2010 Game Changers: Devin Hester
by Dane Noble on Apr 27, 2010 11:02 AM CDT
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In 2006, the Chicago Bears used their 2nd round draft pick on a cornerback from Miami, a decision that was initially not too popular with the fanbase. But, the emergence of a superstar would occur that year, as Devin Hester electrified the entire league with his kick and punt return prowess.
He ended his rookie year tallying five return TDs (3 punt returns and 2 kickoffs), leaving his fingerprint as one of the most dangerous playmakers in the NFL.
In 2007, Devin Hester picked up right where the 2006 season had left off, this time registering six total return TDs. Head coaches around the league refused to kick to Hester, often times giving up either penalties or poor field position in lieu of letting him touch the football.
However, 2008 and 2009 saw a downswing in Hester's special teams productivity, and many different reasons could be argued as to why. But one thing we do know for certain: every time Hester touches the football, he is a threat to make magic happen. Entering a new season, expectations will be high.
In this running series sponsored by Sprint, we'll be highlighting the top Game Changers on the Chicago Bears roster... what better way to kick it off than the most explosive Chicago Bears player in the last couple of decades. Devin Hester is your first 2010 Game Changer!
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Well that 10 minutes was definitely worth it.
Hope we get a little of that 2006-2007 guy back in 2010.
My Take On Hester.
Put him back and leave him where he had the most success. If the Bears did that however, Lovie Smith would have to admit he made a mistake. And we all know that’s not going to happen.
Could watch that stuff all day
Wish he could find his returning groove again. I love the highlight vids w/ Joniak’s calls more personally but this one is the complete package. He’s still a weapon though.
"I was interviewing George Halas and I asked him who is the greatest running back you ever saw. And he said, 'That would be Red Grange.' And I asked him if Grange was playing today, how many yards do you think he'd gain. And he said, 'About 750, maybe 800 yards.' And I said, 'Well, 800 yards is just okay.' He sat up in his chair and he said, 'Son, you must remember one thing. Red Grange is 75 years old.' - Chris Berman
by Sam Householder on Apr 27, 2010 12:03 PM CDT reply actions
Biggs tweets...
not official but trade may include a LB….
"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson
"More bell cow" - Lovie Smith
what trade?
"When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." ~ Dick Butkus
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Apr 27, 2010 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Get with the program, man!!!
Biggs tweeted it, not confirmed, mentions a trade with a LB…
"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson
"More bell cow" - Lovie Smith
ChrisHarrisNFL
Sweet Caroline….Oh,Oh,Oh. Good times never seemed so good (so good,so good).
ChrisHarrisNFL
Breaking News- I will be traded to Chicago Bears. Carolina u have been great and deeply missed. I have a special place in my heart for you
"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson
"More bell cow" - Lovie Smith
Harris is Tweeting goodbye to Carolina
"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson
"More bell cow" - Lovie Smith
ChrisHarrisNFL
Breaking News- I will be traded to Chicago Bears. Carolina u have been great and deeply missed. I have a special place in my heart for you
ChrisHarrisNFL
Sweet Caroline….Oh,Oh,Oh. Good times never seemed so good (so good,so good). 10 minutes ago via UberTwitter Retweeted by BradBiggs and 3 others
BradBiggs
Chris Harris just told me: “It’s not official but I will be with the #Bears soon.” Trade could involve a veteran linebacker.
-------
"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox
by David Taylor on Apr 27, 2010 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Wow! Hope this is true and I hope the veteran linebacker is
Hillenmeyer and not roach or williams.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
Biggs won't cough it up.
Won’t speculate.
"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson
"More bell cow" - Lovie Smith
Smartest LB
Trade Hunter?
You must be totaly oblivious to the fact that when Urlacher went down Hunter was the ONLY LB that had the FBI to run the defensive team on the field. Look at the fiasco’s we had when HE was injured and they tried anyone else at Mike? He is a starting Sam, a also a Mike on teams that don’t have an Urlacher caliber LB in the middle! … and has more football savy than all the other LB’s combined, excluding of course Urlacher. Just check his stats over the years!!! FF, FR, INT’s years with 100 or more tackles, … get real! Trade your No#1 backup? What defense did you watch last fall?
by pete banachi on Apr 28, 2010 12:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Thanks Pete!
I think he’s the slowest LB on the field and as much as I like smarts I value speed at Mike even more. Hunter is an average LB at best.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
All the speed in the world doesn’t help the defense when you aren’t able to call adjustments to what the offense is doing. We saw that last year.
