champions.

If the Vikings do win, the Bears can still make it as a wild card if the Cowboys lose at Philadelphia AND the Bucs lose at home to Oakland.
They would lose the tiebreaker to Tampa Bay because they lost 27-24 to the Bucs in overtime in Week 3 and to Dallas because of strength of victory.

First things first, though, for the Bears. If anyone can make the Packers' secondary pay tonight for its in-your-face press coverage, it is the blazing-fast Hester.

"He's improved a lot throughout the year," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "But the last few weeks you can really see he's playing a lot faster. He's playing with a lot more confidence. He's not thinking as much. He's just coming out and playing and reacting, which is a natural transition for someone learning to play the position."

Part of the reason Hester has emerged as the Bears' No. 1 wide receiver is that other players have failed to produce. But part of it is his own maturation at a position that's still relatively new to him.

Hester was a cornerback as a rookie in 2006, and last season he was spoon-fed after making the switch to wide receiver, catching 20 passes for 299 yards, with 11 of the catches and 160 of the yards coming in the final four games.

He had never started a game in the NFL at wide receiver until opening day this season, and he only has started six times in his pro career, although his playing time has been increasing.

"He's improved quite a bit in all phases as far as being a receiver," coach Lovie Smith said. "Running routes is a part of it. A lot goes into it. It's hard to just move over there in a year and expect a guy to have everything down, but he has made improvement each week.

"You just look at his last game and the threat that he was as a receiver. He's becoming the threat that we thought he would become."

Hester's numbers last week against the New Orleans Saints were modest: 4 catches for 46 yards. But he also drew pass-interference penalties of 39 and 38 yards, the second of which put the Bears in position for the game-winning field goal in overtime.

Hester has been a hot Bears topic all season, but much of the attention has been negative because of his steep decline in production as a kick-returner.

He scored 11 touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns in his first two seasons, setting the NFL record as a rookie with 5 in 2006 and eclipsing it last season with 6.

By comparison, this year has been a major disappointment.

Hester is averaging a pedestrian 5.6 yards on punt returns, 23rd in the NFL and less than half his career average of 14.1 yards. His kickoff-return average of 21.9 yards is 32nd in the league, and he has been replaced by Danieal Manning, who is averaging an NFL-best 29.5.

It seems everyone has a theory for Hester's demise in the return game.

After a brief training-camp holdout, Hester signed a four-year contract extension that included $15 million in guaranteed money and could be worth as much as $40 million if he puts up elite numbers as a wide receiver.

It has been speculated that Hester's struggles in the return game are the result of trying to live up the money or the extra work he's putting in to become a go-to wide receiver.

But Smith said it's more about the unrealistic expectations of others.

"I think what weighed on Devin was probably just the type of success he had the first two years," Smith said. "He's spoiled all of us to where, if he's not scoring every time he touches the ball, it's 'What's wrong with Devin?'

"I see a guy who's developing his entire game. Returns haven't been exactly the way we would like, but as a receiver we're getting No. 1-type receiver play. We like where he's (going). Hopefully we'll see him take another step this week."

And why not? Hester has done some of his best work on a national stage.

(dailyherald.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Devin Hester has blossomed on offense in recent weeks, catching 17 passes for 250 yards in his last four games—the most productive stretch in his two seasons as a Bears wide receiver.

“He’s improved a lot really throughout the year,” said offensive coordinator Ron Turner. “But the last few weeks you can really see he’s playing a lot faster, he’s playing with a lot more confidence and he’s not thinking as much. He’s just playing and reacting, which is a natural transition for someone learning to play the position.”

After he entered the NFL as a cornerback in 2006, Hester was switched to receiver and responded with 20 receptions for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns last season. A year later, the dynamic playmaker has 43 catches for 568 yards and 3 TDs with two games remaining.

The familiarity that comes with playing the same position for a second straight season has benefited Hester, who played cornerback, receiver and running back at the University of Miami.

“It’s got to be tough when you go through college being flip-flopped around and then you get to the NFL and get flip-flopped around,” said tight end Desmond Clark.

“But from last year to this year, it’s a huge difference. He knows the playbook for one. He’s not out there thinking about what he has to do. He’s out there just playing. He can go out and just let his athletic ability take over instead of thinking about what he’s got to do.”

A record-breaking return specialist in his first two seasons with the Bears, Hester has flashed the same big-play ability on offense in recent weeks. Four of his six longest receptions this year have come in the last four games, highlighted by a 65-yard touchdown at Minnesota.

“He’s improved quite a bit in all phases as far as being a receiver,” said coach Lovie Smith. “It’s hard to just move over there in a year and expect a guy to have everything down, but he has made improvement each week. He’s becoming the threat we thought he would become.”

“This being his second year in the offense, it usually takes about that long before you get comfortable with any offense because you’ve got to think about learning an offense like learning a foreign language because of all the different terminology you’ve got to know,” Clark said.

In last Thursday night’s 27-24 overtime win over the Saints, Hester caught four passes for 46 yards while also setting up a touchdown and the winning field goal by drawing pass interference penalties of 38 and 39 yards. 

The Bears (8-6) hope that Hester will build off that outing Monday night when they host the Packers (5-9).

“He has been making [steady] improvement, but the last three or four games he’s really come on and made plays down the field,” said quarterback Kyle Orton. “He has a confidence in his route running, and it’s helped. He’s made big plays and we need him to make some this week.”

Hester’s productivity on offense increased as soon as he was replaced by Danieal Manning on kickoff returns, but Turner doesn’t believe there’s a connection.

“Not at all,” he said. “I just see it as having to do with getting more reps. He’s still a very young receiver, and it’s just getting reps. At some point for those guys playing that position it starts to click, and it started to click a few weeks ago.”

Whether or not Hester’s recent performance on offense is related to his removal from kick returns, many feel that the 11 kicks he returned for touchdowns in his first two seasons created unrealistic expectations for him as a receiver.

“When you saw what he could do on special teams and then when people thought about him as a receiver, they just automatically thought it was going to transfer over to receiver,” Clark said. “But there are a lot more things that go into playing receiver than meets the eye. 

First of all, you’ve got to know the offense and it takes a while to get that. The first year that Ron had this offense here [in 2005], we were terrible because we didn’t know the offense as well. It takes a little while and it’s unfair to expect him to do what he did as a returner at receiver.”

“I think what weighed on Devin was probably just the type of success he had the first two years as much as anything,” Smith said. “He’s spoiled all of us where if he’s not scoring every time he touches the ball, it’s ‘What’s wrong with Devin?’

“I see a guy that’s developing his entire game. Returns haven’t been exactly the way we would like, but as a receiver we’re getting 1-type receiver play, which is good. Hopefully we’ll see him take another step this week.”

(chicagobears.com)

This would be an ideal week for Devin Hester to rediscover his electric side and return a kick for a score.

First, he would do so in front of his mentor, Deion Sanders, the NFL Network's sideline reporter for Thursday night's game against New Orleans. Plus, Hester's last return for a touchdown came last December at Soldier Field—a 64-yard punt return against the Saints.

Hester joked that a touchdown return might impress Pro Bowl voters.

"Last season that return was kind of the nail in the coffin," he said. "Maybe this season it could change the momentum. Most definitely I feel it's something I could do."

Hester has 57 total returns this year without a touchdown.
(chicagotribune.com)

When Kyle Orton saw Devin Hester with just one defender lined up against him, and the rest of the defense crowding the line, he changed the play call, took the ball and fired to Hester for 30 yards. It was a perfect combination, where quarterback, receiver, and even the ball all are together as one.

But what page were they on, exactly? What wavelength?

Was that play in the fourth quarter Sunday the outcome of a budding telepathy, the start of one of those special QB-receiver relationships? I don’t think so. It was a simple fade that worked, because the only time Hester is a great receiver is when the playbook in his head says one thing:
Run like hell.

Well, that worked for big plays twice, as the Bears beat Jacksonville 23-10 at Soldier Field to stay one game behind Minnesota for first place.
People will remember those two plays, and also Hester’s decent punt return, when he nearly, finally, almost broke one for a touchdown. Instead, he stepped out of bounds for no reason.

But what I remember best was a play late in the third quarter, when Orton threw quickly to Hester along the sideline, who seemed baffled by the idea that the ball might be coming at all. Or where he was on the field. Or what his route was.

‘‘You’re wrong about that,’’ Hester said. ‘‘I didn’t run any wrong routes today.’’

Hester is the biggest mystery on this team, also the most fascinating. Never has someone been so dominant for two years and then appeared so clueless the next. He has gone from the best return man in history to one of the worst in the league. Have you ever seen anyone lose 5 yards on a fair catch? Hester did it Sunday.

He dropped two punt returns and two passes, stepped out of bounds on his one good return. And of course, he has lost the job of returning kickoffs.

You still can’t take your eyes off of him because of what might happen. But what he’s doing is too painful to watch.

The problem now, though, is his receiving. You’ve heard the talk that he might have lost his hunger because the Bears gave him the big contract. That’s not it. The problem is that Hester ran free as a returner. He ran like hell. As a receiver, he’s supposed to run routes.

The Bears have coached the abandon out of him.

Someone asked him if he would be willing to give up receiving and focus again solely on returns. Hester said, ‘‘Whatever the coaches feel. ... I’m just trying to win ballgames.’’

But that won’t help anymore. The Bears need him to develop as a receiver, but despite his big plays, there is little evidence that he’s learning.
Marty Booker, a receiver who has been around for a while, disagrees.

‘‘When you’re playing in your first year [as a receiver] it’s tough to grasp and adjust,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s what’s expected. Each time, he’s getting better. As of this point, he’s a good go-to guy.’’

Booker could barely breathe, by the way. When the TV cameras were there, he stood smiled and said how nice it was to play Sunday. When they left, his voice kept dropping down to a loud, gravelly whisper, as he sat back down in front of his locker. When he put on his socks, he half-groaned, half screamed.

‘‘My ribs,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve broken them before. I don’t know for sure if I broke them this time. But it’s going to really be bad tonight. I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to sleep tonight.’’

Let’s see. Booker might have broken ribs. Rookie Earl Bennett, for god knows what reason, apparently is unusable. Brandon Lloyd, same thing. Rashied Davis, mediocre at best.

The Bears need Hester.

The entire offense can’t rely solely on the rushing and catching of running back Matt Forte — ‘‘He has probably taken years off his career,’’ Booker said — two good tight ends and a stable quarterback.

It has so far, I guess. And Orton tries to spread the ball to several receivers. But the Bears need at least one good one to stretch the field and confuse defenses a little, especially if they hope to not only get to the playoffs, but to do something when they’re there.

‘‘Sometimes you catch `em, sometimes you drop ’em,’’ Orton said when asked about Hester. ‘‘Sometimes you throw a good ball, sometimes you don’t.’’

Something about the Bears’ offense reminds me of my dog, who has torn the ACL, the main knee ligament, in both back legs. I’m not sure what she’s walking on, exactly, but she does seem to manage to keep moving forward.

Well, the Orton-Hester telepathy is not exactly Montana-Rice, but it’s all the Bears have now. Hester said he and Orton talk all the time during games and practices about coverages and what the safeties are doing.

‘‘The more repetitions you get, just like anything in life, the more relaxed and comfortable you are with it,’’ he said.

Maybe he’s learning, and someday will know all the nuances and have a special connection with Orton. But all he has now, all Orton gets out of him, is iffy concentration and an amazing ability to run like you know what.

(suntimes.com)

Devin Hester caught three passes for 67 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed once for three yards in a Week 13 loss to the Vikings.
Hester displayed his explosiveness when he took a reception to the house for a 5-yard score on a short post route in the first quarter, but did little outside of that. The Bears clearly were trying to incorporate him early on though, as he was targeted five times in the first quarter alone.

(rotoworld.com)

Devin Hester has been getting blistered for failing to deliver big runbacks on kicks this season, and now Chicago Bears great Gale Sayers is piling on.

"It looks like he's afraid to run back kickoffs," the Hall of Famer tells the Chicago Tribune's Fred Mitchell.

In terms of technique and strategy, Sayers says the problem is that all of Hester's returns have been made to the middle of the field, and that he hasn't tried to break outside.

"He's running straight up the field and everybody is tackling him," says Sayers, who was an outstanding kick returner in his seven-year career.  "He looks like he's afraid to go out on his own."

"Run to the left," Sayers says emphatically.  "You have the whole field!"

Hester returned 11 kicks for touchdowns his first two seasons, but has none this year. Sayers suggests the punishment Hester is taking while playing more at wide receiver also could be a factor.

"Does that have anything to do with him as a return player now because he takes the hard shots? Maybe he doesn't like getting hit . . . I don't know."

(usatoday.com)

Devin Hester's inability to excel in the return game this season appears to have taken a toll on the Bear.

"It's tough on me. I don't even like going outside now," Hester said Wednesday. "I just want to find that edge and overcome it."

Hester was asked if he has lost his confidence. Danieal Manning replaced him on kickoffs during the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Packers.

"I haven't lost any confidence," Hester said. "I'm the type when I get my opportunity, I'm going to make the most of it."

Hester entered the season with 12 career returns for touchdowns, including a 108-yard return of a missed field goal and kickoff returns of 96 and 94 yards at St. Louis two seasons ago. His longest return this season is 51 yards.

"It just hasn't gone the way I thought it would," Hester said. "I could say it's my fault, but there are 11 guys on the field. [Still,] I know at the end of the day, I'll get blamed for the return game."

(chicagotribune.com)

Bears special teams coach Dave Toub pulled Devin Hester off kick returns in favor of Danieal Manning in the second half of Sunday's loss to Green Bay.
Toub wanted "a spark," which is what Hester used to add. Manning, who led the league in preseason return yards, has averaged 26.5 yards a return this year to Hester's 21.8. Opponents now kick right at Hester, which may be the most telling sign that his special teams production is at an all-time low.

(rotoworld.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Home-run hitter Devin Hester may be in a slump, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t knock one out of the park Sunday when the Bears host the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field.

The two-time All Pro is still seeking his first kick return touchdown of the season after breaking the NFL record in each of his first two years with five scores in 2005 and six in 2006. 

Hester currently ranks 20th in the NFL in punt returns (6.2-yard average) and 31st in kickoff returns (20.9-yard average).

“I don’t see Devin struggling in the return game,” said Titans coach Jeff Fisher. “If Devin can break three runs in the next three weeks, he’d be leading the league in both categories. 

"That’s how the return game is. He’s making good decisions. He’s catching the ball. He’s very close.”

It would be difficult to find a NFL coach who appreciates what Hester is able to do more than Fisher, who returned punts during four seasons with the Bears from 1981-84.

As a matter of fact, Fisher’s single-season franchise record of 509 punt-return yards set in 1981 stood for 25 years until Hester shattered it with 600 yards as a rookie in 2006.

Fisher still holds Bears marks for punt returns in a game (8) and season (58). His 88-yard punt return touchdown in a 28-17 win over the Buccaneers on Sept. 20, 1981 at Soldier Field was the longest by a Bears player in 39 years.

Hester, meanwhile, brought back a punt 20 yards in last Sunday’s 27-23 victory over the Lions, his longest return since a 25-yarder in the Bears’ 29-13 season-opening win at Indianapolis.

“He was very close against Detroit,” Fisher said. “He’s a step away. We don’t see him as struggling. We see him as one of the all-time returners ever to play the game, so it’s going to be quite a challenge for us.

(chicagobears.com)

Special Hester simply ordinary as wide receiver

Mike North: Well, Dan, it happened. My greatest fears have been realized when it comes to Devin Hester.

The Bears have turned Devin into an ordinary ballplayer with extraordinary skills. When I first heard there was a chance the Bears would play him on offense, I was surprised. Hester is a superstar punt and kick returner. They gave him his new deal not because of what he may do in the future, but basically because of what he had done in the past.

He is the best punt returner and kickoff returner I've ever seen. But as a receiver he is simply ordinary. Last week: four catches for 37 yards. Those are Tom Waddle numbers, which is fine, but with all due respect, Hester should be a special-teams player only. He looks beat up; he is playing careful and he is thinking too much.

The only time he should be on offense is in the wildcat offense, where he would get a direct snap. I wanted that last year. This year, back to the bread and butter: kickoff returns and punt returns. He's had two injuries this year. He has not returned a kickoff or punt for a touchdown. He is very turnover-prone. His days of being a Pro Bowler are in jeopardy unless things change, and change quickly.

He was a missile and he can be again. Devin Hester got the Bears to the Super Bowl. He was the man. Lovie, call off the wide receiver experience and let him do his thing. If special teams is truly one-third of a team and not just coach-speak, then put him back into his comfort zone. He may catch a bomb from Rex this week, but in the long run, the opposition loves getting their shots at Devin on offense. Let him attack on special teams only.

Best-case scenario, he plays special-teams only -- and he runs one back eventually. Worst-case is he runs over the middle and gets knocked out for a year. Now people will say, ''That's football.'' I say, ''True, but limit his chances of injury. One job and one job only.''

The Bears can make him special again.

Don't remove essential facet of better offense

Dan Jiggetts: Are you kidding? If it were up to me, I would play Devin Hester at cornerback as well. Check that. It was tried and wasn't the best of times. Look, Mike, you can't lose sight of the objective of the offense, which is to put points on the board. After all, six points is still six points, it doesn't matter if they come from the return game or the passing game. The fact is, Devin Hester is a difference-maker. However you can get the football in his hands, you have to do it.

It isn't enough to just relegate Hester to returning punts and kickoffs. Granted, he did develop into an All-Pro by doing that, but teams have now schemed to keep the ball out of his hands. What that means for the opposing teams is they often end up sacrificing field position. The Bears end up with the ball past the 30-yard line on kickoffs and punts are not as deep.

Keep in mind, with all the balls being kicked to him in 2007 -- 59 in all -- he returned six for touchdowns. That's why it is imperative that you find other ways to exploit his talents, play him at wide receiver. While he may have taken some time to get comfortable at the position, Devin has become a gifted receiver with an uncanny understanding of the game. The wide receiver position is a complex one. The position requires the same skills as a quarterback when it comes to reading the defense, and he must execute the play while coordinating with the quarterback. Devin has proven that he has the ability to do all that.

So, my friend, the Beloved now have one of the best return men in the business and a receiver with game-breaking abilities. Just imagine the day when Kyle Orton and Devin Hester fully develop as a combination. Throwing the football will become more than just a passing fancy here in
Chicago: It will be expected. Bernard Berrian, the deep threat, is gone to the Vikings and we haven't seen much of Brandon Lloyd because of injury. It is clear Hester isn't just a luxury at receiver, he is indeed an essential element.

(suntimes.com)

As long as a search party already is looking for Brian Urlacher, would it be too much to ask that it keep an eye out for Devin Hester?

Remember the off-season howls from fans and media that Hester deserved a big, fat contract extension because it was sooooooo obvious he should be paid like a No. 1 receiver? Those howls were based on the idea that his wizardry as a kick returner was transferable to the wide receiver position.

Say this about the Bears: They might not always be right about personnel decisions, but they were right to sign Hester to a deal that was so heavy on incentives he needed a forklift to take it home. And for those of you who thought it was an outrage that this incredible athlete be deprived of more millions up front, now you know why the Bears showed restraint.

The rush to involve Hester as a receiver this season has been a disaster—not so much for the offense, though that has been a big disappointment, but for special teams. The guy who once struck fear in the hearts of opponents on every return now spends his time catching a punt or kickoff, putting his head down and running straight into a pile.

The Devin Hester who saw holes and seams that few other players could see is nowhere to be found. The man with the lightning speed is missing.

There's a dreadlocked impostor out there pretending to be Hester, but it can't be him. This Devin Hester looks human. Opponents who in previous years wouldn't have been able to lay a finger on him now are tackling him easily.

It doesn't take a degree in molecular biology to figure it out. He's a house divided. And as everyone knows, a house divided cannot take it to the house.

Given that his touchdown returns were the difference in more than a few games in his first two seasons, and given that he has had no impact on offense this season, now would be a good time to tell him to concentrate on what he does best.

"Concentrate" is the key word. It's clear that Hester doesn't consider his main occupation to be kick returner anymore. He's putting his thoughts and energy into being a receiver, and it's apparent even that has been overwhelming for him. He has too much on his plates, plural.

It's not all his fault. The Bears clearly haven't put him in the best position to succeed on offense.

I'm not suggesting they completely take away his receiving responsibilities. I'm suggesting they simplify things for him, lighten his load and specifically throw him short passes to allow him to make something happen after the catch.

(chicagotribune.com)

This was the game in which many Bear watchers expected Devin Hester to make a significant impact on the outcome.

They were right, but not nearly the way many envisioned Hester affecting the Bears' 27-23 victory over the Lions.

Hester fumbled a kickoff return with 13 minutes 21 seconds left in the second quarter that Lions linebacker Alex Lewis forced and recovered. One play later Detroit scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Dan Orlovsky to Calvin Johnson to give the Lions a 13-10 lead.

Buoyed by the momentum swing Hester's turnover created, Detroit scored all 23 of their points in the second quarter — an avalanche that started with the fumble.

"It was a good play by him," Hester said. "I had the ball close to my body, and he just reached out and made a great play on it."

Lewis did, but Hester's role in the mistake capped a disappointing first half of the season for the Pro Bowl return man. He has averaged just 20.9 yards on 20 kickoff returns and 6.2 yards per punt return without a touchdown. Against the Lions, a team that had given up an 80-yard touchdown return one week earlier to Santana Moss, Hester managed just 16.3 yards per kickoff return and 10.5 yards per punt return.

Hesterized, the Lions were not.

"The things we did last year we can't do this year," Hester said. "Like I said from the beginning, it's a new group of guys [blocking]. I don't want to get into no details and start complaining, but we just have to get adjusted to ourselves and figure out which side is strength and which side is weak."

