BEARS ANNOUNCE HESTER EXTENSION

[magicfan4life05]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/07/ ... extension/

The Chicago Bears have announced that receiver/kick returner Devin Hester has agreed to terms on a four-year extension.

Terms have not been disclosed.

Hester, whose rookie contract had two remaining seasons, is now signed through 2013. In all, the Bears have extended the deals of nine players in 2008.

[magicfan4life05]

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsSt ... y_id=4912z


So now there will be at least 5 more years of


"DONT KICK IT TO HESTER!!! "

[NoSkyy]

I don't know what you're talking about, for me it's "PLEASE PLEASE KICK IT TO HESTER. COME ON!!!"


Good job by the organization, they have resigned/signed everyone I wanted them too.

[magicfan4life05]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d ... nfirm=true

Hester, Bears agree on four-year extension

Chicago Bears

LAKE FOREST, IL — The Chicago Bears agreed to terms with return specialist Devin Hester on a four-year contract extension on Sunday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hester’s new contract runs through the 2013 season. The Bears have now extended the contracts of nine players this year.


The two-time Pro Bowler stands just two kick return touchdowns shy from tying the all-time NFL career record of 13 set by Brian Mitchell (14 seasons, 1070 returns). In two seasons, Hester has 89 punt returns for 1,251 yards, seven touchdowns and a 14.1 average - highest in NFL history. On 63 kickoff returns Hester has 1,462 yards, four touchdowns and a 23.2 average. He has also recorded a 108-yard missed field goal return touchdown (tying a then-NFL record for longest play in league history) and a 92-yard kickoff return score on the opening play of Super Bowl XLI.

In 2007, Hester received his second straight Associated Press All-Pro honors after setting the single-season NFL record with six kick return touchdowns. Hester’s four punt return touchdowns tied an NFL single-season record and his 651 punt return yards (42 returns) and 15.5 average are best in Bears annals.

Along with his return duties, the University of Miami (FL) product looks to expand his role on offense for the Bears this season. In 2007 he finished with 20 receptions for 299 yards, two touchdowns and a team-high 14.0 yards per catch average. Hester became just the third player in franchise history whose first career touchdown reception was 80-plus yards after hauling in an 81-yard touchdown vs. Minnesota (10/14), the fifth longest pass play in the NFL in 2007 and longest for the Bears since 1994.

[dougthonus]

I'm highly interested to see how much money Hester is getting.

[ChronicKerr]

I wish the Bulls FO could have wrapped up their two guys this quick.

[ChronicKerr]

Preliminary Salary Figures Update

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingc ... id=3507118

The Chicago Bears signed Devin Hester to a four-year contract extension Sunday that creatively accounts for his transition from kick returner to a full-time wide receiver.

The four-year deal is worth at least $30 million, of which $15 million is guaranteed. But according to a source, it also includes a $10 million roster bonus in the final year if Hester reaches performance levels of a No. 1 receiver over the course of the contract. The bonus "de-escalates" to account for performance below the level of a No. 1 receiver.

The maneuver is similar to the one Chicago gave defensive tackle Tommie Harris in June. Harris has a de-escalator clause that requires him to make the Pro Bowl in three consecutive years, among other requirements, in order to reach the maximum level of bonus money in the deal.

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.

[emperorjones]

Great Great News. It looks like JA is really creative in these extension. TH has to make the Probowl in 3 consecutive years? Thats nice for the Bears and takes in account is frequent injuries.

Funny how not having to re-up Grossman at big $$$ has freed up money to get these extensions done!

[Howling Mad]

Yay, good for Hester and good for the Bears.

I think it was a fair deal overall, especially with the performance clauses that trigger big bonuses.

[dougthonus]

Bernard Berrian only got 16 million guaranteed, so 15 for Hester is pretty substantial. I'm still skeptical of Hester's ability to make such a huge impact in the return game long term, but if he can then he's worth way more than Berrian anyway.

[Chewie]

Wow! Talk about incentive to put up some big numbers as a receiver. He has the distinct misfortune of having Bear QBs throwing to him so that's pretty much $10M you can kiss goodbye.