"44 years of football history and nothing to show for it. I wish I wasn’t banned at the Norseman.." - tfrabotta
***Would have. Would HAVE. ... please note***
Exactly
Manning runs like a deer but he’s dumber than the Gatorade Jug and out of position More Times than the Gatorade Jug :(
Hunter was out of position on that sweep in the first quarter of the early Lions game and at the end of the season in the fourth quarter on that screen pass the Ravens ran. You have to know where you are and Most important, if your a leader, where your troops are. A bunch of high powered runnin around and activity doesn’t in and of itself guarantee accomplishment. “You Have To Show You Know Where To Go!”
by pete banachi on Apr 29, 2010 4:52 AM CDT up reply actions
One small correction....
He ended his rookie year tallying five return TDs (3 punt returns and 2 kickoffs)
Devin Hester actually tallied 6 return TDs during his rookie season – 3 PR, 2 KR, and the 108-yard field goal return TD against the New York Giants.
Technically, the FG return TD does not count in the stats as a kick return TD (for what reason, I do not know), but as far as I know it does count as a return TD.
Who can forget Tillman plastering the OLineman and Hillenmeyer wiping out the kicker on the return? Ah, good times.
by Sweetness Lives On on Apr 27, 2010 2:00 PM CDT reply actions
Why can't they let him do this again?
Hester is becoming a good receiver, but who are we kidding this is what he does.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
Watch this everytime
some one posts it and find my self cheering and clapping for the first 9 minutes. Then I get sad as he switches to receiver. Even if Hester went back to returning full time and got his groove back, could he ever match those first two years?
If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms.- Mike Ditka
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Apr 27, 2010 4:02 PM CDT reply actions
Ya know
I just watched it again. God I luv it. First, luv the Giants return with Tillman and Hunter blowing those dudes up. But seriously, the St. Louis kick off return when he sweeps to his left and sprints to the endzone, it doesn’t seem like real time. He is going so fast it looks like the video is sped up. Luv it!!!
If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms.- Mike Ditka
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Apr 27, 2010 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions
If nothing else
I will always remember Hester as a great return man, even if he never fully develops into a real #1 receiver.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
well
I initially and still do like the idea of having Hester in the game as a WR..He is one of the most explosive players we have so why not give him the opportunity to get the ball numerous times during the course of a game? ANYTIME he touches the ball it’s a possibility he might take it to the house and he is getting better and better as a receiver. I dont know if he’s a Number 1 but with the players around him and his growth at the position it will payoff for the Bears in the long run
The Lakers are reminding me of the "Tin Man"...
Well EmmCeee
That point is wearing thin as the ‘Hester Experiment’ enters it’s 3rd Year. So we will see if the old everytime he touches the ball theory holds any water in 2010. I have grown tired of arguing the point. Hopefully Lovie and Jerry are smarter than me but I doubt it.
How long does it usually take a wr to make an impact?
Contrary to popular belief the Majority of Wr’s dont just come into the league and dominate. I could post a long list of players who didnt put up monster numbers their 1st cpl years Reggie Wayne, Roddy White and Steve Smith just to name a few. Have faith it takes time and this year should be his breakout year.
You can tell the true greatness of a team by how they respond to adversity........
Hester WAS great
This is ancient history. Lovie and his merry band of brain dead coaches thought it would be a great idea to turn one of the Bears best weapons into a liability. This experiment has been an abysmal failure.
No doubt he has speed, when blocked for, he can make magic. As a WR however, his routes are sloppy, he has made very few impact plays, and is generally considered a non-factor in games.
He could be an adequate #3, his speed still makes him a potential threat. I just think he should go back to returning kicks. Manning is good, but he’s no John Kennedy, I mean Hester.
by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Apr 28, 2010 9:16 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
You're definitely suffering from hyperbole. There is a cure.
“WAS great”, “ancient history”, “abysmal failure”, “sloppy”, “very few impact plays”, “non-factor”, blah blah blah
“I just think he should go back to returning kicks.” Yes, and one sentence later you think it’s appropriate to compare a former US President who was assassinated in office to a current NFL player.
One point that always amuses me on this subjest is that so many folks don’t take into consideration what Devin Hester himself preferred. You must think that Devin Hester wants less responsibility for less money and less potential fame. Maybe Devin only wanted to be a KR and PR, and to make money commensurate with being the best ST player on the team. Or maybe he wanted to try to be a full-time WR, to be an every-down player, and to make money appropriate for such a position?
I’m sure, if given the choice, you would inform your employers that you weren’t willing to learn a new position nor to move in a given direction knowing that it was best for the organization?
by Sweetness Lives On on Apr 28, 2010 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Well I Believe
It all started with justifying an 11 million a year contract. That was the catylist for moving him to receiver. Personally if it were my team, (which it’s not), I would pay him 11 million a year to be fulltime return Man and third receiver.
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