The loss of Pro Bowl special-teams player Brendon Ayanbadejo has hurt. The reputation of Hester has made the bull's-eye on his back bigger too. But the Bears object to the idea that his increased role in the offense has affected his returns, and he doesn't agree that he has become more tentative.

"I don't feel like I'm playing it safe," Hester said. "In a game situation you have to know when to protect the ball and when to hit a home run. You have to say there's no I in team, and if [a chance is] there, I'll do what I do. But if it's not there, secure the ball and do what I can."

(chicagotribune.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – You can't buy what Devin Hester wants most for his birthday at any store. But it could be delivered Sunday at Soldier Field when the Bears host the Detroit Lions.

The two-time All Pro is still seeking his first kick return touchdown of the season after breaking the NFL record in each of his first two years with five scores in 2005 and six in 2006.

“That would probably be the best birthday gift I got,” said Hester, who will turn 26 on Tuesday.

In six games this season—he sat out a loss to Tampa Bay Sept. 21 with a rib injury—the dynamic playmaker ranks 21st in the NFL in punt returns with an average of 5.4 yards. 

Hester, however, has only had 11 punt returns after having 20 at this point last year. In his first two seasons, he scored seven TDs on 89 returns, a ratio of one TD for every 12.7 returns.

Hester is 27th in the league in kickoff returns with a 22.1-yard average, though his presence alone has caused opponents to employ squib and bloop kicks, which have routinely resulted in excellent field position. The Bears rank first in the NFC and fourth in the NFL with an average starting field position after kickoffs at their own 29.3-yard line.

Hester, though, still wants to get into the end zone.

“I put all the pressure on myself and say that it is kind of my fault that the return game is not the way it was,” Hester said. “At the end of the day, I’m the one with the ball in my hands. I have to be the one to figure it out and pick up the slack.

“If something breaks down, that’s why they rely on me. I have to be the one to step up and make big plays. It hasn’t been the way it’s been, so I take some of the blame for it.”

While coaches appreciate the accountability from their young superstar, they also stress that the return game is a team effort that involves all 11 players on the field.

“He assumes he is going to score every time he touches the football,” said coach Lovie Smith. “I can see why a guy like that would think that way, but it has been a lot more than just Devin. We need to do some things to help him out—mainly block better—to give him more opportunities.

“It’s just a matter of time. The second half of the season, Devin like the rest of our football team can make a lot of improvement, and I expect that to happen.”

Smith acknowledged that Hester’s unprecedented success in his first two seasons probably created some unrealistic expectations.

“We had never seen anything like it before,” said the Bears coach. “Now after seven games he hasn’t scored seven times and we’re kind of wondering what is going on. But there is a lot of football left to go. We need Devin—just like the rest of our players—to step up, and he will.”

Hester has emerged as a regular contributor on offense with 18 receptions for 215 yards and 2 TDs. But he doesn’t believe that his development as a receiver has hindered his return ability.

“To be honest, I’m not tired when it’s time to return kickoffs and punts, so I wouldn’t say that’s a reason,” Hester said. “But I do know I have to get better and what I’m capable of doing.”

(chicagobears.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Devin Hester blames himself for the longest stretch of games he's ever experienced without a touchdown return.

The third-year wide receiver and Pro Bowl returner has gone all seven games this season without taking into the end zone.

His last TD return came on a kickoff against New Orleans in the 2007 season finale.

"I kind of put all the pressure on myself and say that it is kind of my fault that the return game is not the way that (it was)," Hester said Wednesday as the Chicago Bears, coming off a bye, got ready for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.

"I put all pressure on me because at the end of the day, I'm the one with the ball in my hands. I have to be the one to figure it out and pick up the slack. If something breaks down, that's why they rely on me," he added.

"As far as the return game, I have to be the one to step up and make big plays. It hasn't been the way it's been, so I kind of take some of the blame for it."

Hester is two TD returns short of Brian Mitchell's NFL career record of 13 regular-season TDs on punts or kickoffs. Hester actually has 13 total returned kicks for scores, but one came on a missed field goal and the other was a postseason kickoff return to open the 2007 Super Bowl.

Hester hasn't had a punt return longer than 9 yards since the opener. His long kickoff return is 51 yards against Philadelphia, and he hasn't had another longer than 28 yards.

"The type of career he has had so far, he assumes he is going to score every time he touches the football," Bears coach Lovie Smith said.

"I can see why a guy like that would think that way, but it has been a lot more than just Devin. We need to do some things to help him out - mainly, block better to give him more opportunities. It's just a matter of time. The second half of the season, Devin like the rest of our football team, can make a lot of improvement and I expect that to happen."

The Bears' return teams had a facelift in the offseason, and the loss of Pro Bowl special teams star Brendon Ayanbadejo to the Baltimore Ravens in free agency took a toll on returns. Injuries have also played a role.

Hester bruised ribs in a Week 2 loss at Carolina and missed the Week 3 loss to Tampa Bay. He suffered a bruised quad muscle in the Bears' last game, a 48-41 win over Minnesota.

Hester is playing extensively at wide receiver for the first time after receiving a $40 million contract extension at the outset of training camp. He has 18 catches and has become more of a threat, but it has led to speculation he is too tired to succeed in the return game.

"To be honest, I'm not tired when it's time to return kickoffs and punts, so I wouldn't say that's a reason why it's not like that," Hester said.

The Bears maintain Hester has helped in the return game despite his lack of breakaway runbacks. Most opponents squib kick or kick off high away from him. As a result, the Bears are fourth in the NFL in starting field position after kickoffs at the 29.3-yard line.

(kentucky.com)

n the win-at-all-costs world of professional football, conformity and uniformity tend to crush the will of the individual. The weekly grind of a season offers little time for the simple joys of life. Rarely does the thrill of creativity seize a team.

Which brings us to the bye week and the chance to reflect and tinker and maybe even have a little bit of fun. Things are going so well for the Bears -- well, for their offense, anyway -- that it might be a good time to dust off the old playbook and unleash some fun. Will the Bears work on the Wildcat offense during their bye week?

'We have played around with some of it,'' offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. ''We actually did some things last year in practice and in training camp this year that we haven't gotten to yet. You have to find ways to get your playmakers the ball. It's something we'll explore as our offense evolves.''

The Wildcat formation has taken the NFL by storm since the Dolphins unleashed it against the Patriots this season and produced four of their touchdowns in a surprise victory. If you haven't seen it yet, it's unique. The quarterback splits out wide and the ball is directly snapped to a running back, who either runs with the ball himself, hands off to another running back or begins some kind of gimmick play designed to stop a defense cold. Since the Dolphins used the formation to beat the Patriots and then the Chargers, it has found its way to Jacksonville, Cleveland, Atlanta, Oakland and most points in between. The Bucs unveiled a Wildcat play Sunday.

Ask any of the Bears' assorted playmakers about the possibility of taking a direct snap from center, and you will see their face light up.
''I would love to do that,'' said Devin Hester, the man most likely to get a direct snap in the Bears' offense. ''Oh, yeah. It's a great scheme. It seems like it is working for a lot of teams. ... I hope we get it in a game.''

Said running back Kevin Jones: ''It brings a little fun back to the game. That's some old-school stuff.''

Indeed, long before the Bears thrilled the nation with their T-formation, teams were running single-wing formations like the one the Dolphins have unveiled. The Dolphins adopted the strategy thanks to some wrangling and arm-twisting from quarterbacks coach David Lee, who came to the team from Arkansas, where Darren McFadden ran the Wildcat to much success last year. The Dolphins had Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams and figured it couldn't hurt to supercharge a moribund offense.

(chicagosuntimes.com)

Devin Hester said the bruised quad that knocked him out of Sunday's game was feeling a lot better on Monday.

Hester was injured on the opening kickoff of the second half when he took a helmet to the thigh, but he anticipates being back for the Lions after this weekend's off date.

The two-time Pro Bowl return specialist did not have an answer for his inability to break a long return yet this season.

"I don't know," he said. "I couldn't even answer that question."

At this point last season Hester already had 3 of his NFL-record 6 kick-return touchdowns. But, as he points out, that performance along with his 5 kick-return touchdowns in 2006, raised expectations to an unrealistic level.

"For the first two years we set a high expectation, and if we're not returning any punts or anything like that, then it's bad because you set your expectations so high," Hester said. "Right now we're working at it and getting better and better each week, and sooner or later it will come."

Hester's 22.1-yard kickoff-return average is just off his career average of 23.2, but he's averaging just 5.4 yards on punt returns, almost 9 yards below his career average of 14.1. Opponents continue to use every alternative to make it difficult for Hester to beat them.

They're just doing what they've been doing since last year toward the end of the season," Hester said. "A lot of bloop kicks, squibbing a lot, hanging the ball up in the air giving the defense time enough to get down, stuff like that."

(dailyherald.com)

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bears kick returner and wide receiver Devin Hester injured a quadriceps muscle in the third quarter Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings and had to leave the game.

It was not immediately known how Hester got hurt, but he did return the second half kickoff and was initially charged with a fumble before video review reversed the call and gave the ball to the Bears.

Hester had two catches for 22 yards in the first half. On Minnesota's second kickoff of the third quarter, Hester was not back to return the kick.

Hester scored 11 TDs on kick returns during his first two regular seasons, seven on punts and four more on kickoffs. He also returned a missed field goal 108 yards in 2006 and ran back the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl against Indianapolis in February 2007 for a touchdown.

He has not returned a kick for a score this season, but has two touchdown catches.

(ap.com)

Devin Hester hasn't changed. The problem is with us, the media and fans who await his every return as though it carries the fulfillment of a messianic prophecy.

Hester is a flesh-and-blood return man, not a paranormal phenomenon. He's without peer at his craft, but he's human nonetheless. That is little solace as he suffers through his longest drought without a return for a touchdown in a short career of unparalleled brilliance.

''I am getting frustrated,'' Hester said. ''It is frustrating because we set a high expectation for ourselves as a return game, and when we're not doing it, then ... I feel like it's all on me. Maybe I'm not getting the job done. You never know. It is frustrating when you don't get the big returns you got last year and the year before.''

Repeat that quote to Bears special-teams coordinator Dave Toub and prepare for a steam burst from his ears. The doctor in Toub diagnoses anxiety about Hester as a form of lunacy.

''You guys are crazy,'' Toub said. ''The media is berserk with this kid. The pressure ... you shouldn't put pressure on the kid like that. He's getting better and better. This kid is improving. Have you seen what he's done as a receiver?''

Hester certainly has made a big jump in that area, catching a combined 11 passes the last two weeks, nine of which have gone for first downs. Only Andre Johnson (11), Reggie Wayne (11), Larry Fitzgerald (10), Roddy White (10) and Steve Smith (10) have more first-down catches during that span. That's some exclusive company.

Hester caught 20 passes all of last season but already has 16 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in five games this season. (He missed a game because of a rib injury.)

But as sure as he's catching on with the offense, his numbers have diminished in the return game. As unfair as any comparison might be, given Hester's unprecedented success in his first two seasons, the simple fact is that he's getting fewer opportunities and doing less with those chances.

Hester has returned 14 kickoffs for an average of 22.6 yards and 11 punts (with four fair catches) for an average of 5.4 yards this season. He has no return touchdowns. A year ago at this point in the season, he had returned 19 kickoffs for a 23.6-yard average and one touchdown and 20 punts (with four fair catches) for a 19.4-yard average and two touchdowns.

Hester has had punt returns of 17 and 28 yards called back because of penalties this season. If you add those numbers to his total, he still is averaging only eight yards per punt return. Is the rib injury still bothering him?

''Do I look like it when I am out there on offense?'' Hester said. ''I feel pretty good.''

Again, it's absurd to think Hester can continue at the pace at which he started his career. What he has accomplished is extraordinary. Hester has 13 return touchdowns, counting a 108-yard return of a missed field goal and the fastest-ever score off the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl. Officially, he has 11 touchdown returns, which puts him only two off the career record of 13 set by Brian Mitchell from 1990 to 2003.

Hester's reputation precedes him, and teams seem better prepared than ever when they face the Bears.

''It's tough,'' Hester said. ''Teams know they're playing against one of the best special-teams [units] in the league. We won [the special-teams rankings] two straight years. The return game was a key factor in that success. ... But now when teams go against us, I feel like they are really preparing themselves and spending a little more time.''

In addition, the Bears -- like every special-teams unit in the NFL -- have to fit new players into new roles. Nobody wants to admit it, but the team misses Brendon Ayanbadejo, who made two Pro Bowls with the Bears before bolting to the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent. The combination of new players, fewer opportunities because of pooch punts and squib kicks and better preparation by opponents has taken a toll, but the challenge of facing Hester is also a motivating factor. The Minnesota Vikings figure to be ready Sunday, given that they were burned for punt-return touchdown by Hester last season and yielded two return touchdowns to the New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush this season.

Hester laughs at the idea that his new contract, which includes incentives for him as a receiver, somehow has motivated him more for that position than for his special-teams role. He can increase his base pay by $3.5 million in 2012 and by $4.5 million in 2013 and has a chance to earn a de-escalating roster bonus of $10 million in 2013 based on a four-tiered structure tied to number of receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and combined touchdowns produced to that point.

''In the two years I have worked with coach Dave, you have to work on blocking schemes and figuring out new return schemes,'' Hester said. ''But as far as just returning the ball, that is just natural to the return guy. Either you've got it or you don't.''

The sorcery hasn't been as obvious this season, but Hester's still got it.

(suntimes.com)

Devin Hester hasn't changed. The problem is with us, the media and fans who await his every return as if it carries the fulfillment of a messianic prophecy.

Hester is a flesh-and-blood return man, not a paranormal phenomena. He's without peer at his craft, but human nonetheless. That is little solace as he suffers through the longest drought without a return for a touchdown in a short career of unparalleled brilliance.

Hester feels the demand for perfection, the aura of certainty that grips an awestruck public every time he touches the ball: "Will this be the one he finally returns for a touchdown?"

Hester wonders himself.

"I am getting frustrated," Hester said. "It is frustrating because we set a high expectation for ourselves as a return game and when we're not doing it, then, at the end of the day, I feel like it's all on me.

"Maybe I'm not getting the job done. You never know. It is frustrating when you don't get the big returns you got last year and the year before."

Hester certainly has made a big jump in just the last two games, catching 11 passes combined the last two weeks, nine of which have gone for first downs. That's tied for sixth in the NFL on passes caught for a first down in that stretch, behind the likes of Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne with 11 each and Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White and Steve Smith, all with 10. That's some very exclusive company.

Hester caught 20 passes all of last season, but already has 16 catches in just five games (he missed one due to a rib injury). He has gained 193 yards with two touchdowns as a receiver.

But as sure as he's catching on with the offense, his numbers have diminished in the return game. Unfair as any comparison may be given Hester's unprecedented success in his first two seasons, the simple fact is that he's getting fewer opportunities and doing less with those chances.

Hester has returned 14 kickoffs with a 22.6-yard average and returned 11 punts with four fair catches for a 5.4-yard average. He has no return touchdowns. A year ago at the same point in the season, he had returned 19 kickoffs for a 23.6 average with one touchdown and 20 punts with four fair catches for a 19.4 average, including two touchdowns of 73 and 89 yards.

Hester has had two punt returns covering 17 and 28 called back because of penalties. If you add those numbers to his total he's still averaging only eight yards per punt return.

Remove the two touchdowns from last year's total in the same time period and he still was averaging over 12 yards a return.

Again, it's absurd to think Hester can continue at the pace he has started his career. What he has accomplished is extraordinary. Hester has 13 return touchdowns, counting a 108-yard return off a missed field goal and the fastest-ever score off the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl.

Officially, he has 11 touchdown returns, which puts him just two off the NFL career record of 13 set by Brian Mitchell from 1990-2003. He's one return behind Dante Hall, who is in his ninth season, and Eric Metcalf, who retired in 2002 after 14 years.

Hester's reputation precedes him and teams seem better prepared than ever when they face the Bears.

In addition, the Bears -- like every special-teams unit in the NFL -- have to fit new players into new roles. Nobody wants to admit it, but the team misses Brendon Ayanbadejo, who made two Pro Bowls with the Bears. He bolted to Baltimore as a free agent. The combination of new players, less opportunity due to pooch punts and squib kicks and more preparation from opponents takes a toll, but the challenge of facing Hester is also a motivating factor for opponents.

Hester laughs at the idea that his new contract, which includes incentives for him as a receiver, somehow has him more motivated for that position than for his special-teams role.

He can increase his base pay by $3.5 million in 2012 and $4.5 million in 2013 and has a chance to earn a de-escalating roster bonus of $10 million in 2013 based on a four-tiered structure tied to number of receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and combined touchdowns produced to that point.

(suburbanchicagonews.com)

Update:
Hester caught six passes for 87 yards in the Bears' improbable 22-20 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.

Recommendation:
Hester looks more and more like a receiver with each passing week, and even when Brandon Lloyd (knee) returns, we have to think that Hester will remain a big part of the passing game. Combine that with the continued maturation of Kyle Orton as a quarterback and his return skills, and Hester becomes a solid option as a fill-in for bye weeks and injuries, or as a weekly starter in deeper leagues.

(rotowire.com)

CHICAGO – Returning to action Sunday night after missing his first NFL game last weekend with a rib injury, Devin Hester made a big impact in the Bears’ 24-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The game-breaking third-year pro scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 20-yard reception from Kyle Orton late in the first half, gained 15 yards on a reverse to set up a key field goal early in the fourth quarter and returned a kickoff 51 yards after the Eagles had closed to within 21-17.

“I’m just glad to be back,” Hester said. “That’s the most important thing. Last week sitting on the sideline and seeing my teammates, knowing I could have been out there helping out, it was a hurt feeling. I’m just blessed to be back and thank God.”

Hester caught three passes for 27 yards and averaged 33 yards on three kickoff returns. He also averaged 0.3 yards on three punt returns in part because he lost eight yards on one return.

Hester’s third career TD catch came on a fade pattern against All-Pro Asante Samuel.

“He’s a great corner,” Hester said. “But Kyle threw a great ball and I was in the right spot.”

Hester seemingly was in position to score a touchdown late in the first quarter after gaining separation from a defensive back. However, Orton’s high but catchable pass squirted through the speedy receiver’s hands around the Philadelphia 10.

“I most definitely would have scored on that one,” Hester said. “I kind of took my eye off the ball before it went in my hands.”

Hester said he was not affected by the rib injury that kept him out of last week’s game.

“I felt great,” he said. “The adrenaline kept the pain away and motivated me to go out and play ball. I just went out and put in my mind that if I’m out here, I’m not hurt, otherwise I wouldn’t be out here. That’s the mentality I went in with.”

(chicagobears.com)

Devin Hester doesn't appear to be 100 percent, but the Pro Bowl return specialist was well enough to return to Bears practice in a limited role Thursday.

It was Hester's first action since he tore cartilage in his lower left rib area during the Week 2 loss at Carolina. His status for Sunday night's game against Philadelphia remains unclear.

"I'm pushing for it," Hester said. "I'm still sore. I'm going to get some more treatment. I'mhoping I'll be ready."

Hester didn't play in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to Tampa Bay. The Bears could use his explosiveness against the Eagles, who average 30 points per game. But the question is: How explosive will he be coming off the injury?

The medical staff took it easy with him last week, and Hester missed Wednesday's practice.

"Sometimes it takes weeks, sometimes two months," Hester said. "It all depends on the person and their body."

(chicagotribune.com)

Chicago Bears kick returner Devin Hester is suffering from torn cartilage in his rib area, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

Hester, who suffered a rib injury during the third quarter of Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers when he was forced out of bounds at the end of a punt return, was unsure of his availability for Sunday's home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"I'm feeling a lot better so I'm hoping by the end of the week I'll have no pain or nothing like that," Hester told the newspaper on Thursday.

In 34 regular-season games since joining the Bears in 2006, Hester has returned seven punts for a touchdown and run back four kickoffs for scores.

Hester said he was injured while making a quick move to avoid a tackle. He said he couldn't breathe normally for two days.

"I was told that if you go out there and it's not healed all the way, then you could damage it even more," he said. "I'm just going to get as much treatment as I can, and hopefully ill be ready."

(nationalpost.pa)

Devin Hester is not participating in the practice in full pads this afternoon at Halas Hall. He is on the field but not in uniform, and nickel back Brandon McGowan was not spotted on the field when the media was allowed to view the beginning of practice.

Hester injured the left side of his ribs running back a kickoff in the third quarter at Carolina on Sunday. He had an MRI Tuesday and it's not believed the injury is serious, that it could have been just a fluke occurrence. Hester has said he is feeling fine and expects to play Sunday vs. Tampa Bay.

(suntimes.com)

Devin Hester was at Halas Hall awaiting results from the MRI he underwent in Tuesday morning, a source said.

The rib injury sustained by the Bears Pro Bowl returner (and budding wide receiver) was believed to be either a pull or a tear; nothing appears to be broken.

It remains unclear whether Hester will miss any time. A source indicated Monday that Hester is expected to be healthy.

Hester suffered the non-contact injury while returning a kick in Sunday's game at Carolina. He was first scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, but the team wanted to wait for the swelling to subside.

It is too early to determine whether Hester will be available for Sunday's home opener against Tampa Bay. The Bears will face Bucs starter Brian Griese, their leading passer from a year ago.

(chicagotribune.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- More lingering than the disappointment of Sunday's disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers may be the loss of Devin Hester.

The Bears' leader in touchdowns over the last two seasons left the field in the third quarter holding his left side with what was described as a rib injury. He was moving gingerly in the locker room afterward and the team shielded him from media without making any further announcement about what medical exams might have revealed.

''Of course he couldn't finish the football game, so that's cause for concern,'' said coach Lovie Smith, who could not specify if Hester was injured on the kickoff return that ended with a tackle by rookie Dan Connor, or earlier. ''That's the final [play]. Whether he did before that, I don't know.''