And I need more specifics on the escalator clause....are we talking about putting up numbers as the #1 receiver ON THE BEARS or numbers as a #1 receiver IN THE NFL ? I'm pretty sure he can accomplish the former but if he's expected to make the pro-bowl in 3 consecutive years as a WR...it isn't happening. You could put Randy Moss on this team and he's not making the Pro Bowl.

Good to have DH signed, though.

[Posey H8er]

Nice the Windy City Flyer will be in Chicago for a long time (or until he wants to renegotiate his contract again). He's been the best player on this team the past two years and he needed to be in training camp. Hopefully he will surprise us all and be a productive wide receiver. I don't have much hope for that but I know he will return 6+ TD's this year.

[SportsWorld]

Now hopefully our guys can focus on football and staying healthy.

[Cliff Levingston]

Man. It's hard not to give a major thumbs up to Jerry Angelo this offseason for re-signing/extending so many important players this offseason. With so many important pieces in place now, maybe next season we can go out an find some impact players for the offense.

[Mr Smoke Weed]

Man. It's hard not to give a major thumbs up to Jerry Angelo this offseason for re-signing/extending so many important players this offseason. With so many important pieces in place now, maybe next season we can go out an find some impact players for the offense.

yup jerry had an amazing offseason.
if chris williams and matt forte realize their potential itll be even better.
anyways this is the best news ive heard all day 5 more years of "devin hester you are ridiculous!"

[Icness]

Quite a contract for a return man and largely unproven #3 WR.
Let's just say Hester gets but one KRTD this season, with 42 catches for 665 yards and 3 TDs on offense, plus 3 lost fumbles (his yearly career average). Then in 2009 he doesn't run any kicks back and has similar receiving numbers, while the Bears have to pass on upgrading the WR position because of this (and other recent ones) deal. You still going to praise Jerry Angelo then?

I don't necessarily think locking Hester up is a bad idea, but that kind of guaranteed $$ is freaking outrageous for a return man. Look at what happened to Eddie Drummond and Dante Hall, the two elite return men before Hester. Both got fat deals and both never did a thing to earn any of it once they got it. Hester is indeed a better return man than either guy and might wind up a better WR than Hall, if the Bears ever get a QB and a legit #1 wideout to get him space to work.

I just have a strong gut feeling this is one of those deals the fans love today but will loathe down the road, sort of like what Cleveland is feeling with Travis Hafner or the Knicks fans got with Marbury.

[Cliff Levingston]

Quite a contract for a return man and largely unproven #3 WR.
Let's just say Hester gets but one KRTD this season, with 42 catches for 665 yards and 3 TDs on offense, plus 3 lost fumbles (his yearly career average). Then in 2009 he doesn't run any kicks back and has similar receiving numbers, while the Bears have to pass on upgrading the WR position because of this (and other recent ones) deal. You still going to praise Jerry Angelo then?

I don't necessarily think locking Hester up is a bad idea, but that kind of guaranteed $$ is freaking outrageous for a return man. Look at what happened to Eddie Drummond and Dante Hall, the two elite return men before Hester. Both got fat deals and both never did a thing to earn any of it once they got it. Hester is indeed a better return man than either guy and might wind up a better WR than Hall, if the Bears ever get a QB and a legit #1 wideout to get him space to work.

I just have a strong gut feeling this is one of those deals the fans love today but will loathe down the road, sort of like what Cleveland is feeling with Travis Hafner or the Knicks fans got with Marbury.

Cliff Levingston agrees for the most part. The Bears paid him on potential to be a great threat in the passing game which he hasn't shown that he can be consistently. ICLO, some fans will be disappointed no matter what considering how poor our QB and offensive line is. Then again, it's better to have a happy Hester than no Hester or an unhappy, pretending to be hurt Hester.

[Mr Smoke Weed]

ah surely youd use his yearly average for fumbles, but not his average for return touchdowns?
yea hester got paid? but overpaid? what leads you to believe that, except that two players not on hesters level ended up not being that valuable?