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by Adam T on Jan 3, 2008 8:09 AM CST in News

Bears Scouting Director Greg Gabriel's name is being mentioned for the GM job in Buffalo.

Gabriel, a Buffalo native whose first NFL job was as a part-time film grader with the Bills, was a GM candidate at Orchard Park in January 2006 when Levy surprised the league by returning to work for owner Ralph Wilson. Gabriel has only enhanced his résumé since then, and his name has come up at the Bills' offices in connection with the job.

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If Gabriel wanted, he could hand the Bills a business card that says "The Guy Who Drafted Devin Hester" under his name to pique their interest.

Devin Hester was named Special Teams Player of the Week.

On Wednesday, Hester was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and seventh time in two seasons. His 64-yard punt return for a touchdown helped break open the Bears' season-ending 33-25 win over New Orleans.

In 2007, Hester broke his own NFL record with six kick or punt returns for touchdowns. His fourth punt return TD of the season Sunday tied an NFL record shared by Jack Christiansen (Detroit, 1951) and Rick Upchurch (Denver, 1976).

With 11 TDs on punts and kicks in two seasons, Hester is two behind the all-time career record, held by Brian Mitchell.

Hester ready to put in the work this off season to become a go to receiver.

"I look forward to seeing what his future holds, because right now, there's just so many things that you can picture him being able to do," Bears head coach Lovie Smith said after his team's 33-25 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field. "I think he can become a No. 1 receiver in the league, where you're coming into football games worrying about him as a receiver and not just as a returner, which he will continue to do for us.

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Comments

A Big Question looms...

...if he becomes a larger part of the offense, he might become too valuable to trot out there for returns at some point.

Also, it's wierd that the FG return and the SB (postseason) returns aren't part of his 'official' total which would have him tied on the record.

by PopeFlick on Jan 3, 2008 11:05 AM CST reply actions

post season

Post-season stats are never counted as official stats for any records purposes.

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Jan 3, 2008 11:15 AM CST up reply actions

I know that.

I still think its weird.

by PopeFlick on Jan 3, 2008 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

The FG return...

The FG return wasn't technically a kick or punt return. Pro-football-reference.com has it listed as "Other TD from kicks blocked or missed FG returned". Thats getting a bit picky isn't it?

by OrtonsBeard on Jan 3, 2008 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

Probably not their choice.

by tyger1147 on Jan 3, 2008 12:49 PM CST up reply actions

i don't think

Hester will ever get to the point where he will be so valuable at receiver that we don't have him in the return game. there aren't a lot of guys who have that status around the league, it'd take hester developing into a #1 wideout for us to not let him play in the return game and i don't see him becoming a #1.

by lopey986 on Jan 4, 2008 12:53 AM CST reply actions

I think it's relative...

...should Berrian leave, he becomes much more valuable to the Bears because they are thin at WR - I'm not one who thinks these guys are Super Bowl Caliber, as some here do. So he might not be a 'true #1' on other teams, but he might push for a starting lineup spot if more depth isn't developed. Bradley appears to blow....

The only guy I can thinkof that made that transition would be Stee Smith. He was a great punt returner his first few years. But he's a much different player due to his physicality.

by PopeFlick on Jan 4, 2008 1:09 PM CST up reply actions