Danieal Manning assumed kickoff-return duties and brought one Rhys Lloyd kick that went seven yards into the end zone to the 29-yard line. Cornerback Nathan Vasher took his role on punt returns, with an 18-yard return the best of three chances.

It limited Hester to 12 plays on offense and he made just one reception, a six-yarder. So after all of the work to integrate him offensively, he has two catches to show for it. No one wanted to speculate on his status following the game.

''Obviously, he's a great player,'' quarterback Kyle Orton said. ''He helps us in all facets of the game. [If he misses time], it is going to hurt. But offensively, I think Marty Booker can step in and add a veteran presence -- and the limited time he's been in so far this season, he's played well. I am very confident Marty can come in and play well for us.''

Booker went from seven snaps in the opener to 23, with the majority coming in the second half after Hester was lost. A bomb by Orton on third-and-seven from the Bears' 13 was just overthrown as Booker had soundly beaten Ken Lucas.

''He hasn't been out there that much, but I think we have developed some timing,'' Orton said. ''That throw certainly wasn't a timing issue or anything like that; it was just a missed throw. I am confident with Marty.''

(suntimes.com)

Devin Hester's whereabouts on the field this season will be closely monitored. His progress as a wide receiver will be tracked by fans and opponents alike and his development is no doubt a critical element to the improvement of the offense.

The Indianapolis Colts, starting Sunday night, will be the first to ask where is No. 23?

Hester started the final three preseason games and using that as a barometer for things to come it's fair to assume he will be in that role along with Brandon Lloyd. How much Hester is employed at wide receiver could impact his future wearing No. 23. It's an interesting sidenote as he develops as a receiver because it's not in the group of numbers that can be assigned to full-time wide receivers according to Rule 5, Section 1, Article 2 of the NFL rulebook.

When Hester joined the Bears as a rookie in 2006, he was assigned No. 23 because he was a cornerback. Provided he remains primarily a kick and punt returner, at least according to the club's latest roster, he's perfectly fine wearing No. 23. If he becomes a full-fledged starter at receiver, playing the bulk of the game there, it could become an issue the league has to address. According to the NFL rulebook:

"If a player changes his position during his playing career in the NFL, and such change moves him out of a category specified above, he must be issued an appropriate new jersey numeral."

The last player who publicly fought to get an exception was New Orleans running back Reggie Bush, who was intent on wearing No. 5, the number he had as a star at USC. Bush lost out and wears No. 25. When it comes to uniforms and conformity, league rules are pretty hard and fast. When Peyton Manning requested to wear high-tops for one game in tribute to Johnny Unitas following his death, he was told no. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris requested to switch to No. 97, the number he wore at Oklahoma, when it became free after Michael Haynes was released at the end of the summer in 2006. He was told no and the reason he was given was that it was about the money. Too many No. 91 jerseys were out there, Harris said.

Hester's case is different than Bush's. Hester is an established player in the league. Bush was just entering it. But the rules are the rules. None of the parties involved, the league included, would seem to be real interested in a change. For starters, there have to be boxes of Hester No. 23 jerseys stacked in warehouses all over the country. Forget about the ones hanging on racks in stores nationwide. There are jerseys waiting to make it to stores that already have a 2 and 3 on them. In this instance, the most important numbers become the dollar figures involved. No. 23 jerseys might have to go on clearance if he was wearing new digits.

Provided he remains a major contributor on special teams there are other things that could be factored in. With Hester's versatility, he can be lined up in the backfield from time to time and No. 23 works for a running back. But you're not going to see him listed as a running back on the roster. It's highly unlikely any kind of change would ever take place during the season, and it's likely he would have to become a full-time receiver before it became an issue. The coaching staff says he has the ability to be a No. 1 receiver. We'll see how involved he is from the start on Sunday.

Here's a look at the specific rule involved, directly from the rulebook: Rule 5, Section 1, Article 2

All players must wear numerals on their jerseys in accordance with Rule 5, Section 4, Article 3(c).
Such numerals must be by playing position, as follows:
(a) quarterbacks, punters, and placekickers: 1-19; (b) running backs and defensive backs: 20-49; (c) centers: 50-59 (60-79 if 50-59 are unavailable); (d) offensive guards and tackles: 60-79; (e) wide receivers: 10-19 and 80-89; (f) tight ends: 80-89; (g) defensive linemen: 60-79 (90-99 if 60-79 are unavailable); and (h) linebackers: 50-59 (90-99 if 50-59 are unavailable).

If a player changes his position during his playing career in the NFL, and such change moves him out of a category specified above, he must be issued an appropriate new jersey numeral.

Any request to wear a numeral for a special position not specified above (e.g., H-back) must be made to the Commissioner.

(blogs.suntimes.com)

Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd are expected to be the Bears' starting wide receivers in Week 1.
Rashied Davis will start out as the No. 3/slot receiver. The Bears figure to rotate in Mark Bradley, Marty Booker, and possibly Earl Bennett, limiting everyone's ceiling. Only Hester and Lloyd are worth looks in deep leagues.

(rotoworld.com)

The Canton Repository reports Chicago Bears WR/KR/PR Devin Hester has been invisible this preseason: a 15.0 average on three kick returns, one punt return for one yard, four receptions for 36 yards.



(ffmastermind.com)

When the Chicago Bears reported to training camp in mid-July, they were missing a huge piece. Devin Hester, the most electrifying player in the National Football League and lone reason why I kept watching the Bears last year, was holding out for more money.

Ninety-nine percent of Chicago freaked out and thought the Bears should just give him what he wants. Understandable. Right?

The Bears haven't seen a football player as exciting to watch as Hester since Walter Payton. "The Windy City Flyer" runs as fast as Hollywood producers do from a movie starring Norm MacDonald. Hester had six return touchdowns in each of his first two seasons in the league.

He even returned the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown, sending Chicago into a frenzied state before it realized that Rex Grossman was quarterbacking the team.

So if Hester is so good that he might be able to challenge the almighty Mike Ditka in a footrace, why should the Bears have traded him? After all, he's been a consistent source of touchdowns for the team - something Grossman, Cedric "Boats n' Hoes" Benson and Bernard Berrian couldn't provide.

The shelf life of a return man is not very long, however, especially for those who have prominent roles on offense. Remember Dante Hall? Chiefs fans don't need a refresher - he was the most feared return man in the NFL about five years ago. And where is he now? Struggling to find playing time in St. Louis. Hall was never a great wide receiver, but Kansas City tried to force him into the position after teams started kicking away from him.

You can bet that opposing kickers will start shying away from Hester, forcing the Bears' offense to beat them. When that happens, Hester will have a bigger role in the offense. And after that takes place, Hester will struggle. His value will go from its state before 2008 - which was through the roof - to almost nothing in just a few years.

Hester is listed at 5 feet 11 inches. He weighs 189 pounds. His only value as a wide receiver is as a burner, somebody who can catch a deep ball. With Kyle Orton at quarterback, however, the offense likely won't be throwing downfield as much as it did with ole Sexy Rexy. Expect a lot of quick slants and stop routes. And that Hester will get knocked around like a rag doll on those routes.

Although the NFC North is looking weak this year, the Bears need to rebuild. Orton isn't a bad quarterback. But is he really the quarterback for the Bears' future?

The team needs wide receivers like gold-medal Chinese gymnasts need fake documentation. The defensive and offensive lines aren't getting any younger. If the Bears could have secured a first-round pick for Hester, they should have gone ahead and made the move. It's not like they didn't have an excuse, because Hester sat out the initial days of camp.

The Bears without Hester would be about as pathetic as the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen. But, then again, will they be less pathetic with him for this year, the next year and through 2013?

I don't think so.

(themaneater.com)

Daily team observers all agree that the Bears would be making an obviously huge mistake if they significantly reduced Devin Hester's roles as a punt and kickoff returner moving forward. But even though there isn't a return specialist in the league anywhere near as special as Hester, who has set league records for return touchdowns the last two seasons, it stands to reason that his return role will be somewhat reduced in proportion to his playing time as a wide receiver. "Game situations will be the No. 1 factor in dictating how much Hester is used on kicks," a team insider told PFW. "But if he's on the field all the time as a pass catcher, which still remains to be seen, obviously other guys will have to get involved." The way we hear it, the "other guys" most likely to fill the return bill in Hester's absence are fourth-year player Rashied Davis and rookie Earl Bennett, who had some problems fielding kicks in training camp but came up big in the Bears' second preseason game with an impressive 75-yard punt return for a TD. "Danieal Manning could also be in the mix for more kick returns," the insider said, "since it looks like his playing time at safety could be on the decline."

(pfw.com)

BOURBONNAIS–When the Bears broke training camp last, coach Lovie Smith pointed to Devin Hester as one of the few real questions about the team that has been answered.

“Coming into camp, we talked about him as a returner that a lot of people thought could play receiver,” Smith said. “Now I think it’s safe to say that he’s a receiver. He’s doing all the things that we've asked him to do.”

Hester held out at the camp’s outset, but reported and eventually got a contract extension worth a possible $40 million. He worked daily against cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman to make the transition from a record-setting return man and offensive novelty to a key part of the offense.
“Peanut is probably one of the best corners in the league because he’s very physical,” Hester said. “You know once you go against Peanut, you’re going to have to be prepared to fight.”

Practice battles haven’t been quite like those between Tillman and former Bears wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad were the last three years, but Hester said he has been learning how to fight back against physical tactics designed to smother his speed.

“Peanut is an aggressive corner. He’s going to get his hands on you,” Hester said. “Receivers don’t like corners getting their hands on someone. Going against a corner that’s real aggressive, you’ve got to step up and play big.”

Hester said camp has also been a plus for his conditioning, something he wanted to work on because he will be pressed into much more playing time as a return man.

“So I have to prepare myself to go a full game, the return game and offense–I just worked harder,” he said.

The Bears, who play Saturday night in a preseason game at Seattle, are returning to Halas Hall and Lake Forest for the final two weeks of training camp.

They completed the Olivet Nazarene University portion of camp with two key injuries that require surgery: Top draft pick Chris Williams’ herniated disc and guard Terrence Metcalf’s knee sprain. Metcalf is expected back before the regular season, but Williams could be out half the season or longer.

The one big question that hasn’t yet been answered is starting quarterback. Saturday’s game will go a long way toward deciding the battle between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. Grossman starts Saturday after Orton started the preseason opener.

“For us, going into camp, we had a lot of positions that were open,” Smith said. “Guys were fighting for positions. All of them have stepped up, and we’ll just keep that evaluation going. To me ... a successful camp a lot of times is when you get out injury free, and we’ve done that for the most part. And again we’ve gotten good work done.”

(chicagodefender.com)

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. When the Chicago Bears broke training camp, Coach Lovie Smith pointed to Devin Hester as one of the few real questions about the team that has been answered.

"Coming into camp we talked about him as a returner that a lot of people thought could play receiver," Smith said. "Now I think it's safe to say that he's a receiver. He's doing all the things we've asked him to do."

Hester held out at the start of camp but reported and eventually landed a contract extension worth a possible $40 million. He worked daily against cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman to make the transition from a record-setting return man and offensive novelty to a key part of the offense.

"Peanut is probably one of the best corners in the league because he's very physical," Hester said. "You know once you go against Peanut, you're going to have to be prepared to fight."

Practice battles haven't been quite like the battles of the past three years between Tillman and Muhsin Muhammad, who left the Bears to return to the Carolina Panthers, but Hester said he has been learning how to fight back against physical tactics designed to smother his speed.

"Peanut is an aggressive corner, he's going to get his hands on you," Hester said. "Receivers don't like corners getting their hands on someone. Going against a corner that's real aggressive, you've got to step up and play big."

Hester said that camp was also a plus for his conditioning, something he wanted to work on because he will be pressed into much more playing time as a return man.

"So I have to prepare myself to go a full game, the return game and offense -- I just worked harder," he said.

The Bears, who will play a preseason game tonight at Seattle, will return to Halas Hall and Lake Forest for the final two weeks of training camp.

They completed the Olivet Nazarene University portion of camp with two key injuries which will require surgery -- top draft pick Chris Williams' herniated disc and guard Terrence Metcalf's knee sprain. Metcalf is expected back before the regular season, but Williams could be out half the season, or longer.

The one big question that hasn't yet been answered is the starting quarterback. Today's game will go a long way toward deciding the battle between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. Grossman will start today; Orton started the preseason opener.

"For us, going into camp, we had a lot of positions that were open," Smith said. "Guys were fighting for positions. All of them have stepped up and we'll just keep that evaluation going. To me ... a successful camp a lot of times is when you get out injury free, and we've done that for the most part. And again we've gotten good work done."

(journalnow.com)

Devin Hester threw passes in the morning and evening practices out of different plays. It will be interesting to see when these plays are used in the preseason/regular season. Shotgun plays where he could run a draw and plays that get him on the perimeter where he has a run/pass option are going to be fun to watch. Teams are going to have to respect the possibility he is going to pass because he has a strong arm.

It's not a Marty Booker model cannon capable of 80-yard tosses, but Hester's arm can compete with some of the quarterbacks who have rolled through here over the last decade.

(blogs.suntimes.com)

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)

BOURBONNAIS - The question of whether or not Devin Hester is good enough to be a starting wide receiver this year, and maybe even a No. 1, may already have been answered.

In Sunday's practice, Hester caught 7 of Rex Grossman's 20 completions, beating both starting cornerbacks, Nate Vasher and Charles "Peanut" Tillman, who form one of the more talented tandems in the NFL.

"Peanut is probably one of the best corners in the league because he's very physical," Hester said. "You know once you go against Peanut, you're going to have to be prepared to fight. Peanut is an aggressive corner; he's going to get his hands on you. Receivers don't like corners getting their hands on them. Going against a corner that's real aggressive, you've got to step up and play big."

Opponents who try to jam Hester at the line of scrimmage will suffer the consequences if he gets a clean break.

"He's a mismatch for a lot of people speed-wise," Grossman said. "So, if they want to come up and play press, man-to-man coverage with no safety help, they're going to get burned. We're excited about that matchup all season."

Hopes fading: The hope was that first-round pick Chris Williams would be back at practice when the Bears returned to Olivet Nazarene University on Sunday. But the offensive tackle didn't appear any closer to returning to the field than he has since July 24, the second day of camp, when he suffered a strained back.

Williams was being counted on as the opening-day left tackle, but that possibility now seems remote.

"It hurts him each day he misses," coach Lovie Smith said. "But I've seen players miss a lot of time and come back and still be successful. That's what we're hoping will happen with Chris."

Williams, who isn't even jogging on the side at practices yet, could not provide a timetable for his return.

"I have no idea," he said.

"I hope it's not too much longer."

(dailyherald.com)

Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears WR Devin Hester will make more than $22 million for showing up to training camp with his new contract. Hester signed a four-year extension last week and the contract maxes out at $40 million if he hits the performance-based escalators. If Hester does not play a down at wide receiver, he will still receive $22 million in new money. The contract includes a $5 million signing bonus with $10 million in roster bonuses. A $200,000 workout bonus worth $250,000 for the final four years for a $1.2 million total in workout bonuses. He is scheduled to make $750,000 in 2010, $1.5 million in 2011, $1.6 million in 2012 and $1.8 million in 2013. Hester will receive a base pay of $445,000 this season and $530,000 in 2009.

(kffl.com)

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) -- Kick returner Devin Hester has signed a new four-year contract with the Chicago Bears.

The team announced the deal Sunday. Hester skipped the first two days of training camp because he wanted to renegotiate his contract, which had two years left. Hester returned to camp Friday, saying there was progress in the negotiations.

He said he skipped practices to make a statement that he was serious about a new deal.

Hester's previous contract was for $445,000 for the 2008 season.

The terms of the new deal have not yet been announced. Hester is scheduled to speak to the media Sunday afternoon.

(ap.com)

Devin Hester told the Tribune Wednesday he intends to hold out of training camp until the Bears grant him a new deal.

"I'm not coming,'' he said by phone. "I have to make a statement. I showed by going to [organized team activities] that I was a team player. But then, I just felt like they weren't taking it seriously that I wanted to get a new deal.

"I can't go out and play this year making $445,000. Come on, man.''

Hester, who is signed through 2009, is entering the third year of his rookie deal. The Bears have discussed the possibility of a raise with his agent, Eugene Parker, throughout the off-season. Each side has exchanged proposals. Complicating matters is the fact that the Bears have no other contracts to measure Hester's worth against.

He wants to be paid as a receiver, but the Bears are willing to pay him as the league's highest-paid special teams player — a deal that would no doubt fall short of Hester's mark.

Efforts to reach Parker were unsuccessful while the Bears planned to address the situation after practice Wednesday.

"You should pay me like I'm one of a kind,'' Hester said. "It's like dating a girl. When you find somebody who is real special, you're going to do whatever it takes to keep her. You might cut back on what you're giving your mom to give to her. And that's how I feel they should treat me.''

Hester couldn't estimate how much money he's seeking or how long a term the deal should be. The Bears awarded contract extensions to Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, Alex Brown, Robbie Gould, and Desmond Clark.

"A fair deal is paying me what I bring to this game and to this team,'' Hester said. "If I put fans in the seats and make big plays, then I deserve to get paid more than what I'm getting paid. Pay me what I'm worth. I'm getting paid the same as a cat drafted in the sixth, seventh round my year who hasn't played a down. It isn't fair, man.''

The Bears are unlikely to negotiate with a player who is not at camp. Hester will be fine approximately $15,000 per day if he continues to hold out.

"I'm like this — it's not worth it to show up,'' he said.

Hester said he received phone calls from teammates Jason McKie and Tommie Harris Wednesday inquiring about his whereabouts. Adewale Ogunleye sent a text message and wondered what was going on.

"I basically told them what happened, and they said they don't blame me and that I deserved it,'' he said.

Hester said Lovie Smith called and said the team didn't feel the same without him.

Hester has 12 returns for touchdowns in just two seasons. Last season, he made the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season as a return man after setting the single-season NFL record with six kick returns for touchdowns (four punts, two kickoffs).

"Everybody in their right mind understands why I'm doing this,'' Hester said. "For me to have a season like I did last year and getting paid like this, it's not fair. ... I deserve more, and that's just the way I feel.''

(chicagosports.chicagotribune.com)

If Devin Hester is looking for a boost in his bid for a new contract--he's next in line now that Brian Urlacher is signed, sealed and delivered--how about his status as a starting wide receiver?

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said Tuesday that Hester and Brandon Lloyd will likely start with the first team at practice today. The duo did quite a bit of that during the offseason program and Turner said they'll probably get the nod ahead of Marty Booker and the long list of others including Mark Bradley. Hester is hoping to be paid top dollar as a receiver and this is a start.

But coach Lovie Smith wasn't ready to potentially call him a No. 1 receiver.

``At all the positions right now, I'm not going to tell you who they are,'' Smith said of his top secret depth chart. ``We're going to go out on the football field and play and once we feel like everyone needs to know, we'll let you know then. If I know it a little bit earlier am I going to tell you, no.''

(blog.suntimes.com)

The Chicago Tribune reports the Bears have one last business matter with a veteran player, KR/WR Devin Hester. The most electrifying return man in the NFL agreed to a new deal last week—with Under Armour, that is. While his endorsements continue to stack up, Hester wants his money from the Bears to do the same. He is signed through 2009 and it is unclear how much the Bears are willing to offer him, with no other contract to measure his worth against. Hester wants to get paid receiver money, but the Bears are more inclined to make him the highest-paid special-team player. Hester's agent, Eugene Parker, could not be reached for comment Monday night. In terms of his client's desire for a new deal, Parker believes Hester's explosive play has spoken loudly.

(ffmastermind.com)

Most overdone debate: Will Hester's playing wide receiver hurt his kickoff returns?

The only concern is injury, but a team as deficient in playmakers as the Bears cannot afford to let that prevent them from using Hester in the passing game. If he plays half the offensive snaps, a realistic goal this year, then he still should have enough energy to return kickoffs and punts. He's a football player, tough-minded and willing to exert himself, and to remove Hester from a job returning kicks and punts that he does historically well would be a mistake. Finding a way to get Hester to multitask is the coaching staff's obligation.

The Chicago Tribune reports there hasn't been much of a buzz about the Bears contract talks with WR/KR/PR Devin Hester.

(chicagosports.com)

Wednesday’s final OTA practice had a last-day-of-school feeling with players swapping jerseys with each another before participating in a spirited workout. One of the most noteworthy trades involved Grossman and Devin Hester, who even ran one play out of the quarterback position.

“That was just for you guys,” offensive coordinator Ron Turner said to reporters. “I said, ‘Hey, he’s in an 8 jersey, we might as well put him back there.’ I’m sure [Hester] will be lobbying [to play quarterback in the future].”

Asked if Grossman looked faster in his No. 23 jersey, Hester said: “Yeah, he did. I actually saw him run a quarterback sneak, and he showed a little burst out there.”

With the next five weeks off, Bears players are being encouraged by their coach to go on vacation and spend time with their family, all while getting away from football.

“We have a little bit of time right now,” Smith said. “We’re not playing the Colts tomorrow or anything like that. We’re going to take a little time off … but still you can start dreaming about good things happening.”

(chicagobears.com)

Under Armour has added National Football League kick return specialist Devin Hester to its endorsement roster and will air a new television spot Sunday night on ESPN featuring the Chicago Bears star and other players.

Hester, who set an NFL record with six kicks returned for touchdowns last season, will appear in a commercial aired during the "ESPYs" awards show with Seattle Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney and Patrick Willis, a San Francisco 49ers linebacker.

While much of Under Armour's (NYSE: UA) recent burst of marketing around its first non-cleated athletic shoes have been in cooperation with Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS), this ad is the Baltimore company's first co-op effort with a rival large sporting goods chain: The Sports Authority.

The sporting goods chain will get exclusive colors on some Under Armour footwear as part of the campaign. Also appearing in the ad is trainer Todd Durkin, whose most famous client is San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

As usual, the spot is produced in-house by Under Armour.

