Devin Hester

[heir_jordan22]

Based on this article, sounds like Devin and Jay don't trust each other. If he keeps talking so much we won't get anything for him because teams will wait for us to cut him.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Based on this article, sounds like Devin and Jay don't trust each other. If he keeps talking so much we won't get anything for him because teams will wait for us to cut him.

You're right, Heir. Here's more insight into the relationship below:

Coach Marc Trestman brings a new offensive philosophy to town, but Hester doesn't see himself fitting in. Why? The answer is simple: Hester and quarterback Jay Cutler aren't on the same page.

Former Bears receivers coach Darryl Drake explained it best last week.

"They need to sit down and get to know each other better, which I don't know if that will ever happen," Drake said. "I think it's both of them just being able to understand each other.

"Jay is a tough, tough-minded guy. He looks at things a lot differently. Devin is more of a compassionate-type of guy. They're total opposites. At times, that probably made things a little bit tougher. But could they co-exist? Sure, if they both work at it. But it takes both of them to do it."

When Hester was asked if he needed to sit down with Cutler to iron out their differences, there was silence for a couple of minutes. "If I was to be here, then yes," Hester said. "I think so."

The divide between started when Cutler arrived in 2009. Hester was slowed by injury, which kept the pair from developing chemistry at the start. Cutler's frustration mounted during a Thursday night loss at San Francisco that season, when he threw five interceptions and voiced his displeasure with Hester on the sideline.

Cutler doesn't have the reputation of being a compassionate teammate, and Hester is a player who needs to be coddled at times. Hester's admission that his heart wasn't totally into it this past season wouldn't thrill any quarterback.

Still, Drake and other coaches from the previous staff believe Hester can excel as a receiver. They point to consecutive performances against the Cowboys and Jaguars this past season during which he caught five passes for 87 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown at Dallas.

But Hester, who has one year remaining on his contract with a base salary of $1.85 million, said he doesn't want to play receiver if he remains in Chicago. He seems willing to be strictly a return man for the Bears, which might be exactly what the new staff wants.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013 ... bridge-gap

[fleet]

I think a 3rd rounder is the absolute best the Bears could get if the sun moon and stars aligned.......and then the polar ice caps will began to freeze again and the US Congress balances the budget. Asking teams to pony up valuable assets to pay his salary at his current production level is wishful thinking as was said already. But there is often a sucker out there it seems.

5th or 6th rounder is happy days. Won't be shocked if its a 7th or outright release. The Bears WILL shift assets to the O line and begin finding youth for defense.. Perhaps even a receiver.

[BR0D1E86]

"To be honest with you, if I'm still here, I don't want to play offense," Hester told the Tribune. "I don't think my role [on offense] will fit. I can't truly say that with the new offense, but from past experience, I don't think it will fit."

Be where you are supposed to be and then catch the ball. That's your role. You stink at both things, that's why you are failing.

[BR0D1E86]

I think a 3rd rounder is the absolute best the Bears could get if the sun moon and stars aligned.......and then the polar ice caps will began to freeze again and the US Congress balances the budget. Asking teams to pony up valuable assets to pay his salary at his current production level is wishful thinking as was said already. But there is often a sucker out there it seems.

5th or 6th rounder is happy days. Won't be shocked if its a 7th or outright release. The Bears WILL shift assets to the O line and begin finding youth for defense.. Perhaps even a receiver.

Reportedly (I think it was from Dickerson) Hester would have netted a 4th rounder last year, but it likely worth less this year. I'd take a 4th for him easily, likely a 5th as well. I think he can still have an impact in the return game, but not like he used to. And I think he's mentally checked out on the team anyway.

[Cliff Levingston]

I think a 3rd rounder is the absolute best the Bears could get if the sun moon and stars aligned.......and then the polar ice caps will began to freeze again and the US Congress balances the budget. Asking teams to pony up valuable assets to pay his salary at his current production level is wishful thinking as was said already. But there is often a sucker out there it seems.