"At this point, I can say our footwear sales have been good and at what we expected," said Under Armour Senior Vice President/Brand Steve Battista.

As for the signing of Hester, a player who dominates NFL highlights packages during the season, Battista said, "He says everything we want to about speed and performance."

(ck0712digit.blogspot.com)

Which wide receivers impressed you most during offseason workouts?
Devin Hester really impressed me. So did Rashied Davis and Brandon Lloyd. We still have a long way to go, so don’t get me wrong. But I’ve been impressed with how they have responded to what we’re trying to do and to what we’ve done so far in practice. Now granted, nothing out there is live. The DBs can’t touch them. But just from a standpoint of learning and running the system and those things, those guys have impressed me with what they’ve done so far.

How much better is Devin right now compared to a year ago heading into training camp?
He’s 100 percent better, and that’s usually what happens after you’ve been in a system for a year. The strides that he’s made have been tremendous, and as long as he continues to keep that same work ethic and desire, he’s going to be fine.

In what areas has he improved most?
He’s improved in all areas: route-running, understanding what to do, being able to go out there and relax. Every aspect of the game he’s improved. He’s seeing things more. He’s so instinctive, so the majority of the time he’s going to be right just trusting his instincts.

What are Devin’s strengths and some of the things he needs to work on as a receiver?
Naturally his open-field ability and his ability to catch, he has tremendous ability there. He’s just got to continue to work on coming in and out of his breaks. Those are things that all receivers need to fine-tune—depth on routes and different things like that—and that comes with experience. It’s just repetition and habit and he’ll continue to get better at it.

What type of potential does Devin have as a receiver?
He definitely has the potential to be an elite receiver in the league. There’s no doubt about it. He’s got all the tools and he’s honing those tools. He’s polishing those tools. He can he as good as there is.

(chicagobears.com)

That has yet to be finalized at this point, but offensive coordinator Ron Turner told fans at the Bears Expo earlier this month that Devin Hester’s workload on offense would likely triple from an average of 10-12 snaps last season to 30-35 this year. Said Turner: “If we can get him that many plays and we can get the ball in his hands 5-7 times a game—whether it’s some quick passes or down the field or whatever—he’s going to make our offense much more productive.”

(chicagobears.com)

22. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts: When Marvin Harrison was out last season, Wayne emerged as the team's go-to receiver. The guess here is that is that it stays that way. He's a true star now.

23. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens: He is the prototype modern safety: rangy and can still tackle. He is what safeties like Roy Williams wish they could be.

26. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans: Injuries limited him last season, but Johnson is one of the best when he's on the field. The Texans were a different team without him last season.

41. Vince Wilfork, DT, New England Patriots: He was the best front-seven player on the Pats defense last season. He's a load in the middle. Moving him off the ball is tough for any center.

44. Kellen Winslow, TE, Cleveland Browns: He has emerged as one of the rising stars for a rising team. His ability to stretch the defense is vital to the Cleveland offense.

50. Devin Hester, KR, Chicago Bears: I don't normally put return men on these lists, but this guy has earned it. It will be interesting to see how long he can maintain it.

(cbs.sportsline.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Bears All-Pro kick returner Devin Hester is hosting a football camp July 12-13 at Lake Forest Academy. The Devin Hester Football Camp for kids ages 7-14 will focus on fundamental skills.




(bears.com)

After playing an average of 10-12 snaps on offense last season, we hear the Bears expect Devin Hester to at least triple his workload as a receiver this season. In offensive duty during 2007, Hester made 20 receptions for 299 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with his six return TDs while playing on special teams.

(pfw.com)

The Chicago Sun-Times reports Bears WR Devin Hester made as much progress as anyone in the 10-week offseason program, a good sign for an offense desperate for a gamebreaker. His role was extremely limited at this time last year, and now it seems he's everywhere. "It helped out a lot for me as far as the mental part," Hester said. "I feel like I came out and did a pretty good job and got a lot of things accomplished as far as just the knowledge of the game and trying to get the timing right."

(ffmastermind.com)

CHICAGO - Devin Hester will have little time to catch his breath this season.

Along with returning kicks and punts, Hester is eyeing a tripling of his workload at wide receiver.

At least, that is the plan based on what offensive coordinator Ron Turner told fans Sunday at the Bears Expo inside Soldier Field.

“He's the premier return guy in the NFL and probably in the history of the game, so he's got to obviously have an opportunity to do that,” Turner said.

“We've talked in the area of 30 to 35 [passing] plays a game. If we can get him that many plays and we can get the ball in his hands five to seven times a game, he's going to make our offense much more productive.”

The increased role was Hester's idea as much as Turner's. At the end of last season, Turner said, Hester spoke to him about wanting to truly become a full-time receiver.

With Bernard Berrian off to Minnesota in free agency and Mark Bradley limited by injuries the past few seasons, the Bears need a receiver who can stretch the field.

Hester showed last season he can be a vertical threat in spots, and his task this offseason is to become more well-rounded.

“I told him if you're going to make that commitment to try to be the No. 1 receiver, then you've got to make that commitment and you've got to work at it like you do as a return guy,” Turner said. “It's got to be a full-time commitment, which means you're going to have to practice full-speed all the time so the quarterbacks can get the timing.”

Turner said he has been delighted with Hester's approach during voluntary workouts and mini-camp.

“He's done a great job of learning the position, going out every day and learning all the little intricacies of playing the position,” Turner said.

“It's one thing to know your assignment. It's another thing to be able to line up and play and adjust to Cover-2, Cover-3, to press coverage, to the blitz - to all the different things that you have to do, and so far Devin has stepped up and is doing a great job of that.”

Turner said Hester's motivation stems from his desire to be the best at anything he does.

Of course, Hester's contract situation also could be a motivating factor. He has two years left on his rookie deal and has said he wants an extension.

As great as he is returning kicks and punts, Hester's leverage would be far more substantial if he shows signs of developing into a top receiver.

(daily-chronicle.com)

CHICAGO – Getting a taste of the Bears offense last season made Devin Hester hungry for more.

After catching 20 passes for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns in limited action, the electrifying playmaker spoke to coordinator Ron Turner about becoming a starting receiver in 2008.

“Devin and I had a real good talk at the end of the season,” Turner told fans during a seminar Sunday at the Bears Expo. “He talked about wanting to be more of a full-time receiver.

“I told him if you’re going to make that commitment to try to be the No. 1 receiver, then you’ve got to make that commitment right now and you’ve got to work at it like you do as a return guy. It’s got to be a full-time commitment, which means you’re going to have to practice full speed all the time so the quarterbacks can get the timing.”

Five months after their initial discussion, Turner couldn’t be more pleased with how Hester has responded to the challenge.

“He’s accepted all that, and so far through the minicamp and the OTAs, he’s done a great job of learning the position and going out every day and learning all the little intricacies of playing the position,” Turner said. “It’s one thing to know your assignment. It’s another thing to be able to line up and play and adjust to cover-two, cover-three, to press coverage, to the blitz; all the different things you have to do, and so far Devin has stepped up and is doing a great job of that.”

After Hester played an average of 10-12 snaps on offense last season, Turner said Sunday that the Bears plan on tripling his workload—even as he remains the team’s primary return specialist.

“He’s the premier return guy in the NFL and probably in the history of the game, so he’s got to obviously have an opportunity to do that,” Turner said.

“We’ve talked in the area of 30-35 plays a game. If we can get him that many plays and we can get the ball in his hands 5-7 times a game—whether it’s some quick passes or down the field or whatever—he’s going to make our offense much more productive.”

Hester has high expectations for himself—and Turner would never bet against him.

“He’s a guy that has a burning desire to be the best,” Turner said. “He is driven to be the best at whatever he does, and right now he is driven to be the best receiver in the NFL, and I wouldn’t sell Devin short of accomplishing anything.”

(chicagobears.com)

Devin Hester is still a work in progress at wide receiver, but he seemed to be able to work his way free behind the defense for huge gains almost at will throughout the weekend's minicamp.

The depth chart at wideout is in flux with newcomers Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd figuring prominently in the mix, along with Hester, Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley and rookie Earl Bennett, plus holdovers Mike Hass and Brandon Rideau fighting for roster spots.

"Right now the position is wide open," Hester said. "The best two are going to step up and play."

Hester sees himself as a starter; if not now, then soon.

"If you're a receiver and you don't feel that way, then you don't deserve to be out here on the field," he said. "It's competing for a job, and that's how the next man (on the depth chart) gets better. That's what I'm out here doing, and when the season kicks off, I'm hoping I'll be one of the No. 1 guys."

Booker and Lloyd have gotten most of the first-team reps, but Hester has also been utilized. Receivers coach Darryl Drake said no final decisions have been made.

"Right now we don't have clear-cut starters," Drake said. "Those guys (Booker and Lloyd) are in the mix. Devin is in the mix. So those guys are probably the ones."

Hester has been focusing on running more precise routes and fine-tuning his timing with quarterbacks Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. He said the mental aspect of his game has improved over last season, his first as a full-time receiver.

"I'm a lot better at knowing the game," he said. "I'm starting to understand the defense as well as the offense."

For now, though, Hester's forte remains the deep ball, where he can utilize his rare speed to get behind even the fastest cornerbacks. His communication with the quarterbacks on those plays is simple.

"Whenever we have a deep ball, I just tell them throw it as far as you can and hopefully I'm going to run it down," he said.

(dailyherald.com)

Devin Hester lets out a short laugh when asked if he plans to reveal some secret propellant or unknown turbo-charged technique during a mid-July football camp he's offering for 7- to 14-year-olds. How do you teach the kids football skills that go from the sublime to the ridiculous?

''I will just go through the fundamentals, and the more they work at it, the better they'll get,'' Hester said. ''Not everybody is going to be the same type of return man I am, but if they have the fundamentals and work at it -- then throw in their little bit of salt and pepper ...

'Not everybody is going to be Michael Jordan. All Michael Jordan can do is teach you fundamentals and hope you learn from it and put your own mix in it.''

Right there is about as close as Hester will ever get to comparing himself to another sports legend who wore No. 23. But the simple fact is that Hester is to NFL return men as Jordan was to basketball players. And if the Bears' weekend minicamp can be viewed as any indicator of the future, well, Hester someday may be seen similarly among wide receivers. His transition to the position -- at least at this point, before the real artillery starts flying -- has exceeded anybody's highest hopes.

Except, of course, Hester's.

''I have been around a lot of guys, a lot of really good receivers, and he has a chance to be better than all of them,'' said Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake, who has worked with Hines Ward and Roy Williams. ''That is a strong statement, but I really believe that.

''He has as good a pair of hands as anybody. And then his natural ability to run after the catch is just unbelievable. He has not dropped a ball. Not one ball in any of these practices. Not just minicamp -- all of the OTAs. I don't have to tell him anything anymore. He's telling me stuff when I am screwed up. He has taken the time to study it. He has been in my office every day since the beginning ... he's just so far ahead right now it's unbelievable.''

Can't risk his magic on returns
Ever since the Bears first floated the idea of expanding Hester's role to include offense, alarms have sounded about making sure they don't lose what he provides right now: incredible field position and the possibility of a home run in every at-bat. Hester is in the process of rewriting the NFL record book with 13 return touchdowns in his career, including a 108-yard return of a missed field goal and a 92-yard return of the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl his rookie year.

The Bears don't want to put that at risk, but they certainly want to get the ball in his hands more. That's why he's at receiver, and that's why it appeared he was being force-fed the ball over the three days of minicamp. It's a careful process, because Drake is correct when he says Hester ''was our best offensive player last year because he gave us great field position.'' He's also correct when he says, ''You have to be selfish, too, as a team, when you have a guy that talented. You have to get the ball in his hands.''

Will Hester be the next Steve Smith, a return man who developed into a great receiver? Don't forget injuries came with that transition.

It's a work in progress, but the only advice at this point is to give Hester a rich, long contract. Pay him now as a return guy, or you will pay through the nose to keep him as a receiver. The Bears ought to cut a blank check and let Hester fill in as many zeros as he deems fair. If he doesn't reach an agreement this offseason with two years left on his deal, he'd be a fool to sign something next year when he can smell the free-agent market.

A cynic would suggest the Bears believe their confounding offense will prevent any receiver from breaking out. Maybe they believe he'll remain their property for six years because owners recently opted out of the collective-bargaining agreement.

Earned his raise
But Hester, more than anyone else around Halas Hall, deserves a big pay increase from the less than half a million he'll pick up this year as part of his four-year, $2.61million rookie deal. If Bernard Berrian earned a six-year, $42million deal from Minnesota in free agency, what might Hester be worth in a couple of years?

''I do want to get paid,'' Hester said. ''But I am not going to sit here and complain about not getting paid enough to come out here and play ball. I will just put it all in God's hands.''

That's one powerful agent.

(suntimes.com)

Devin Hester says the prospect of getting a new contract that reflects his spectacular achievements of the past two seasons is constantly on his mind.

"I would be lying to you if I said it was easy. It's not easy," he said. "Sometimes you wish it wouldn't even come up, but right now, unfortunately, you're in a position where you can get a new contract and it goes through your mind every day. Each and every day I wake up I think about it. What's going on?"

And Hester worries that in a split second an injury could diminish his earning power before he gets the money he deserves after putting together the most productive back-to-back seasons by a return specialist in NFL history. So far, Hester has:

• Seven punt-return touchdowns.
• Four kickoff-return touchdowns.
• A 108-yard TD return of a missed field goal.
• And a 92-yard kickoff return for a TD in Super Bowl XLI.

"You have doubts about coming out here and getting injured," he said Saturday after minicamp. "But, at the same time, you know being out here is going to better your game. You know every day you miss is a day you lose. When you're out here you know you're getting better and better -- that's the No. 1 thing that keeps me motivated. I'm the type of player that wants to get better and wants to help out the team as much as I can."

Complicating Hester's situation is the fact that he's still transitioning to and learning the wide receiver position. He caught just 20 passes last year in his first season as a full-time wideout, but coach Lovie Smith says he has the talent to become a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

"The thing is, I can get a contract right now as the best return man, but that's not what I want," Hester said. "I'm looking forward to being one of the No. 1 receivers, and I want to get paid as a receiver. That's basically the biggest holdup right now."

Hester said he hasn't received any indication that a new deal is imminent.

"It's a slow process," he said. "It's a business. Right now you're just hoping for the best and hoping that you get what you're worth."

While he's trying not to let the contract situation disrupt his learning curve at wide receiver, Hester admitted he would be disappointed if he enters the regular season still playing under the terms of the four-year, $2.86 million deal he signed as a second-round pick in 2006, which included $1.26 million in guaranteed money.

"It would be very hard to do," he said.

His base salary of $360,000 last season was the league minimum, as is the $445,000 base he's scheduled to make this season. But for now, he's willing to be patient.

"It's tough, but I did sign a contract, so I'm obligated to come out here," he said. "I'd be reneging if I didn't show up, but at the same time it's very frustrating. I do want to get paid. But I'm not going to sit here and complain about not getting paid enough. I'm going to come out here and play ball."

(dailyherald.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – It’s easier to stump Devin Hester than to keep him out of the end zone.

At least that’s the way it appeared after the electrifying All-Pro delivered another dazzling individual effort during Saturday’s minicamp practice at Halas Hall.

Hester provided the highlight of the workout by tracking down a deep Kyle Orton pass that appeared to be overthrown with a superhuman burst. Later, the dynamic third-year pro was asked to recall the last time a quarterback threw a pass beyond his reach.

After pausing for a moment, Hester said with a smile: “I can’t even remember.”

Hester flashed his big play ability last season, catching touchdown passes of 81 yards against the Vikings and 55 yards versus the Saints. His instructions to the quarterback are simple.

“Whenever we get a deep ball, I tell him to just throw it as far as he can and hopefully I’ll be able to run it down,” Hester said. “That’s what we work hard on every day.”

Hester is trying to prove that he’s more than just a deep threat. Entering his second season as a NFL wide receiver, he’s working primarily on route timing during offseason workouts. 

“That’s the most important thing,” said Hester, who caught 20 passes for 299 yards and 2 TDs last season. “The NFL is all about timing and being at the right spot at the right time.”

With his comfort level on offense at an all-time high, Hester is determined to win a starting job.

“If you’re a receiver and you don’t feel that way, then you don’t deserve to be out here on the field,” he said. “You get better by competing, and that’s what I’m out here doing. When the season kicks off, hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to be one of the [starters].

“It’s all about competing, and right now the position is wide open. The best two are going to step up and play.”

(chicagobears.com)

Lake Forest -  Quarterback Kyle Orton threw the football as far as he could.

Devin Hester was the intended target down the left sideline, but the pass appeared considerably overthrown.

“I didn’t think he’d go get it,” receivers coach Darryl Drake said. “He’s not going to get that.”

But he did.

“That’s what he has — he’s got an exceptional gear, and the ability to adjust and go get it,” Drake said. “That does a lot for the quarterback, it does a lot for him, it does a lot for us to know what we’ve got here.

“He’s got a chance to stretch the field and go get the ball like (Bernard) Berrian did when he was here. Maybe he even has a different gear, and it’s very pleasing to see that.”

As for catching up to the bomb, Hester said “that’s what me and the quarterbacks talk about. Whenever we get a deep ball, I tell them to just throw it as far as you can, hoping I’ll be able to run it down. It’s what we work on every day.”

Hester then was asked when the last time someone threw a pass he didn’t catch up to.

He pondered it, finally offering “I don’t know.”

“I’ve always had it,” he said of an extra gear.

Catches like Saturday’s can only enhance his chances to get a grip on a reworked contract as he heads into his third season.

Defensive end Tommie Harris and linebacker Brian Urlacher also want something done with their situations, but all are at camp.

(rrstar.com)

Devin Hester was on the field taking snaps with the first-team offense at receiver and fielding kicks on special teams. His contract situation was the last thing on his mind during Friday's two-hour mini-camp. But after the day concluded, Hester opened up about his contract situation. "Yeah, I wish it would have been done by now," he said. "They're just not close to agreeing on what we want. But they're working with my agent."

(chicagosports.chicagotribune.com)

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Chicago Bears returner Devin Hester will join |NFL superstars Randy Moss, Shawne Merriman, Fred Taylor, Bob Sanders, T.J. Houshmanzedah and Julius Peppers and other NFL players as instructors for the Offense-Defense Football Camps held nationwide this summer.

O-D Football Camps, the Official Football Camp of the NFL Coaches Association, will work with football players between the ages of 7-18 all across the country, including a camp in Chicago.

Now in its 40th season of conducting the only full-contact camps in the country, O-D Football Camps will be held in 35 cities.

This summer's pro lineup reads like a hard-core fan's fantasy team, with seven Pro Bowl and 34 total NFL players taking part in the No. 1 Summer Sports Camp, as named by Sports Illustrated for Kids.

In keeping with the Offense-Defense philosophy, O-D Football Camps have selected the best on both sides of the ball. Moss, who set an NFL record by catching 23 touchdown passes in 2007, will team up with Patriots' wide receiving mate Wesley Welker at the New England held camp in July.

Sanders, the reigning NFL defensive MVP for the Colts, will instruct at the Indianapolis camp in June, while Merriman, the Chargers' Pro Bowl linebacker, will be featured at the San Diego camp in June.

On special teams, the Bears' Hester, who holds the NFL record for kick returns for touchdowns, will be at the Chicago camp in June.

O-D Football Camps are deep at wide receiver, with the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin in Flagstaff in July and the Cowboys' Patrick Crayton in Houston and the 49ers' Ashley Lelie in San Francisco in June.

So who's going to throw the ball to the all-star cast of wide receivers? O-D Football Camps has them covered, with Rams quarterback Marc Bulger making an appearance at the St. Louis camp in June.

The registration deadline is May 31. To find and register for a camp near you, visit www.o-d.com.

Devin Hester, this is ridiculous.

Sorry to borrow Bears play-by-play man Jeff Joniak's favorite adjective in reference to the All-Pro kick returner, but that best describes one way Hester's agent could have told the player how Tuesday's NFL labor impasse might affect his contract talks with the Bears.

Before the league's 32 owners voted unanimously to opt out early from the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association that was to have run through 2012, Hester had two years left on his rookie deal before he could have attained free agent status.
That unfathomable option—a potential Hall of Fame player being allowed to sign with another team, even for compensation—gave Hester unspoken leverage during ongoing negotiations to extend his contract.

Now it has vanished as quickly as Hester through the wedge on a kickoff return. If the 2010 season takes place without a salary cap, maybe the biggest result of Tuesday's vote, then an oft-overlooked provision written into the original agreement in 1993 extends the amount of required service for potential free agents in an uncapped year from four seasons to six.

That means Hester wouldn't be permitted to test free agency until after the 2011 season at the earliest—in essence buying the Bears two more years of highlights from Hester and more time to work out a long-term deal.

The most underpaid athlete in Chicago is scheduled to make $445,000 this season and $530,000 in 2009. He signed a four-year, $2.61 million contract in 2006 after he was the 57th overall pick in the second round. It should be filed under Hester Heist in a Halas Hall drawer.

Hester has made it known he isn't happy with the terms of his deal and the Bears began addressing the matter with agent Eugene Parker in February at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Though less vocal about his contract status than fellow stars Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs have been, Hester confided in mentor Deion Sanders last month, surely knowing Sanders would share the news with his NFL Network audience.

One view: While still unclear and reversible, Tuesday's CBA development lessens the urgency for the Bears, who don't like redoing contracts with two years remaining anyway.

Another immediate result of playing 2010 without a salary cap and a potential work stoppage looming a year later could be teams showing more reluctance to commit big money beyond the next three years. That could factor into discussions involving Tommie Harris, who is looking for the richest deal ever awarded a defensive tackle.

Harris already has turned down an offer from the Bears one source said was richer than the record-setting seven-year, $50.5 million deal the Raiders gave Tommy Kelly. Why would the Bears up the offer amid labor uncertainty?

That's a question Harris might want to ponder, not that his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, will persuade him to settle for anything other than a historic contract.

On the other hand, Harris might have gained a slight bit of leverage because he now can make the argument he is served best over the long haul by signing nothing if the Bears won't match his price.

Even if Harris and the Bears don't come to terms in the next two months and he technically becomes a free agent before the final capped season of 2009, expect the Bears to apply the franchise tag to keep him in Chicago. That would guarantee Harris around $7 million in 2009 (the tag value for defensive tackles in 2008 was $6.3 million).

Then after the 2009 season, Harris would stand to be the most hotly pursued free agent in a market that has no ceiling because of the absence of a salary cap. Can you imagine the potential bidding war between Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for a 27-year-old defensive tackle who could be coming off five straight Pro Bowl appearances?

Forget Harris donating equipment to a children's center in Killeen, Texas. He could buy Killeen.

If 2010 ends up being an uncapped year, it also could end up being significant in stabilizing the Bears' quarterback position if Kyle Orton beats out Rex Grossman and goes on to enjoy two seasons' worth of success. Orton redid his deal to run through 2009, but that would complete only his fifth season in the league and the new caveat requires six years of service before free agency.

Under that scenario—no guarantee for a guy who hasn't proved he's a bona fide NFL starter—Orton could face the prospect of negotiating with the Bears before the 2010 uncapped season with a work stoppage looming. That would be less than ideal for Orton or any player looking for a long-term deal amid so much short-term uncertainty.

Tuesday's news probably has no impact on Urlacher's contract impasse, which he maintains is more about respect than salary cap space. If he and the team find a middle ground before training camp on July 23, as expected, it likely will be the last contract Urlacher signs.

John Tait and Adewale Ogunleye each might have one deal left in them, but they will be 35 and 33, respectively, before the 2010 season. Each player's contract is to expire at the end of 2009.

Interest in either player may depend on where the Bears are in their rebuilding project. And where they are in the rebuilding project might depend on how happy and productive they keep core players such as Harris and Hester, two stars whose talks got more interesting Tuesday without either saying a word.

(chicagosports.chicagotribune.com)

11. Devin Hester, Chicago Bears--This might be the most amazing guy on this list considering he only has 20 receptions in two years. I feel pretty confident in saying I never thought a kick returner would get this high.

18. Sean Taylor, Washington Redskins--A spot on this list is an unbelievable tribute to the late Taylor.

(mysportsradio.com)

The Associated Press reports Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said the team does not anticipate trading WR Devin Hester and have not had any discussions with other teams. However, Angelo said if a trade became available that would make the team better, they would look to possibly trade.


(kffl.com)

It was not surprise to spot agent Eugene Parker at Halas Hall this afternoon.

As expected, he made the trip to Lake Forest from his base in Indiana, showing up to discuss the future of wide receiver/returner Devin Hester with management.

Surely Parker’s arrival was relief for general manager Jerry Angelo, who was at least mildly irked by the barrage of questions centered on the face of the franchise, Brian Urlacher. That’s a face that is no doubt frowning in his contract staredown with the club. More on that situation later on.

But hammering out a deal with Parker will not be an easy thing. Hester has lofty ambitions, and justifiably so given his performance the past two seasons. He also has two years remaining on his rookie contract and it will be an interesting situation to follow.

“These are very, very difficult things to do,” Angelo said of longterm extensions.

Indeed.

(blogs.suntimes.com)

Brian Urlacher will have to wait his turn.

While the star linebacker is becoming more vocal about his contract demands, return specialist and receiver Devin Hester is next when it comes to talks with the Bears.

The team will get down to business with Hester's agent, Eugene Parker, this week and try to reach a long-term deal.

No agreement is imminent, but with talks stalled on a deal with defensive tackle Tommie Harris, the Bears are aggressively moving to accomplish what the offseason goal has been all along -- rewarding players already at Halas Hall.

One source said the team will ''look at it more seriously with a little more urgency.''

The Bears first approached Parker about Hester at the combine when they put the wraps on a contract for Rex Grossman, and the sides have had discussions since. It's a complicated matter because there aren't any comparable deals to shape money talks. Hester is unparalleled in NFL history as a returner, and coach Lovie Smith says he has the skills to develop as a No. 1 receiver.

If Hester develops on offense this season, his value is only going to increase. He already has meant plenty when it comes to points. He has scored more touchdowns the last two seasons than anyone else and is directly responsible for at least a handful of Bears victories. Hester will earn a base salary of $445,000 this season and is on the books for $530,000 in 2009.

The four-year contract he signed as the 57th pick in 2006 is worth a little more than $2.61 million. Doing a deal halfway through a four-year contract will set a precedent for the Bears. They balked at efforts by cornerback Nathan Vasher to do the same two years ago. But Hester has grossly outperformed his contract.

Parker has successfully brokered shorter deals for clients to ensure they get back to the bargaining table soon.

Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald just signed a four-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed. When it expires, he'll be 28.

Hester is 25 and doesn't have the same leverage as Fitzgerald, who had the Cardinals over a barrel with monster salary-cap figures for the next two seasons.

The hurdle will be whether the Bears can talk Hester into an extension that incorporates the existing contract. It's one of the hang-ups with Harris.

The Bears want to maintain the integrity of the current deals and feel they should be compensated for forking over big bonus money early. The Bears don't want to pay a free-agency premium when the player isn't in free agency.

The trick you have is if the Bears offer Hester a four-year extension with $24 million in new money -- these figures are simply for the purpose of explanation -- it's going to be a six-year contract worth $24.975 million after incorporating the two remaining years on the deal. That's less palatable to the player. It's why Harris isn't keen on his offer that incorporates his base pay for this season -- less than $1 million. Players want their old contracts torn up.

Hester's pal, former NFL great Deion Sanders, said last week on NFL Network that Hester was ''upset'' with his contract. Unlike with Urlacher, no one invoked the idea of a trade or retirement, though.

(suntimes.com)

From Devin Hester’s mind to Deion Sanders’ lips ... or something like that.

Everyone knows the sensational return man has a close friend and confidant in Sanders, and his buddy did the talking for him appearing Tuesday on the NFL Network’s “Total Access.” Sanders was discussing the slate of games the league will televise, including the Week 15 meeting between New Orleans and Chicago on Thursday, Dec. 11 at Soldier Field.

“Come on, the quarterback problems of the Chicago Bears are still there and then they gave away every receiver they had that was halfway decent,” Sanders said. “They’re looking for tremendous things from this guy, Devin Hester, but Devin Hester isn’t happy with his contract and he deserves to be paid amongst the league’s best.

“So I look at a myriad of problems for the Chicago Bears and they’ve got to address those issues now.”

There you have it. Add Hester to the expanding list of employees at 1000 Football Drive who are unhappy with their paycheck. Get in line.

The Bears have had only preliminary discussions with agent Eugene Parker, and with two years remaining on Hester’s rookie contract, this isn’t going to be an easy problem to solve. Hester desires to be paid among the league’s elite players and he bolsters his case with the fact that he’s scored more touchdowns the last two seasons than anyone else on the roster. He can point to games in which he directly impacted the outcome. Hester’s case is that he forces the opponent to adjust every time he steps on the field. If he makes strides as a receiver this season, his price will only go up.

Want a safe bet? Hester is aiming to get money in line with the $42 million, six-year contract Bernard Berrian received from the Minnesota Vikings. But he’d surely settle for fewer years. Parker has been setting up his clients with shorter contracts to get them back to the bargaining table sooner. He did just that in Arizona with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals were on the hook to Fitzgerald for more than $32 million over the next two seasons. Parker brokered a four-year deal worth $40 million that includes $30 million guaranteed. The beauty of it? It gets Fitzgerald back to free agency in four years when he is 28, ready to take another bite from the apple.

The Bears have $16 million in salary-cap room and would like to extend Hester and defensive tackle Tommie Harris. They’re nowhere near that goal right now. The good thing is there are five months until the season begins.

(chicagotribune.com)

Chicago coach Lovie Smith plans to have Devin Hester more involved in the Bears' offense this year. In fact, at last week's NFL owners' meetings, Smith said Hester had asked for more turns at wide receiver, with Smith seeing no reason not to grant his request.

Well, I do. Smith risks losing what he has, and what he has is the best return man in the business. 

"We're not going to risk anything special-teams wise," Smith insisted when I brought up the subject. "I know what you're saying, and, yeah, there's a danger. But we're not going to do that.

"We know he's special as a returner, and we're going to try not to mess with that as much as we can. But I still I see him being able to make an impact as a returner (while) giving him a few more reps on the offensive side of the ball."

For Smith's sake, and for the sake of the Bears, I hope he's right. Because if he's not this could be a disaster.

Look, we all know what Chicago has in Hester as a return specialist. What we don't know is how playing more like a full-time wide receiver will affect him. But I know how it could.

It could exhaust him. He could be injured. And it could influence what he does best. But don't take it from me; take it from another NFC special teams coach who has to face Hester during the season.

"There is no question that, as an opponent, you would much prefer to kick the ball to someone who plays a lot more than someone who's more of a part-time player or a specialist," he said. "I don't know what the odds are, but my experience is that guys who play a lot are more apt to fair-catch the ball.

"The quickness isn't the same, and sometimes the speed isn't, either. I don't know, but when guys play a lot on offense or defense they're just not the same."

Hester didn't play a lot on offense last year, but he did play enough to qualify as a weapon. He caught 20 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns and was the deep threat the Bears needed when they rallied to catch Minnesota in the dying minutes of a game they eventually lost.

If you're looking for a wide receiver, Hester is hard to resist. He's fast. He's elusive. And he knows how to find the end zone.

But look what Chicago gained from him last year as a return specialist: He scored a league-high six times, including four by punt returns. His eight TDs led the Bears and were more than full-time stars like Edgerrin James, Steven Jackson and Frank Gore each produced.

More importantly, they were enough to have people question if he's the best returner of all time.

But it's not just that Hester can beat you with his legs. He can change games just by taking the field. Look back at Seattle's defeat of the Bears last season, and see how the Seahawks covered Hester on his last punt return

They didn't. They kicked the ball out of bounds.

"I'm pretty sure I never told a punter to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds -- and I mean in my career -- until that game," said Seattle special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven. "I've told him to kick to one side, to directional kick or to punt to the end zone, but I'm pretty sure I never told anyone to kick the ball out of bounds until that Chicago game. Devin Hester is a tremendous weapon who can change a game."
Precisely. So why risk sacrificing that? I understand what Smith is saying, but I also understand what he's looking at for wide receivers: Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd and Mark Bradley. If they were my top pass catchers I'd be dialing 911, too.

Except I'm not sure you call Hester. When you have the top return man in the league, why tap him to bail out a mediocre passing attack?
No offense, Bears' fans, but have you taken a look at your quarterbacks lately? Before thinking about Hester as an outside receiver maybe you should think about a quarterback who can throw as many touchdown passes as interceptions or a running game that ranks higher than 30th.

Hester is not the answer unless, of course, you're talking about beating someone with your special teams. The guy is so dangerous, so intimidating, so downright frightening that I have no idea why anyone kicks to him. But they do, and ask Mike Shanahan how that worked out for Denver.

Once you start tinkering with him as something more than a bit player at wide receiver, though, you risk losing what you have as a returner. And what you have is something no one else does.

"I think there were more plays we could've given him last year," said Smith. "Yes, there is a risk involved with it, but we won't worry about that."

Maybe they should.

"As much as anything," said Smith, "this is what he wants to do, too. He is working very hard right now to be a receiver. That's what he sees himself becoming -- a receiver we can go to and make an impact."

Devin Hester already makes an impact -- as a special teams star. Why not leave it at that?

(cbs.sportsline.com)

"I think Devin Hester can pretty much be what he wants to be," Smith said. "Can he be a three-down receiver? Definitely."

Smith said the plan is to have Hester return fewer kicks, but will use him on special teams on a limited basis.

"You have to be realistic to know he can't do it all," Smith said.

Smith indicated Danieal Manning could help the Bears on kick returns, and mentioned restricted free-agent receiver Rashied Davis as another possible return man.

Yet that doesn't mean we have seen the last of Hester the return man.

"We're in a game and we need a play and they're kicking the ball off to us, there is a good chance you are going to see him back there," Smith said. "They're punting the ball to us and we need a big play, no matter what part of the game, there is a good chance you are going to see him back there."

(chicagotribune.com)

Bears coach Lovie Smith wants to increase Devin Hester’s role in the offense as a wide receiver, but not at the expense of decreasing Hester’s impact in the return game. Hester, a Riviera Beach native, caught at least one pass in 10 games last year, and finished with 20 for 299 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears lost to free agency their top two receivers from last year, Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad. “Can he be a three-down receiver? Definitely,” Smith said of Hester. “But we have a guy that’s special at something. I don’t think you automatically take him off it to play somewhere else. … It’s been a long time since anyone has been able to (return kicks) full time and be a full-time receiver, too.”

(miamiherald.com)

The NFL has no interest in doing Devin Hester any favors, so there will be no "Devin Hester rule" passed any time soon.

In recent weeks, the league considered legislating against punting out of bounds—which teams did frequently when opposing Hester last season. A survey was sent to head coaches and general managers to get their reaction to such a rule, but the response was overwhelmingly against changing what often is a strategic move to trap an opponent inside his own 20-yard line rather than kicking into the end zone for a touchback.

The NFL's competition committee also had a discussion about enacting a new rule, but it didn't go very far.

"Directional kicking is a difficult thing to do," said Colts President Bill Polian, a member of the competition committee. "We saw no evidence that [punting out of bounds] is growing in use. So it's not an issue we had a lot of concern about. Very few people can do it, and the odds of it backfiring on you are pretty high. If you shank it, it's 20 yards, not 40. It's a tough skill to execute."

"I could tell you from our own personal experience that it's very difficult to do. [Colts punter Hunter Smith] has an awfully hard time with it."

(chicagosports.chicagotribune.com)

The first USF spring football scrimmage on Saturday was sort of a hot spot for NFL players — both current and future. Two former Bulls — Mike Jenkins, who was wearing a Denver Broncos beanie hat and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Henry were seen watching.

Another NFL player — Chicago Bears return specialist Devin Hester, cousin of USF junior wide receiver Jesse Hester Jr. — was also seen watching the action. Hester took time to answer some questions for The Oracle.

Oracle: What is it like to watch your cousin playing Big East football?

Devin Hester: I'm just glad to see him out there. First of all, you've got to thank God for putting him in the situation that he's in now. A lot of kids don't get the opportunity to play in high school, and he's out there playing college football. I just hope that God continues to keep blessing him and hopefully, one day, he's out there with me.

O: Did you see his game-winning catch against Auburn?

DH: Yeah, I did. It was great to have somebody else have the ability to go out and do the things that you hope for kids to do.

O: How much progress have you seen from Jesse during his USF career?

DH: I'm just glad that he's making plays right now. He's getting better each year, and hopefully, by the time he's ready to go to the (National Football) League, he'll be ready to compete at the highest level.


(oraclesports.blogspot.com)

1. What is the first thing you look for once you’ve caught the ball on a return? Is it something you just feel or can you actually see the holes opening for a split second?

It’s a little bit of both. It’s something that I can feel, but I also feel that I have good vision to see things before they happen.

2. What type of speed-training regiment do you follow in the offseason?

I just work on the basic techniques and the proper way of running; trying to keep your form, being more relaxed and not tensing up when you’re running, and make sure you’re lifting your legs and not straining too much on your hamstrings.

3. Who is your best friend on the Bears?

There are four that are even: Jason McKie, Mark Bradley, Tommie Harris and Garrett Wolfe.

4. How has playing professional football changed your life?

It’s given me more opportunities as far as my lifestyle and allowed me to experience things I never imagined I would experience. With wealth, I can do pretty much what I want. But you’ve got to provide a good example because you have a lot of people that look up to you now.

5. Do you see yourself playing your entire career with the Bears?
Yes, I do.

6. What do you think you need to do to become a complete receiver in the NFL?

I just need to get more repetition. The more opportunity I get, the better I feel I’ll get.

7. What type of music do you listen to while warming up before games?

A lot of hip-hop—I like Little Wayne—and a little R&B.

8. What’s your favorite thing to watch on television?

I like to watch NFL Network.

9. If you had your pick of any position on the field, which one would you choose to play?

I’d want to play a little quarterback. I think that would slow down the pass rush. They’d try to force me to throw the ball.

10. Do you get angry or frustrated when opponents try to keep the ball out of your hands with squib kicks?

A little of both, but at the same time, they’re showing that they respect me.

Click here to continue reading...

Tickets to the Devin Hester autograph-signing session at Sports Fanatic Store in Spring Hill Mall are almost sold out. The Chicago Bears' kick-return specialist will sign merchandise at 5 p.m. April 2. Tickets are $100 per autograph, payable by cash only, and are available from the Sports Fanatic Store. A personal message can be added to the autograph for $25. In addition, a special raffle will be held for three separate Hester autographed items. Each raffle ticket is $5 and all proceeds will benefit the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

(dailyherald.com)

The Bears will now turn to Pro Bowl returner Devin Hester as their leading wide receiver for 2008 and likely will be seeking to bring in another player through free agency.

(rotoworld.com)

BOURBONNAIS — Charles Tillman is a physical cornerback, even in training-camp practices, which can sometimes rub a teammate the wrong way.

But if the 6-foot-1, 196-pound Tillman occasionally roughs up 5-foot-11, 186-pound wide receiver Devin Hester, it’s only helping him transition to his new position.

“When I feel my opponent wants to get physical, I’m the type of player that (says), ‘Let’s play physical,’æ” Hester said. “If you want to play this type of game, I can play right along with you. That’s the type of player I am.

“I’m out here trying to get better, and I know Charles Tillman is one of the great players on our defense and he’s an aggressive corner. You know when you go against him you’re going to have to fasten up your chinstrap and get ready to play football.”

Hester knows he’s going to face similar strong-arm tactics during the season as opponents try to jam him at the line of scrimmage and neutralize his ability to stretch the field.

For all the hype that converted wide receiver Devin Hester has created in camp, his debut on offense went quietly. He was in for only one play with the first team, a handoff to Cedric Benson. He played more with backup Brian Griese and caught his first pass in the second quarter, a 12-yard gain. He also was used as a decoy on a fake end-around when Griese handed off to Adrian Peterson.

(suntimes.com)

Devin Hester is making fans utter such expressions of admiration as "ooh" and "aah." However, he's been bugged by a hamstring, and David Haugh recently issued the following warning: "Remember, Hester didn't return kickoffs full-time last year until the 12th game of the season against Minnesota so he could focus solely on punt returns. Now he has three jobs. He might do them all exceptionally well. But if the added responsibilities and attention start to affect Hester physically or mentally, the Bears eventually could decide it makes sense for him to give one up. That's not part of the discussion yet but good to remember as the hype around Hester continues to snowball."

(chicagosports.chicagotribune.com)

(AP) BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The recruiting started a year ago, and all Devin Hester wanted to do was sprint the other way.

In the end, he couldn't outrun the call to offense.

The Chicago Bears' special teams standout will see time at wide receiver after setting and tying several return records as a rookie last season. The list includes a league-record six touchdowns -- one of which was a missed field goal he ran back 108 yards. Now, the Bears are easing Hester in on offense -- a move he was reluctant to make.

"I give all the credit to coach Lovie Smith," he said. "He's the guy who opened up my eyes and let me know that it's a position I could succeed a lot at."

BOURBONNAIS -- Suddenly, Devin Hester doesn't look so invincible.

When the Bears opened training camp last week, Hester was nearly perfect in making the transition from defensive back to wide receiver. But a right hamstring injury has slowed the second-year man and kept him out of practice the last two days. If the injury persists, the Bears' plan to use his explosiveness in a variety of ways could be affected.

Coach Lovie Smith, who initially downplayed Hester's injury, expressed a bit more concern after Thursday's practice.
"It's a concern the first day he missed," Smith said. "But beyond that, that's how training camp goes, especially with skill guys. You look across the league, just about every team has a guy who is dealing with some things like that. When they get a little sore, you let them sit out for a while." Although not visibly upset, Hester expressed a strong desire to return to practice. He quickly has become one of the team's top offensive threats because he can line up in so many different places. Plus he already has established himself as perhaps the best return man in the league.

BOURBONNAIS — With Devin Hester rapidly approaching rock-star status, there could be concerns that the 24-year-old won’t be able to keep a level head or stay focused.

Not to worry.

Celebrity and hero worship on the football field are nothing new to Mr. Excitement, who is making fans attending training-camp practices at Olivet Nazarene University sit up and take notice every time he lines up at his new position of wide receiver.

At Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, Fla., Hester was the top-rated recruit in one of the nation’s top producers of football talent, and he was the consensus top defensive back in the country.

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)

BOURBONNAIS -- Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner watched another strong practice performance by converted wide receiver Devin Hester, then pondered the question whether he's ever had someone so quick in his offense.

"Maybe one time. I had a guy in an all-star game, the Blue-Gray Game, a guy named Steve Smith," Turner said about the Carolina Panthers star. "Maybe Steve Smith. That might be about the only guy.

"I didn't know much about Steve Smith and I saw him catch a pass in that game, a 10-yard hook. He caught it; the next thing I knew it was an 80-yard touchdown. I said, 'Whoa.' I hadn't seen anything like that before. But (Hester has) got the same kind of explosiveness."

Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner watched another strong practice performance by converted wide receiver Devin Hester, then pondered a question about whether he's ever had someone so quick in his offense.

"Maybe one time. I had a guy in an all-star game, the Blue-Gray game, a guy named Steve Smith," Turner said about the Carolina Panthers star. "Maybe Steve Smith. That might be about the only guy.

"I didn't know much about Steve Smith, and I saw him catch a pass in that game, a 10-yard hook. He caught it; the next thing I knew, it was an 80-yard touchdown. I said, 'Whoa.' I hadn't seen anything like that before. But he's (Hester) got the same kind of explosiveness."

Hester caught a few more short passes and broke them Saturday morning. He also displayed a knack for running sharp sideline routes and showed good hands on a well-executed, 12-yard square-out.

Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears won an ESPY award in Los Angeles last night (Wednesday). Hester walked away with the breakthrough athlete award at the show honoring the year's best sports moments and athletes at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. Hester set an N-F-L record last year for kick returns for touchdowns, and he started off the Super Bowl with a 92-yard kickoff runback for a touchdown. The ESPY Awards air Sunday at eight p-m central time on E-S-P-N.

(wjbdradio.com)

1. Their offense added one of the NFL's most explosive players.

Devin Hester lined up at running back and wide receiver throughout OTAs and never looked unnatural or awkward. He immediately gives the Bears an element of unpredictability they didn't have in 2006.

And despite all the documented evidence that will be offered to suggest adding receiver duties will hurt Hester's return game, a dropoff from six regular-season returns for touchdowns was inevitable anyway.

(chicagotribune.com)

Devin Hester’s IQ. Hester, the dynamic return man, reportedly has  trouble digesting nuances in the playbook.

(nwherald.com)

Devin Hester can't contain his enthusiasm. His defensive teammates can't contain Hester.

The scene is all so reminiscent of last season, when opposing teams could only watch helplessly as Hester juked and sprinted past them for an NFL-record six kick returns for touchdowns during his Pro Bowl rookie campaign.

For an encore this season, Hester also is lining up from scrimmage as a wide receiver during the Bears' organized team activities in Lake Forest.

One of Hester's favorite plays is when he deceives the defense on fakes.

"That's the fun part about it," Hester said with a huge smile and a giggle after Wednesday's workout.

The experiment never worked at the U. of Miami, but Chicago’s super return man, Devin Hester, looked like a natural at receiver in recent mini-camp work. The first two days of camp, he didn’t drop a pass. He ran solid, crisp routes and, basically, had his teammates and coaches raving about him.

Give head coach Lovie Smith high marks for convincing Hester to junk cornerback for being a wide receiver.

“It was more exciting than I really thought it would be,” Hester said. “Whenever a player gets his hands on the ball and knows what he can do with it, it's a lot of fun.”

After the catch, Hester routinely made players miss. The new dimension should be great for Rex Grossman and also alleviate the frustration that Hester, who returned six kicks for touchdowns last season, will face when punters and kickers kick away from during the season. The Bears needed to find a way for Hester to get more touches.

On kickoffs, Hester will be paired with safety Danieal Manning, former college kickoff specialist, in hopes they can form a 1-2 punch. He will still wear No. 23 and be listed as a running back/receiver.

(foxsports.com)

The Bears couldn't be happier with Hester's transition from cornerback. He is proving to be a good route runner, sure-handed, and, after the catch, he has made defenders miss. Chicago is satisfied it has found a new weapon.

(star-telegram.com)

There is already so much hype surrounding the transition of Chicago Bears kick returner Devin Hester into an offensive player that I'm hoping he lives up to the expectations.

The real question, however, isn't whether Hester can make a significant contribution on that side of the football. It's whether he'll still be able to produce those breathtaking returns that made him a Pro Bowler during his rookie season in the NFL. After all, it's hard enough to be an electrifying return man in this league. To do it year after year, well, that's proven to be fairly difficult for most players.

This isn't to knock Hester, who scored an NFL-record six return touchdowns in 2006. It's just a fact. Returning kicks takes guts and guile, and recent history really hasn't been very kind to players who make their names with that specialty. In today's NFL, anything can hamper a return man's dominance, whether it's the loss of a couple key blockers, the departure of a special-teams coach, or in the case of Hester, outright fear by opponents.

"The opportunities for me probably aren't going to be what they were last season because teams know me now," Hester says. "It's tough for good returners because you can go from having 30 to 40 returns one season to 15 or 20 the next. That's a big part of why guys don't keep putting up the same numbers."

LAKE FOREST — Devin Hester’s former “brothers” keep telling him what he can’t do.

“You’ve got no routes. You can’t do this. You can’t do that. We can run with you. Stuff like that. We’re just teasing him,” Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. explained.

“There’s a lot of joking around, because I played DB,” Hester said as his conversion from a defensive back to wide receiver began Friday at the Bears first minicamp of 2007. The minicamp finished Sunday.

“Those guys are great guys,” Hester continued. “I spent a whole year with them and had a lot of fun. It’s like a brotherly challenge. Everyone wants to go against me as a DB.”

You know it’s a tease, because the Bears seem to think there is nothing Hester can’t do after he returned an NFL-record six kicks for touchdowns as a rookie. He added a seventh with the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl.

Lovie Smith can order players to do pretty much whatever he deems important for football. But when he decided Devin Hester could help the Bears more on offense than defense, he knew the move would go better if Hester bought into it.

The coach didn't want to force Hester, whose mentor and football idol is former cornerback/returner Deion Sanders, to give up being a defensive back.

So Smith started making "suggestions" to Hester over the last two months.

"It went from once a month to once a week to every day," Hester said, laughing. "So I said, 'There's no 'I' in team,' and if the head coach thinks it's going to be better for the team …

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (May 14, 2007) -- Devin Hester is taking his game-breaking skills to the Chicago Bears' offense.

Hester set an NFL record last year for kick returns for touchdowns, and he started off the Super Bowl with a 92-yard kickoff runback for a touchdown. He rarely played on anything but special teams, though, and when he did, it was as a cornerback.

Now, the Bears will try him as a wide receiver.

Coach Lovie Smith said the All-Pro return specialist will make the switch beginning with the upcoming minicamp.

"I think Devin Hester is one of the most exciting players in the NFL with his hands on the football," Smith told ChicagoBears.com. "I think he would be an excellent defensive back, also. We just feel that this is in the best interest of us and him for him to achieve his full potential as a football player."

See defender. Run past him. Catch the ball.

Celebrate.

If the instructions for new Bears wide receiver Devin Hester are much more complicated than that, the team risks turning a necessary position switch into a failed experiment.

Don't issue Hester an offensive playbook. Give him a cocktail napkin with doodles. The simpler it is for Hester the harder it will be for opposing defenses to stop one of the fastest players in the league.

"There are only a few guys in the league who can make people miss and do the things [Hester] can do with the football," coach Lovie Smith said.

It was only a matter of time, I guess. After six special teams touchdowns his rookie season, Devin Hester -- a man without a true position -- will be joining the offense. Hester was listed as a cornerback at the University of Miami, but that's not why the Bears selected him in the second round of the 2006 draft. Whatever, he's taking his skillz to the other side of the ball:

Hester will work with the wide receivers at minicamp, but he's also expected to line up in the backfield at times and could be utilized like the New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush.

Well, Chicago could utilize him like Reggie Bush, but I'm pretty sure that'll be where the comparisons end. I'm envisioning more of an Antwaan Randle El-type role. Whatever, I think it's a good idea. Hester is obviously a scoring threat, and if nothing else, he'll take some of the pressure of Rex Grossman. Which reminds me, maybe Hester can line up at quarterback for a few snaps every game too. It couldn't hurt.

(nfl.aolsportsblog.com)

The Bears on Thursday announced center Olin Kreutz and return specialist Devin Hester as the winners of the Brian Piccolo Award for the 2006 season.

The award, voted on by teammates, goes to a veteran and a rookie who “best exemplify the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of the late Brian Piccolo.”

Kreutz, who also won the award for 2003 and 2004, is the only player to receive the honor more than once as a veteran. Left tackle John Tait is the only other player to win it in the last four years.

(nwherald.com)

The Bears may not have won the Super Bowl this year, but maybe fans can take some pride in being the home to the most perfectly fast man in the NFL, ever.

The essential football video game, Madden '08, will feature the Bear's All-Pro Devin Hester as the first player to ever receive a perfect 100 in the speed category (maybe in any category, but we can't find any support for that).

Deion Sanders, Randy Moss, and Charles Woodson all received the meager rating of 99, a full point less than Hester's blazing digital speed. Supposedly, Hester has been lobbying for the increase, but at least he acted surprised when it was announced, saying, "That's just about the best thing you could have told me. It's an honor -- I don't know what to say, really."

Luckily, no Bear player will grace the cover of the game, thus allowing one less team in Chicago to blame losing the big one on a curse (See: The Madden Cover Curse)

(chicagoist.com)

HESTER’S PEARL: In this year’s Super Bowl, Chicago Bears cornerback Devin Hester took the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. He set an NFL record with six touchdown returns during the regular season. But he may be receiving the ultimate honor when “Madden NFL 08” comes out: He’s the first player awarded a perfect 100 speed rating.

Hester’s 100 elevates him above such legendary speedsters as Deion Sanders and Randy Moss. “That’s just about the best thing you could have told me,” he told ESPN.com. “It’s an honor.”

(nwherald.com)

Bear down: Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch was Bears' special teams ace Devin Hester, who had an NFL-record six return touchdowns last season.

Wearing a Cubs jersey with his name stenciled on the back, Hester also was guest conductor for "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch. Joining him on the field was Bears coach Lovie Smith.

"I was only a little worried," Hester said. "The pitching part is more athletic, but the singing part is all vocal and you gotta know the words. But Chicago fans are the greatest and if I could tell 'em to their faces, I'd let 'em know they're the spark of my life."

(nwitimes.com)

In just one season in the NFL, Devin Hester has become a household name. His explosiveness and blazing speed have broken many a game wide open – just ask the Arizona Cardinals – and his penchant for finding the end zone gives heartburn to opposing coaches. Bears’ fans are itching to see more of their All-Pro return man next season, and Lovie Smith feels the same way.

“You could argue that he’s the most exciting player in the NFL with his hands on the ball,” Smith says.

Dilemma:

“Exciting” may be an understatement. After setting an NFL regular-season record with 6 returns for a touchdown (which does not include his amazing 92-yard dash on the first play of Super Bowl XLI) the Bears have begun mulling over the different ways they may be able to use Hester next season. Although he played on only special teams and defense in 2006, Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner are not ruling out the possibility of playing the former Miami Hurricane on offense in 2007.

The Madden video game has never given a player a perfect score of 100 in one of its skill ratings. Until now. Bears return man Devin Hester, who set an NFL record with six kick return touchdowns in the regular season and then added another in the Super Bowl, has scored a 100 in the speed category.

"That's just about the best thing you could have told me," Hester said with a huge smile, when informed of his new Speed rating. "It's an honor -- I don't know what to say, really."

Among the players who have had a 99 speed rating in the past are Deion Sanders, Randy Moss and Charles Woodson. I don't think Hester is as fast as Sanders and Moss were in their primes, but Madden ratings aren't exactly the most precise measurements in the world. It's still pretty cool to see someone get a 100.

(aolsportsblog.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Ron Turner isn’t exactly straddling the fence when it comes to the debate about whether to move Devin Hester to the offensive side of the ball.

“He’s obviously a special talent, and to be honest with you, I’ve been trying to recruit him since the day we drafted him,” the Bears offensive coordinator said Sunday at the fan convention. “I’m going to keep working on that and see if we can get him on offense.”

Hester was named All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl after setting an NFL record with six combined kick return touchdowns. His seventh, a 92-yarder on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI, was voted the team’s top play of the season in a poll on ChicagoBears.com.

“He’s shown what he can do when he gets the ball in his hands,” Turner said. “If he’s on offense and we can get his hands on the ball six, seven or eight more times a game, who knows what he might be able to do with it. So we’ll keep working on that.”

The Bears think of it as a no-lose situation.

Nevertheless, the best way to deploy Devin Hester in 2007 remains a difficult decision chiefly because the Pro Bowl kick returner wants to play defense rather than offense.

"As you look at Devin Hester at the University of Miami, he played running back a little bit, of course he played wide receiver and he played defensive back," Bears coach Lovie Smith said at the team's 10th annual fan convention Saturday. "We've had discussions about him playing all of those positions. It makes sense.

"First off, you could argue that he's the most exciting player in the National Football League with his hands on the ball. So why wouldn't we move him to the offensive side of the football? But you also have to play guys where their heart is. Devin's heart is on the defensive side of the football -- but he likes scoring touchdowns."

Don't be surprised to see Bears Pro Bowl RS Devin Hester on offense in 2007. "That's something that I think our coaches are going to talk about at length. It wouldn't surprise me," Chicago GM Jerry Angelo said at the scouting combine.

(profootballweekly.com)

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s not official yet, but indications are that the Bears might not be able to resist the temptation to move Devin Hester to offense.

The latter of the Bears’ two second-round picks, 57th overall, Hester spent his rookie season developing his limited cornerback techniques but made an instant impact by returning 6 kicks for touchdowns, plus another in the Super Bowl.

“We need to get the ball in Devin’s hands,” coach Lovie Smith said. “The more times we put the ball in Devin’s hands, the better our chances are.”

When late-season injuries to starting cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nate Vasher forced Hester onto the field as the nickel cornerback in passing situations, his production in the return game dipped. But special teams coordinator Dave Toub doesn’t foresee any problems next season.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bears general manager Jerry Angelo pondered the question for a few seconds.

"Do you have a player on offense who other teams fear and say they have to stop when they play you?"

Angelo produced the name of wide receiver Bernard Berrian. Although his numbers hit career highs of 51 catches, 775 yards and six touchdowns, they didn't put Berrian among the league's best receivers.

The real threat teams feared is the one who became the first player ever to return an opening kickoff for a Super Bowl touchdown and the first with six regular-season returns for TDs. That, of course, was rookie Devin Hester.

NDIANAPOLIS — Bears general manager Jerry Angelo pondered the question for a few seconds.

“Do you have a player on offense who other teams fear and say they have to stop when they play you?”

Angelo produced the name of wide receiver Bernard Berrian. Although his numbers hit career highs of 51 catches, 775 yards and six touchdowns, they didn’t put Berrian among the league’s best receivers.

Jim Carrey's new movie, The Number 23, has opened today to terrible reviews. But if film critics don't like Carrey's work, at least one football player does: Bears return man Devin Hester joined Carrey at the film's premiere and posed with him in the picture you see here.

Hester had heard that Carrey admired him but didn't know for sure until speaking to the actor at the movie premiere Tuesday night. "They told me he was a big fan, but I didn't know [for certain] until I actually got a chance to meet him in person. He was going crazy," Hester said. "He was talking about how he had told the press before the Super Bowl that No. 23 Devin Hester was going to do something special in the Super Bowl."

Get it? Hester wears 23 on his jersey, and Carrey's movie is called The Number 23. Carrey was right about Hester doing something special in the Super Bowl, but Carrey's performance in the movie is more likely to draw comparisons to Rex Grossman.

(aolsportsblog.com)

Devin Hester has strolled 108 yards. Now he has walked the red carpet. The Bears kick returner was a guest of actor Jim Carrey at the world premiere of the thriller "The Number 23" at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night. "It made me feel like a celebrity," Hester, who was joined by teammate Chris Harris, told chicagobears.com. "It's something you usually just see on television." Hester had heard that Carrey admired him but didn't know for sure until speaking to the actor at the movie premiere Tuesday night. "They told me he was a big fan, but I didn't know [for certain] until I actually got a chance to meet him in person. He was going crazy," Hester said. "He was talking about how he had told the press before the Super Bowl that No. 23 Devin Hester was going to do something special in the Super Bowl."

(metromix.chicagotribune.com)

Devin Hester proved that his playoff slump as a return man was temporary.

Hester, a rookie for the Bears, had six returns for touchdowns in the regular season but was held in check by Seattle and New Orleans in the first two rounds of the NFC playoffs.

The slump ended on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI. Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead for the Bears.

MIAMI -- Devin Hester did his part Sunday. His 92-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff not only put the Bears ahead, but it also gave them great field position for much of the game because the Indianapolis Colts tried kicking away from him.

The former Miami star looked right at home, using an incredible juke to start the return before turning on his speed to race to the end zone.

''We knew we were capable of returning one,'' Hester said. ''It was a right return, and it was set up the way [special-teams] coach Dave Toub planned it.

MIAMI GARDENS · Chicago's Devin Hester did what he had done several times this season. His 92-yard kickoff return to open the game gave the Bears a 7-0 lead and momentum, but they couldn't maintain it.

"We wanted to set an example of special teams from the start," said Hester, a former Hurricane. "I wasn't surprised that they kicked to me the first time. I also wasn't surprised that they didn't kick to me again."

Hester's touchdown was his seventh kick return for a touchdown this season, an NFL record. He returned three punts, two kickoffs and a missed field goal in the regular season.

MIAMI -- Indianapolis Colts coverage teams may need either Jack Bauer or a fallout shelter on Sunday.

"Devin Hester is a weapon. He is a nuclear weapon," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "So you are never quite comfortable when your enemy has a nuclear weapon."

Hester's return abilities rate the biggest advantage the Bears possess heading into today's Super Bowl. To keep the league's second-leading punt returner (12.8 yards per return) and fifth-leading kick returner (26.4 ypr) from exploding, the Colts will need to cover like they haven't done all year.

MIAMI - Some guys look fast when they walk. Devin Hester looks fast when he walks outside his Miami hotel.

Some guys look fast when they stand. Hester looks fast when he stands at Dolphins Stadium.

Nobody looks fast when they sit. Yet Hester looks fast as he sits at a table, the legs on his 5-foot-11, 196-pound frame built for speed.

As a senior at the University of Miami, Hester ran the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds.

Think about it. In the time it takes some guys to get out of a chair, Hester is 40 yards away.

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 29 — The players who grow up by the sugar-cane farms like to say that they get their speed from racing jackrabbits along country roads.

The players who grow up on the coast like to say that they get their speed from running through sand pits on the hottest summer days.

And the players who grow up in Riviera Beach, Fla., like to say that they get their speed from a football field with no grounds crew.

“The grass isn’t mowed here in the winter, so it gets really high and thick,” 15-year-old Tavis Hester said. “It kills your legs, but it also builds them. My grandfather played on this field. My uncle played here. And, you know, my brother played here.”

Miami - Former Broncos superstar return man Rick Upchurch has watched Chicago Bears rookie Devin Hester's spectacular season.

This season, Hester has an NFL record six returns for touchdowns - with one game remaining. Five of the six were at least 83 yards. Hester has been compared to the great return men of all-time. While Upchurch said Hester has been amazing, he is not ready to crown him the best.

"Gale Sayers was a tremendous returner of his era," Upchurch said. "Travis Williams was a tremendous return man of his era. Billy 'White Shoes' Johnson was a tremendous return man of his era. Brian Mitchell did some tremendous things.

"Devin Hester clearly is a great returner and will be one of the greats of his era, but there have been so many great returners that I can't say he'll be the best of all time."

Upchurch said Hester has a combination of speed and field vision that make him special. He also said the Bears' special-teams unit is excellent.

"It takes all 11 guys on the field to make it happen," Upchurch said. "With the Broncos, I used to map out a plan with my teammates during the week and follow the plan. It looks like the Bears and Hester have a similar connection going."

(denverpost.com)

(AP) FT. LAUDERDALE The mere thought of trying to corral Devin Hester kept Indianapolis' special teams coach wide awake last week.

Russ Purnell isn't getting much rest in South Florida, either.

"I slept about four hours for four nights," Purnell said. "He's extremely talented and his blockers are outstanding. That's what really gets lost in this is how good his blockers are."

Regardless of who's out in front, Hester has been the one finishing off the runs, often ending up in the end zone.

MIAMI — You think you've got this Super Bowl figured out. You go down the checklist one final time.

Peyton Manning? Advantage, Colts. Big-game experience? Colts. Receivers? Colts again.

Defense? Bears. Takeaways? Bears. Running game? Bears. In the end, it's not that complicated. If the Colts protect the football, they'll win Super Bowl XLI. Defensively, the Bears are good, but not good enough. Offensively, they can't win unless Rex Grossman plays better than he did in the NFC Championship Game.

Unless, that is, the Bears have a secret weapon. You're on the clock, Devin Hester. Your 15 minutes may be about to begin.

MIAMI — Rookie sensation Devin Hester detailed the skills that led to his NFL-record six regular-season returns for touchdowns and cast him as a breakaway threat for the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

The Pro Bowler knows where each return is designed, and he does everything to stick to the plan. But there also are times when something — he's never sure what — dictates a split-second decision to go against the plan, anything to make the first tackler hurtling toward him miss.

Hester sometimes gives ground before starting upfield, but not always. He sees defenders and openings, but he also senses them.

He is quick to credit his blockers while also attributing much of his unprecedented success to God-given talent. A tattoo on his back offers a Biblical quotation: "No weapon that is formed against me shall be able to prosper."

MIAMI -- It almost could turn out too perfectly for Devin Hester, who grew up as the fastest kid in the neighborhood north of here in Riviera Beach.

The Chicago Bears kick and punt return specialist has the ability to change his homecoming and Sunday's Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium with a play or two.

He set an NFL record with six kick returns for touchdowns this season, and the Indianapolis Colts arrived in town talking about him being an X-Factor, and even nuclear.

(on thoughts on the Bears ’85 team)“They made it in ’85 and it’s been a while since they’ve been back. This is my first year as a rookie and there are some great players that we’re playing with now. I’m going to go out this year and try to prove to ourselves that we’re capable of being as good as they were and hopefully be able to win the Super Bowl.”

(on what you remember about the Bears ’85 team)“They were a more dominant team. They were more vicious ultimately around that time, and they dominated every team they played. And where they took over the ballgame, and that’s what we’re trying to bring back to the Chicago Bears now, just a more physical team that’s willing to go out each and every play and come out with the victories.”

(on liking the underdog role during the season)“Right, most definitely, because it not only gets you fired up, but it puts a chip on your shoulder, and that chip just being on your side sitting on your shoulder lets you know that we have something to prove. That’s the way we’ve been playing all year. Every game this year we’ve been playing, we’ve had the opposite team winning, and for us to come out like we did this year and produce the way we did is a great honor. Like I said, we’re the underdog in this game and that’s the way we like it, and that’s the way we’re going to go out and play.”

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. – To get to the place where Devin Hester first dodged tackles as a kid, you must travel to the area Hurricane Wilma devastated in 2005, when it spiked a tree into his mother's house, when it shut down football for weeks. You hang a left onto Avenue H West, at The Blue Heron Church of God, and there sits Suncoast Community High School.

There is a marquee out in front, and on it reads: “We're the No. 7 best school in the U.S.A.” It is the school where Anthony Carter, one of the all-time great receivers, played football. It is the school where the younger Hester, now the Chicago Bears' record-setting rookie return man, was Reggie Bush without portfolio.

So, you would think, with the Bears playing the Colts on Sunday in Super Bowl XLI about an hour down the road, that the sign would read: “Home of Devin Hester!” No, if Hester – or Carter – went to Suncoast, the only proof of it is on their graduation certificates. No photos. No retired jerseys. No trophies.

Miami - Devin Hester - electrifying and explosive on the field, mellow and shy off it - was told upon his arrival at the Super Bowl on Sunday that the Indianapolis Colts plan to put some defensive starters on special teams as a preventive measure to stop Hester, the most dynamic NFL returner in years.

So, Devin, what are your thoughts on coach Tony Dungy's plan?

"I think it's a great idea," said Hester, a second-round pick.

Hester wasn't cocky in his answer. He wasn't trying to be humorous. He just said it, and was spot on. The only way to have a chance against Hester is to reinforce.

MIAMI, Jan. 29 -- Basketball star Tamara James had plenty of reason to needle Devin Hester, her football-playing boyfriend during their years at the University of Miami. The Washington Mystics, after all, picked her in the first round of the WNBA draft last April 5. Three weeks later, Hester, one of the most electrifying players in Miami history, dropped into the second round of the NFL draft before the Chicago Bears selected him.

James might have been entitled to proclaim herself the most highly regarded rookie in their relationship, but she couldn't bear to do it. She recalled too vividly one of several cellphone calls during the NFL draft she received from Hester, his anxiety over when he would be selected turning into tears and humiliation when the Tennessee Titans failed to pick him minutes after saying they would.

He was beginning to think he had made the mistake of his life, opting out of his senior season at Miami.

"That was his lowest moment," she said. "It was hard to see him that upset."

MIAMI The Chicago Bears arrived for Super Bowl XLI on Sunday, and return man Devin Hester came back to familiar territory as a proven threat and difference maker after leaving the University of Miami following his junior year as a player of unrealized potential.

As a rookie, Hester has done what he never did in three seasons with the Hurricanes. He established himself as the kind of game-breaker other teams fear enough to keep the ball out of his hands on kickoff and punt returns.

He was criticized for not having a position with the Hurricanes, and the coaching staff was equally criticized for not getting him more touches. Critics doubted if he was ready for the NFL.

"I felt that a lot of people were doubting me and saying that I wasn't going to be able to do this and that I wasn't going to be able to do that," said Hester, who attended Suncoast High. "My mom and I talked, and I said, `It's just another test, and I've got to go out and prove to the guys that are doubting me that I'm capable of being in the NFL and playing well.'"

With the help of the Bears' special teams, Hester has proven he doesn't need many touches to change a game. He returned three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns. His 108-yard missed field goal return against the New York Giants tied the longest play in NFL history. His total of six return touchdowns is a NFL record.

During the regular season, Hester averaged 26.4 yards on 20 kickoff returns and 12.8 yards on 47 punt returns. In the playoffs, he has been less effective with fewer chances and more emphasis on him. But he did have a 66-yard punt return against Seattle called back on a penalty.

(orlandoSentinel.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Ask Devin Hester if he knows who Desmond Howard is and the Chicago Bears kick returner's eyes light up.

"Oh yeah," Hester said. "He's the guy who got a shot early in his Super Bowl days and came out on top as MVP of the Super Bowl."

Howard is the only returner to do that in a Super Bowl. That was a decade ago. The former Green Bay Packer's name resonates with Hester because of what the rookie accomplished this season. He set an NFL record with six return scores, three on punts, two on kickoffs and another on a missed field goal.

Hester is excited to return to Miami, where he played in college for the Hurricanes. He wants to put an exclamation point on a stellar year against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. Then Hester is headed to the Pro Bowl.

"Devin Hester could very easily be the difference in this ballgame," Bears coach Lovie Smith said.

Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy fears him. Bears coach Lovie Smith says he could be the difference maker. So how does Bears rookie return man Devin Hester feel about his role in the Super Bowl?

''I don't feel like I have to go out and return a punt or a kickoff to prove anything,'' Hester said. ''I just want to have a solid game.''

Ever humble and shy, Hester spoke softly, looking downward. But when Desmond Howard's name was mentioned, the 24-year-old looked up and smiled. Does he remember what Howard did a decade ago in Super Bowl XXXI?

''Oh, yeah, he came out on top as the MVP of the Super Bowl,'' Hester said.

On the greatest night of Devin Hester's professional life, it almost seemed like he could fly.

Stunning the nation and the St. Louis Rams with a Monday Night Football tour de force, Hester returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Those 94- and 96-yard runs put the rookie in the NFL record book with six return touchdowns on the season.

And since he seemed so ready to take off, it seemed only natural to ask Hester about the wings tattooed on his back. They are large, arcing over his shoulder blades and following the line of his lats, cradling between them this phrase:

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn."

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Indianapolis will have a predicted edge in most of the matchup areas in Super Bowl XLI, but the one facet of this game that is heavily weighted in the Chicago Bears' favor is kick returning.

It's also the area that the Colts must spend an inordinate amount of time dealing with in the days before the game, and there is going to be a great deal of pressure on special teams coach Russ Purnell to make things better.

It's difficult enough that Purnell's kickoff coverage unit is facing Devin Hester, who has six kick returns for touchdowns this year. But his unit has done a poor job all season, right into the playoffs, where they gave up an 80-yard kickoff return to New England's Ellis Hobbs on Sunday.

Everybody knows it: Super Bowls often come down to special teams play.

In Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots squeaked out a 20-17 win over the Rams thanks to a game-winning kick from Adam Vinatieri. Vinatieri repeated those heroics in Super Bowl XXXVIII, helping the Pats edge the Panthers 31-28.

But big special teams performances aren’t the realm of kickers alone. With that in mind, and with Super Bowl XLI less than two weeks away, it’s hard to understand why the Chicago Bears’ most potent weapon is being entirely ignored by the media.

This is where Devin Hester could pull Chicago’s fat out of the fire. He has become a household name in his own right, scoring six return touchdowns – one more TD than wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad. Hester was also second in the NFL with 12.8 yards per punt return, while Indianapolis’ Terrence Wilkins was a mediocre 9.2 yards. Hester also topped Wilkins in kick returns by 26.5 yards to 24.5. Those yards add up over the course of a game and take pressure off the unproven shoulders of Bears QB Rex Grossman.

Yet even with Hester, there is a hidden story that should make Bears supporters pause before laying down their cash. Hester committed 12 fumbles this year on returns. It’s not uncommon for returners to let the ball slip through their hands – Wilkins did so 13 times this year – only to pick it up right away and start heading downfield.

Hester, though, has suffered his share of embarrassing moments. For example, in Week 9, Eddie Jackson of the Miami Dolphins recovered a Hester fumble at the 10-yard line to set up a Marty Booker touchdown in a 31-13 Miami romp, spoiling any hopes for an undefeated season in Chicago.

(sportsedge.vip.com)

INDIANAPOLIS -- New England has what might be the NFL's premier return game, and it forced the Indianapolis Colts to labor in Sunday's AFC championship victory.

Ellis Hobbs returned six kickoffs for 220 yards, a record for a conference title game. He set up a touchdown with an 80-yard runback and triggered a field-goal drive with a 41-yard return.

When the Colts meet the Bears in Super Bowl XLI, the challenge will be Devin Hester.

"We covered pretty well for the most part, and then we let those two [Hobbs returns] get out," Colts coach Tony Dungy said.

"With a guy like Devin Hester, that can be catastrophic.

"That's a big part of what they do and how they're built. They get field position with their defense, they get field position with their return game and they've got an offense that really takes advantage of good field position. That's going to be critical."

Hester set an NFL record with six touchdown returns in the regular season: two on kickoffs, three on punts and one on a missed field goal.

(chicagosports.chicagotribune.com)

Bears return specialist Devin Hester can't wait to get down to South Florida for the Super Bowl. After all, he's only one season removed from the University of Miami, where he starred for the Hurricanes.

Many of his friends still play for UM.

''They were text-messaging me all week,'' he said.

(herald.com)

It's a beautiful thing when Devin Hester runs the ball, fluid and instinctive. He looks for the colors of the jerseys in front of him, nothing too heady, and then runs away from the wrong color. Or he slips through holes in between colors, and then? He flies.

''Obviously,'' Bears special-teams coach Dave Toub said, ''after the catch, there's nobody like him.''

Yes, but Toub said two things there, didn't he? ''Nobody like him'' and ''after the catch.'' We've seen the problems with that second part lately, the catching part. Hester has become the scariest Bear, scaring us before the catch, scaring opponents after.

What has happened? For most of the season, Hester has been touchdowns and spotlight, NFL return records, endorsement options and even Deion
Sanders, the mentor, showing awe.

Of late, the Lethal Weapon hasn't looked so lethal.

Chicago rookie Devin Hester, who this season set an NFL record with six returns for touchdowns, has been rendered ineffective of late by other teams' designs and his own mistakes.

In his past three games, Hester has returned eight punts for a total of 24 yards. In the Bears' playoff game against Seattle, he muffed three kicks, finishing with three returns for a net of 5 yards.

LAKE FOREST -- Kick returner extraordinaire Devin Hester has got this all wrong. He's supposed to scare opponents, not his teammates. But in last week's 27-24 overtime escape from Seattle, the "Windy City Flyer" fumbled three punts that he returned for a measly 5 yards.

"I'll get in the routine of my arms pumping sometimes and I'll start to run before I get the ball," Hester said of his sloppy fielding. "That's why everything this week has been basically fundamentals and technique. We concentrated on the small things that got us here and that we need to keep doing to succeed.

"I know that once I get in that traffic, I have to have more ball security."

With his single-season record six return touchdowns, most agree the second-round draft pick from Miami is the game's most dangerous scoring threat -- despite a mini-slump.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) - Devin Hester sped down the right sideline on his way to another game-breaking special teams touchdown. The Soldier Field crowd was frenzied, his teammates headed toward the end zone to join the celebration.

Oops. That bright yellow flag lying back where the rookie fielded Seattle's punt meant it was all for naught, and the Chicago Bears wound up needing overtime to beat the Seahawks.

"It was an awesome return on his behalf," Brendon Ayanbadejo, who is going to the Pro Bowl for his work on kick returns and coverage, said Thursday. "Too bad we had to take it back."

The play didn't count - in NFL statistics, it never existed - but the latest example of how Hester can break open a game won't fade from memory. Not for the Bears and certainly not for the New Orleans Saints, who come to Chicago for Sunday's NFC championship game.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The snow-covered sign just outside the Chicago Bears' practice facility reads "Play Angry."

To send a message Monday to rookie returner Devin Hester, it should have been changed to "Play Smart."

Few players are capable of eliciting as many "oohs" as "ughs" as Hester, the former University of Miami and Suncoast High standout whose special teams prowess has helped Chicago reach Sunday's NFC Championship Game against visiting New Orleans.

Hester's six returns for touchdowns during the regular season set an NFL record and provided a boost to offensive and defensive units that performed erratically down the stretch. But his league-leading eight fumbles -- two of which were lost -- make every punt and kick Hester tries to field exciting for the wrong reason.

Had a nice chat Friday with Ken Mrock, the head groundskeeper for the Bears. He was holding a shovel full of stuff -- sand, seed, growth hormone, whatever -- and he was flinging it over the still-green grass of the main practice field at Halas Hall with great zest.

(Just kidding about the growth hormone, OK?)

At any rate, Mrock told me that global warming might or might not be a factor in this unseasonably warm weather (trust me, it is), but that the grass at Soldier Field is just as green and summerlike as this practice stuff.

''It's all heated underneath,'' he said.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- If Lovie Smith is really this good a soothsayer, perhaps everyone needs to start paying better attention.

Chicago's third-year coach held firm in the face of countless media and fan harrumphs last April after the Bears spent a precious second-round pick (57th overall) on kick returner Devin Hester. That's the equivalent of burning an NBA lottery pick on a 5-foot free-throw specialist, no?

One regular season later, Smith and Hester have played the naysayers for suckers. The Bears have turned the relative afterthought of special teams, a place often used by players to attract attention and butt their way onto the offensive or defensive units, into a secret weapon of season-altering proportions.

LAKE FOREST -- Devin Hester came away with all the major honors at season's end based on an NFL record six touchdown returns.

But what's he done for them lately?

With the Bears heading into the playoffs to face Seattle on Sunday, Hester is mired in a slump in several ways. Hester has averaged only 17.7 yards per 10 kickoff return since the shocking two-touchdown game against the St. Louis Rams which vaulted him into national prominence.

Rookie returner Devin Hester typically fields an extra 50-100 punts and kicks after practice. This week is playoff week; make that 100 on Monday, young man. Coordinator Dave Toub is not overly concerned with Hester getting any kind of jitters as the rookie goes into his first NFL playoff game. "That's part of it and that goes along with being a rookie," Toub said.

(chicagosports.chicagotribune.com)

DETROIT -- From a special-teams perspective, it wasn't his best game by a long shot.

But it was all water under the dam when All-Pro return specialist Devin Hester solidified the Bears' 26-21 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field.

On the game's final play, Lions quarterback Jon Kitna lofted a pass to 6-foot-5 receiver Mike Williams in the back of the end zone. Hester, who gives up six inches in height to Williams, managed to separate the Lions' 2005 first-round draft pick from the ball.

"Once there's a scramble, we're supposed to latch onto a player and that's what I did," said Hester, who comes in on defense at cornerback in passing situations. "I gave him a pull and actually kicked the ball. We went up at the same time. He got his hands on it, and I think at the same time I was able to kick at it and it fell out."

LAKE FOREST -- The Bears will proceed with caution when it comes to rookie return phenom Devin Hester.

Last Sunday they tried to expand his role with an offensive play in addition to more defensive duties due to injuries. During the game, he fumbled two punts and a kickoff and lost one fumble.

"It was exciting," Hester said about playing offense. "I'm hoping that another opportunity will come and like I said, I told (special teams) coach (Dave) Toub I'm a team ball player. Wherever he needs me to go that's where I'm going to go."

The Bears were tight-lipped about Devin Hester's potential contributions on offense prior to Week 15, but the rookie sensation did see action on offense vs. the Bucs. He was thrown to once but did not come up with the catch. Chicago is hesitant to put too much on his plate, and he just recently added kick returns and is working hard at cornerback. Still, we hear it wouldn't take much to design a few basic packages that feature Hester on the offensive side of the ball. The Bears will likely revisit his long-term future more carefully this offseason, after he has put in a full season of work in the defensive backfield.

(profootballweekly.com)

CHICAGO -- Everyone wanted to see Devin Hester get more chances to carry the football.

On Sunday in the Bears' 34-31 overtime win over Tampa Bay, Hester might have had a few chances too many. The Bears' explosive rookie made a few exciting returns, but lost one critical fumble on a third-quarter kickoff return, fumbled but recovered on a fourth-quarter kickoff and fumbled a punt return out of bounds.

Hester also got his first chance to play offense -- coming in during the first quarter for one play at wide receiver. The throw went his way on a slant pass from Rex Grossman, but he was well covered and the ball fell to the turf.

CHICAGO - All week long, the Bucs relished the challenge of stopping Mr. Unstoppable, Chicago rookie Devin Hester.

Mission accomplished.

The former Miami Hurricanes standout already had set an NFL record with six returns for touchdowns, but a mistake-prone Hester was contained throughout Chicago's 34-31 OT victory.

"We think he's pretty good, but we think we're pretty good, too," Bucs special teams coach Rich Bisaccia said. "He deserves the respect, and he's an exciting player. I'm extremely proud of our entire team and we did our part."

It's not often that the opponent's kick returner is the buzz in the locker room leading up to the game.

But this week Chicago return man Devin Hester has gotten the sort of attention in Tampa Bay's locker room usually reserved for quarterbacks or running backs.

That's what an NFL-record six returns for touchdowns will do for a rookie from the University of Miami.

Tampa Bay (3-10) faces Chicago (11-2) today and Hester will be under the spotlight. Hester returned two kickoffs for touchdowns on "Monday Night Football" six days ago, eliciting a litany of responses from Tampa Bay and Chicago players.

"This guy's fast as hell," Bucs head coach Jon Gruden said.

Gale Sayers gushed over Devin Hester for five minutes, marveling at how the Bears rookie set an NFL record in only 13 pro games. But Sayers tempered his praise when asked if Hester could be the greatest return man in team history.

Sayers still holds the team record with six career touchdowns on kickoff returns, although Hester -- in only one season -- is four away from tying that mark.

''The greatest was Muhammad Ali, if you want to define greatest,'' Sayers said. ''As for Hester, he's done great. But next year will tell how good he can be.

''He's caught people by surprise. But it's going to be more difficult that second year. Next year will tell how good he will be. And if he's doing it three years from now, then he can compare to Gale Sayers.''

TAMPA -- The late second round of the NFL draft last spring showed how philosophy and decisions based on need can sometimes work against teams.

Instead of trying to move up a few spots for a shot at Devin Hester, the Tampa Bay Bucs stayed put and selected offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood with the 59th overall pick.

The Chicago Bears, who had no first-round pick and no glaring needs, chose Hester, a cornerback / return specialist from the University of Miami, two picks before Trueblood

One thing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do well is cover kickoffs. They are second in the league to Dallas. One reason the Bucs do well is they are the lowest-scoring team in the league, so they don't have to kick off very often.

That is one way to slow down Devin Hester. But even in a copycat league, not many coaches are likely to advise their teams: "Don't score."

There will be other strategies. Special teams coaches everywhere are staying up nights devising ways to keep Hester from putting them out of work. That means the Bears have to stay innovative too.

2 ... Bears rookie Devin Hester has six combined kick returns for touchdowns in 13 games, not only establishing an NFL single-season record for combined kick returns for touchdowns but also putting him almost halfway to the NFL record of 13 career kick returns for TDs set over 14 years by Brian Mitchell. Hester, who had only returned two kickoffs in his life, is the sixth player in NFL history to return two for touchdowns in the same game.

Click Here for Full Picture.

(cnnsi.com)

Need I remind Lovie Smith that LaDainian Tomlinson, greatest runner since Sweetness, might reduce his suddenly vulnerable defense to a collage of spilled ketchup, used dental floss and shredded peat moss? Need I suggest the Chargers, Ravens and Bengals would beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI? That his team might not survive possible back-to-back lakefront visits by Dallas and New Orleans in January?

Should I alert His Loveness that Dan Marino, Hall of Fame quarterback, still believes Rex Grossman must be on a short leash? Tell him the Bears did nothing more the other evening than pull away from a lowly opponent, one of nine losing teams they've played in a season in which their 16 foes currently have a collective 86-122 record? Should I nudge him about the injured list growing longer as the weather grows colder? Basically, doesn't he need all the help he possibly can muster as the playoffs approach? Shouldn't he be tapping every imaginable resource?

Yes, I think I need to have a talk with the man. Because Lovie is not thinking straight. If he were of the right mind, he wouldn't have spent Wednesday dropping this shocking bit of logic about America's newest sports conversation piece:

Devin Hester will NOT be used as an offensive weapon.

LAKE FOREST — If some company along the lines of Target or Wal-Mart were smart, they’d secure Devin Hester right now to be their post-holiday spokesman.

Imagine having Hester saying not only can you returns kicks fast, you can also return your gifts just as quickly at such and such a store.

By that point, that particular company would simply be standing in line itself. Hester, after setting an NFL record for scoring returns with six, already is being targeted for promotions.

“A telephone deal. Nike deals are starting to come around. Commercial shoots here and there,” he said Wednesday at Halas Hall.

Hester, the Special Teams Player of the Week, had a record-breaking performance in the Bears 42-27 win over the St. Louis Rams. The rookie returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and set the NFL single-season record with six touchdown returns. Hester scored his first touchdown of the game on a 94- yard return in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, he took a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to put the game out of reach.

This year, Hester has an NFL-record five combined kick-return touchdowns (three on punts, two on kickoffs) and tied the mark for the longest play in NFL history with a 108-yard touchdown return on a missed field goal. He leads the NFL with a 14.4-yard average.

In his rookie season, this is Hester's second consecutive Player of the Week Award and the third of his career. He is the first special teams player to earn the award in back-to-back weeks since 2004.

(seattlepi.com)

By the time Billy ''White Shoes'' Johnson had returned to his suburban Atlanta home from his Bible study group Monday, the Bears-Rams game was into the second quarter.

He had just taken a seat in his living room when he saw rookie return sensation Devin Hester approach the wedge along the Bears' sideline.

''I was just getting comfortable when he hit that thing outside,'' said Johnson, an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Atlanta Falcons. ''I said, 'Oh, gosh!' because he outran the angle, and it was over.

''It is great to be a feared man. I am sure he will tell you that.''

CHICAGO -- Devin Hester got close to the end zone and started to do a high-stepping strut the final few yards. It was a tribute - or as he called it a "shout out" - to his mentor, Deion Sanders.

Even the original "Prime Time" was shaking his head at the latest from Hester, who has an NFL-record six returns for touchdowns this season.

"It's sort of like I really can't believe, can't fathom," Sanders said Tuesday in a conference call.

ST. LOUIS -- Just imagine how many touchdowns Devin Hester might have if he had been returning kickoffs all season.

The electric return man not only cemented his place in the Pro Bowl on Monday night, he carved out a space for his name in the NFL record books. Just don't be too quick to ink his new mark in, you might need an eraser because there are three games and who knows how many more returns left.

Hester torched the St. Louis Rams for two touchdowns, becoming the sixth player in league history with more than one in a single game. His 94-yard return in the first quarter answered the Rams' first touchdown, which Torry Holt scored on Hester. His second came with the hands team on the field and the Bears expecting an onside kick from Jeff Wilkins after St. Louis had pulled within 35-20 with more than seven minutes to play.

ST. LOUIS -- If a game could be reduced to watching Devin Hester nodding and talking to himself, bobbing his head while awaiting a kick that he can deliver to the house any time whatsoever, you'd have no worries. We are witnessing maybe the greatest returner ever, the most pulsating No. 23 in Chicago since You Know Who, and I am tempted to place him in a cocoon and forget about the rest of the Bears, including Rex Grossman.

''It looks like the gates of heaven just opening up for me,'' said Heaven Devin.

Call him unfriggin'believable. Call him the freak of freaks. Call him Gale Sayers, Deion Sanders, a miracle in stick-on eye black. Give him a nickname, too, like Billy (White Shoes) Johnson. All you need to know about Hester, as he returned two more kicks for touchdowns Monday night and blew away the NFL single-season record and every St. Louis ghost in his path, is that the normally humdrum Lovie Smith was boogeying down the sideline after his 96-yard sprint in the fourth quarter.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS

Early in the second quarter Monday night, the Rams took a 6-0 lead over Chicago. Thirteen seconds later, the Bears were in front by a point.

Then midway through the final period, the Rams closed to a two-touchdown deficit, 35-20. Thirteen seconds later, the Bears had regained a 22-point cushion.

Instant production came in the form of record-setting rookie Devin Hester, a second-round draft pick out of Miami. His 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown erased the Rams' early lead; his 96-yard jaunt to the end zone snuffed the home team's late rally.

LAKE FOREST -- The idea of rookie return man Devin Hester returning the football in any way shape or form excites Bears coach Lovie Smith.

The idea of Hester playing cornerback, his position on the roster?

"I trust him a lot better as a punt returner," Smith admitted Friday, "but he's making a lot of progress. He's made a lot of progress about the last month.

"It's hard to see that progress when you don't get a chance to play. He's playing in (back) of three good football players."

4 ... Devin Hester's 45-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Bears' win over the Vikings made him the first rookie in 39 years with four scoring returns in the kicking game in the same season. The last rookie to do so was Travis Williams of the Packers, who returned four kickoffs for touchdowns in 1967. Click Here To See Full Picture

(cnnsi.com)

Hester opened up the scoring in his club's 23-13 win over Minnesota with a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was Hester's fourth return touchdown this season as the Bears clinched the NFC North with the win.

It is Hester's second career weekly award as the Miami-Florida product earned special teams honors in Week 10 as well.

(seattlepi.nwsource.com)

Hester leads the NFL with a 14.3-yard punt-return average and three punt returns for touchdowns. Last Sunday, his 45-yard punt return touchdown helped the Bears top the Vikings 23-13. With the offense sputtering, Hester is a life-saver in the Windy City. Click Here for full picture.

(cnnsi.com)

On a day when the weather and the Bears offense were equally brutal, Devin Hester was nothing short of sensational.

Returning both punts and kickoffs with equal aplomb, Hester provided ample amounts of excitement Sunday in sparking the Bears to a 23-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings at frigid Soldier Field.

Time and again, Hester brought the fans -- bundled up in the 20-degree weather at kickoff -- to their feet.

The most notable occasion came in the second quarter, when the rookie returned a punt 45 yards for a touchdown that jump-started the Bears toward victory and their second straight NFC North title.

CHICAGO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Devin Hester tied an NFL record with his fourth touchdown return of the season to help the Chicago Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-13 and clinch the NFC North Division title on Sunday.

Chicago (10-2) leads Minnesota by five games in the division with four games remaining and has a two-game lead atop the overall NFC standings.

Hester returned a punt 45 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to open the scoring, breaking four tackles to scamper down the left side of the field and give Chicago a 7-0 lead.

Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner would love to get his hands on rookie kick returner Devin Hester.

Vikings defenders could not get their hands on Hester when he stutter-stepped, juked and darted his way to a 45-yard punt return for the Bears' first touchdown in the second quarter of their 23-13 victory Sunday.

Hester has four kick returns for touchdowns this season, tying an NFL record. Asked if he has been lobbying to use Hester to help the Bears' struggling offense, Turner said with a knowing smile: "Not right now. We're just trying to get better and take care of our business. Who knows what's going to happen down the road? But he's obviously a great player."

Media guide musings: Drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2006 draft out of Miami (Fla.). Returned a punt for a touchdown in NFL debut and game-winning punt return for touchdown against Arizona in Week 6. Tied NFL record for longest play with 108-yard field goal return Week 10 against the Giants. Majored in liberal arts at Miami, where he played offense (wide receiver, running back and fullback), defense (corner and nickel) and special teams (punt returns) during his career. Was 2005 Big East champion in the indoor long jump. Was All-American track athlete in high school.

Vitals: 5 feet 11 inches, 196 pounds

Favorite pro team growing up: "I used to like the Cowboys back in '95, but after that it was just certain players. I just liked players, I didn't have a favorite team."

College team growing up: "Florida when they had Fred Taylor."

So was it weird going to Miami if you were a Florida fan? "It was pretty crazy 'cause I got an offer from Florida and I turned 'em down instantly. I kinda [leaned toward] Miami toward the end of my senior year [in high school], so that's where my heart was into going."

CHICAGO — Coming into the NFL Draft last spring, Devin Hester was considered a man without a position. So far, he hasn't needed one.
The Chicago Bears rookie, who played wide receiver and cornerback at the University of Miami, is doing what he was drafted to do — put electricity into the return game.

With five games remaining, Hester is one touchdown shy of tying the NFL record for special-teams scores by a rookie, and he is expected to receive more opportunities down the stretch.

His three TD returns — two on punts and the NFL record-tying 108-yard return of a missed New York Giants field goal Nov. 12 — put him behind only Jack Christiansen of Detroit (1951) and Travis Williams of Green Bay (1967) on the all-time rookie TD list for special teams. (Christiansen's were all punt returns and Williams' kickoffs.)

Staying after practice on Friday to put in extra work, Bears punt returner Devin Hester spun around in circles before fielding footballs.

He wasn't perfecting a new move. Hester was just trying to prepare for Sunday's game in Foxborough, Mass., against the New England Patriots, who signed Ken Walter on Friday to replace injured punter Josh Miller.

"We've got a punter we're facing this week that hasn't played in about two years, so we don't have any film on him," Hester said. "So out here today, we're just trying to get punts all kinds of ways, just different types of punts, just get used to it, and just be ready for it when game time comes."

When Bears rookie return specialist Devin Hester scored last Sunday on a 108-yard return of a missed field goal against the New York Giants -- tying teammate Nathan Vasher's NFL record -- the loudest cheers came from his rookie teammates Danieal Manning and Mark Anderson.

''We rookies made a pact in preseason to be the best rookie class the Bears ever had,'' Manning said.

That's a lofty goal, considering the Bears drafted Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers in 1965 and their '83 class included Richard Dent, Jim Covert and Willie Gault.

LAKE FOREST | Funny, but Devin Hester doesn't look like one of pro football's most feared weapons.

The Bears rookie, wearing sweats and with his hoodie pulled up after a chilly practice, is barely noticeable at 5-foot-11. And quiet? Like a deserted street. But check his return stats and they scream DANGEROUS! from the rooftops.

Devin Hester is having a ball. Now if he just had the ball more often. The Bears are thinking about letting him return kickoffs for Sunday's encore at the Meadowlands.

"We'll try to get his hands on the ball as much as possible," coach Lovie Smith said. "That will basically be with the return game."

Except for two kickoff returns this season, Hester has been limited to punt returns. But by taking that short field-goal attempt against the Giants back 108 yards, he apparently passed a test. He's ready for extended duty. After all, a missed field goal looks like a kickoff.

Devin Hester appreciates the honors. Well, sort of.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame called the Bears on Wednesday to ask for a Hester "artifact" from his record-tying 108-yard return of a missed New York Giants field goal.
The Hall received the orange jersey Nathan Vasher wore when he performed the feat last year, but Hester isn't sure he would like his uniform enshrined next to his teammate's.

"The jersey from Sunday?" asked Hester, whose feat and feet earned him the distinction of being NFC special teams player of the week. "I'd hate to give that one up. Could they just take any of my jerseys?"

LOG IN USING SCREENAME: procanes@gmail.com PASSWORD: procanes

LAKE FOREST -- Since making his 108-yard touchdown return with a missed field goal, Bears rookie Devin Hester has been fielding more phone calls than practice punts.

Old coaches have called with congratulations. Deion Sanders -- his mentor -- and family members have called warning him to maintain focus amid all the accolades. And then there are the other calls.

"A lot of times old friends that I had crushes on in high school are starting to call me now," Hester said. "It's crazy."

NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Chicago's Devin Hester, who tied an NFL record with a 108-yard return, was selected the NFC's special teams player of the week.

(upi.com)

In the hours immediately after Devin Hester's historic 108-yard field-goal return for a touchdown Sunday night against the Giants, his mind raced even faster than his legs.

But between thoughts of NFL immortality and the possibility of playing in a Super Bowl near his hometown of Miami, Hester paused to remember a friend.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- One hundred eight yards and a cloud of dust!

Yes, the favorite play in the Bears' playbook is back.

Don't go telling Devin Hester that a football field is supposed to be 100 yards long.

The rookie did the same thing Sunday night to the New York Giants that teammate Nathan Vasher did to the San Francisco 49ers last Nov. 13—yes, a year ago this very day—when he returned a missed field goal 108 yards for a touchdown.

Devin Hester is a threat to break a long run every time he catches a punt for the Bears.

But he has to catch it first.

In a game in which nothing went right for the Bears, it is unseemly to extract one play for special examination.

But Hester’s inability to corral a second-quarter punt gave the visiting Miami Dolphins the field position they needed to move in for their first touchdown en route to a 31-13 victory Sunday at Soldier Field.

Devin Hester appeared to have happy feet trying to return punts Sunday. And the rookie speedster was anything but happy about his botched attempts to secure the football against the Dolphins.

With the Dolphins trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, Donnie Jones punted 47 yards to the Bears' 6-yard line. Hester muffed the catch, and the ball was recovered by Miami's Eddie Jackson. Three plays later, Joey Harrington hooked up with Marty Booker for a 5-yard touchdown pass and the Dolphins never trailed thereafter.

The Devin Hester-for-offense push remains on hold with the passing offense averaging 7.4 yards every time it gets a pass away. The Bears are completing 60.8 percent of their passes. Bernard Berrian, Desmond Clark and Rashied Davis are averaging 15 yards or more per catch, and Muhsin Muhammad leads the Bears with 32 catches.

"There's always thoughts," Smith said of the prospect of getting Hester more touches. "Of course, if you ask Moose, he'd say we have enough weapons over there right now. So right now we're going to stay the way we are."

(chicagoSports.com)

LAKE FOREST -- Bears rookie punt returner Devin Hester flashed a big grin at the thought of the performance he'd given in Monday night's 24-23 comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals.

His reaction had nothing to do with a certain 83-yard, fourth-quarter punt return for the game-winning touchdown. Instead, he was thinking about his effort on six or seven defensive plays that defensive backs coach Steve Wilks put him in for when the injury-depleted secondary started to tire.

"I checked my grade sheet this week, and I graded out at 100 percent, so that's pretty good," Hester said. "I usually grade out about 74 or 75, so I'm just trying to go day in and day out and just try to get better at each and everything I do individually."

Recalling his performance in the Bears' come-from-behind 24-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night prompted Devin Hester to flash a big grin.

The Bear rookie's expression had nothing to do with a certain 83-yard punt return in the fourth quarter that went for the game-winning touchdown. Instead, he was thinking about his effort on six or seven defensive plays that defensive backs coach Steve Wilks put him in for when the injury-depleted secondary started to tire.

"I checked my grade sheet this week, and I graded out at 100 percent, so that's pretty good," Hester said. "I usually grade out about 74 or 75, so I'm just trying to go day in and day out and just try to get better at each and every thing I do individually."

Bears rookie Devin Hester’s game-winning, 83-yard punt return for touchdown Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals vaulted him to the No. 1 spot in the NFL with a 13.6-yard punt-return average.

Hester’s 367 yards on punt returns are 200 more than the Chiefs’ Dante Hall, who ranks second.

Hester, a former Miami Hurricane, said his big return was designed to go to the right, but he made an adjustment that the Cardinals didn’t counter.

“When they saw my first step was going right, it seemed like the defense just took off (in that direction),” Hester said. “When I cut it back, I was watching them (on tape), they were still going right, they weren’t paying attention to me, so I knew that it was going to give me a great chance to get into the end zone.”

It's the isolation play of punt returns. There was nothing really fancy about Devin Hester's 83-yard return Monday night that shocked the Arizona Cardinals and made the Bears a 24-23 winner in one of the wildest comebacks in recent history. The only thing special is Hester's dynamic ability in the open field, where the Cardinals barely laid a hand on him.

Special-teams coordinator Dave Toub told Hester before the kick, ''This is the one.'' The play is called ''six box red,'' and it's the same one Hester scored on in Week 1 at Green Bay. It calls for six players in the box near the ball at the line of scrimmage, a double team on each outside gunner and some shifty work by Hester. Red means the play is designed to go right, and Toub picked that direction after calling left returns earlier in the game.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The name of the return is Six Box Red. That means six players are on the line of scrimmage with double on each gunner. Red means right.

The rest is up to Devin Hester, who broke an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown on Monday night that provided the game-winning points in an unlikely 24-23
Bears victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Hester broke an 84-yard touchdown on the same return in the season-opener against Green Bay.

''Everybody blocked for me,'' Hester said. ''It was the right time and I give all the credit to my teammates who were out on the field with me and set up the blocks for me that allowed me to get in the end zone.''

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- No sweat.

Rookie speedster Devin Hester keyed a furious fourth-quarter Bears comeback with a daring 83-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 24-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night.

Trailing 20-0 at the half and 23-10 after three quarters, the Bears tallied fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 40-yard fumble return by Charles Tillman with five minutes left and Hester's heroics with 2:58 remaining.

"Basically, everybody blocked," Hester said. "When I went out on the field, all of my teammates said, 'We need a big play.' It was the right time,and I give all the credit to my teammates. They set up the blocks for me and got me into the end zone."

The sky is falling: Thursday morning was the first time Bears rookie Devin Hester has seen snow in person, and he was a little freaked out.

“I need to thicken up my blood or something,” said Hester, who was bundled up like an Arctic explorer until coach Lovie Smith moved practice inside the Walter Payton Center.

Hester is from Riviera Beach, Fla., and played for the University of Miami Hurricanes.
(dailyherald.com)

We all know Devin Hester's talent level playing on special teams. How is he progressing during practice as a defensive back? I'm thinking that a couple of years in the future, he could hopefully be a good nickel back like Ricky Manning Jr. Your insight is greatly appreciated. --Joe Kaberlein, Germantown, Wis.

That's a reasonable timeframe. Hester actually plans on becoming much more than a good nickel back –- he has designs on developing into a lock-down corner in the mold of his mentor, Deion Sanders. But right now, expecting much out of Hester in the way of defensive contributions might be asking too much. It was telling that when asked about the Bears' plans if Ricky Manning Jr. receives the expected suspension that Smith responded by saying safety Todd Johnson would be inserted as the fifth defensive back and Danieal Manning would slide up to play the slot man. That's a compliment to Johnson but also an indication that Hester is not at the point yet where the coaches trust him in the secondary. Or else he would have been the ideal replacement as the corner to fill in for Manning Jr. That should come, with experience and recognition. It's not a physical issue with Hester -- he is the quickest Bear. But playing defensive back goes well beyond athleticism and those nuances are what Hester still needs time to understand.

(chicagotribune.com)

Bears special-teams ace Devin Hester has looked increasingly shaky since his 84-yard punt return for a TD in Week 1, capped off by three muffs in Week 4. We're told the rookie was working overtime in practice every day last week, although the team is much less concerned about his hands than they are his judgment concerning which punts to field.
(profootballweekly.com)

LAKE FOREST -- After a fast start, Bears punt returner Devin Hester has cooled down to the point where coach Lovie Smith acknowledged his struggles in Sunday's game on Monday at Halas Hall.

"Devin Hester had a few problems returning punts," Smith said after Hester muffed three punts that were all recovered by the Bears Sunday night against Seattle. "If you have a rookie, you'll go through a game like that. He'll come back. He's a good football player.

"He had one good return. The 26-yard return was big for us."

It was the phone call every kid dreams of receiving. Your childhood idol, the guy upon whom you try to base your own career, does a little legwork to get your digits and dials you up.


That's what happened to Devin Hester when he was a sophomore at Miami. In a nationally televised game against Louisville, Hester returned a kickoff 100 yards, only to have the touchdown erased by penalty. He scored on a 78-yard punt return and set up the winning score in a 41-38 victory with a 34-yard kickoff return in which he covered twice as much ground zigzagging across the field.

Of all the instinctive, unpredictable moves Devin Hester has become known for making, Tamara James knows her favorite. Hester made it June 6, 2005, in Miami, and the impact caused James to buckle at the knees like someone covering one of Hester's punt returns. Together they had gone to Game 7 of the Miami Heat-Detroit Pistons NBA playoff series at Miami Arena, a hot ticket but the place to be for the University of Miami's hottest couple.

Hester, the Bears' electric rookie punt returner, was entering his final season as a Hurricane football player, and James, a member of the WNBA's Washington Mystics, eventually would leave Coral Gables as the school's career scoring leader.

CHICAGO - Of all the instinctive, unpredictable moves Devin Hester has become known for making, Tamara James knows her favorite. Hester made it June 6, 2005, in Miami, and the impact caused James to buckle at the knees like someone covering one of Hester's punt returns.

Together they had gone to Game 7 of the Miami Heat-Detroit Pistons NBA playoff series at Miami Arena, a hot ticket but the place to be for the University of Miami's hottest couple.

Hester, the Bears' electric rookie punt returner, was entering his final season as a Hurricane football player, and James, a member of the WNBA's Washington Mystics, eventually would leave Coral Gables as the school's career scoring leader.

GREEN BAY, WIS. - Another defining moment in the evolution of the specialized player in the NFL arrived at Halas Hall on the first day of this year's draft.

In need of offensive help, the Chicago Bears already had traded out of the first round, selected safety Danieal Manning 42nd overall and were on the clock with the 57th pick.

Without hesitation, General Manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith decided the University of Miami's Devin Hester was worthy of a second-round pick, even though no one within the organization knew whether Hester could play offense or defense, or neither.

"Initially, I thought if only he would be our [punt] returner, that would be plenty," Smith said. "He's as good as anyone I saw returning the football."

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Devin Hester picked up his cell phone after the Bears' season-opening 26-0 win over the Green Bay Packers and the message from one Deion "Prime Time" Sanders read, "call me."

Hester, who is good friends with Sanders, gave a good "Prime Time" impression himself on Sunday afternoon by breaking an 84-yard fourth-quarter punt return for a touchdown on a day when Bears special teams dominated.

"I saw daylight," Hester said of the return. "I don't think there was a defender in front of me. My teammates, they just cleared everything out. It was a straight-forward run."

On his return, Hester displayed the type of speed he showed in running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine prior to being chosen in the second round of the draft draft.

"Initially, I thought if he would only just be our returner that was plenty right away because he was as good as anyone I saw return the football," coach Lovie Smith said. "And from there, we had to make a decision on whether he would play defensive back or wide receiver.

Rookie Devin Hester still hasn't found a permanent position, but the second-round draft choice from the University of Miami will be Chicago's punt returner on Sunday against Green Bay. . . .

A jack-of-all-trades with UM, Hester has worked at cornerback during the preseason but isn't considered a serious contender for playing time in Chicago's secondary. Hester, though, is getting overtures from Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner and QB Rex Grossman about making the conversion to wide receiver after averaging 22.8 yards on six preseason returns.

"Grossman tells me, `You're in the wrong spot,"" Hester told the Chicago Tribune. . .
(mercurynews.com)

With other players sweating out final cuts, rookie Devin Hester is secure in the knowledge he has won the Bears' punt return job.

"He has caught the ball extremely well, made good decisions," coach Lovie Smith said. "Except for the first game, he has been outstanding back there. He's a weapon. He's getting closer and closer to breaking one."

CLEVELAND — Devin Hester provided food for thought, but does this every time he flashes his Olympic-type speed while breaking a long return.

The Bears' rookie second-round draft pick made a 54-yard punt return to set up the first-team offense's only touchdown of preseason. Afterward coach Lovie Smith admitted some within the organization wouldn't mind seeing the former Miami player's speed put to use on offense instead of — or in addition to — returns and cornerback.

"Ron Turner and the offensive guys are in my ear quite a bit, I'll say about that, along with others," Smith said of his offensive coordinator. "Right now, with him being a rookie coming in, we just wanted to do a few things and he's making progress at the cornerback position.

"But initially, the plan for him is to initially be our returner."

With other players sweating out final cuts, rookie Devin Hester is secure in the knowledge he has won the Bears' punt return job.


"He has caught the ball extremely well, made good decisions," coach Lovie Smith said. "Except for the first game, he has been outstanding back there. He's a weapon. He's getting closer and closer to breaking one."

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - If the first two preseason games are any indication, the Bears could have one of the most productive special teams units in the NFL this season.
Kick returner Rashied Davis, punt returner Devin Hester and punters Brad Maynard and Joel Stelly all rank near the top of the league in their respective categories.