5th or 6th rounder is happy days. Won't be shocked if its a 7th or outright release. The Bears WILL shift assets to the O line and begin finding youth for defense.. Perhaps even a receiver.

Yep. NO way we get even close to a 3rd rounder for him. Cliff Levingston would cap his value at a 5th round pick.

If Cliff Levingston is a GM though, he doesn't give the Bears anything. Why not just spend that 6th round pick on a strict returner anyway and not take a risk that an older Hester is mentally damaged?

[shugknight]

I think a 3rd rounder is the absolute best the Bears could get if the sun moon and stars aligned.......and then the polar ice caps will began to freeze again and the US Congress balances the budget. Asking teams to pony up valuable assets to pay his salary at his current production level is wishful thinking as was said already. But there is often a sucker out there it seems.

5th or 6th rounder is happy days. Won't be shocked if its a 7th or outright release. The Bears WILL shift assets to the O line and begin finding youth for defense.. Perhaps even a receiver.

Yep. NO way we get even close to a 3rd rounder for him. Cliff Levingston would cap his value at a 5th round pick.

If Cliff Levingston is a GM though, he doesn't give the Bears anything. Why not just spend that 6th round pick on a strict returner anyway and not take a risk that an older Hester is mentally damaged?

Yeah I doubt the bears will get anything for him, especially now that he's running his mouth and complaining like a little girl.

He needs to man up and take on responsibilities. Stop "threatening" you'll retire because the one coach that believed in you, is no longer coaching in the league.

He came from the U, so I know his ego is up there with many of the players that went to the same school. I can see him just saying he'll retire to get people to come up to him and say "No Devin, please don't! You're an amazing player.. blah blah blah"

But now that nobody has, and pretty much everyone agreed that he should retire, he's retracting his statement and now blames the Bears for his woes on offense..

Face it Hester, you were great because you had the speed and agility of a cheetah a few years ago.. You never had the brains to utilize those talents into something more, and now that you've aged and those talents are fading away, you have nothing left in the tank to prove you're worthy of another contract.

He gave us great memories, but it's time to say good bye.

Hopefully Toub is generous to give us a pick for him.. but I think even he knows that Hester is washed up.

[credezcrew24]

Part of the reason he doesn't get many big returns any more is that teams are still afraid to give him a returnable kick, which gives us good field position anyway. I am always against selling low so I think we should definitely keep him another year. Last year wasn't even his worst year.

[Jake0890]

Part of the reason he doesn't get many big returns any more is that teams are still afraid to give him a returnable kick, which gives us good field position anyway. I am always against selling low so I think we should definitely keep him another year. Last year wasn't even his worst year.

I don't think anyone was afraid of kicking to him last year. I specifically remember a few instances where opposing team would kick to him, and instead of getting a full head of steam going forward, he dances from side to side and allows the defenders to get to him. Like Chris Johnson's problem last year.

[Jake0890]

Part of the reason he doesn't get many big returns any more is that teams are still afraid to give him a returnable kick, which gives us good field position anyway. I am always against selling low so I think we should definitely keep him another year. Last year wasn't even his worst year.

I don't think anyone was afraid of kicking to him last year. I specifically remember a few instances where opposing team would kick to him, and instead of getting a full head of steam going forward, he dances from side to side and allows the defenders to get to him. Like Chris Johnson's problem last year.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Part of the reason he doesn't get many big returns any more is that teams are still afraid to give him a returnable kick, which gives us good field position anyway. I am always against selling low so I think we should definitely keep him another year. Last year wasn't even his worst year.

I don't think anyone was afraid of kicking to him last year. I specifically remember a few instances where opposing team would kick to him, and instead of getting a full head of steam going forward, he dances from side to side and allows the defenders to get to him. Like Chris Johnson's problem last year.

You're correct, Jake. Hester says, himself, that he checked out mentally:

"Not only this year, but the last couple of years it has been like that," Hester told the Tribune. "It was really starting to show, why I was frustrated. I'm not making any excuses. I know some of the plays I should have made in terms of catching the ball. But I just wasn't feeling it. My mind wasn't there the majority of the time."

I agree with credezcrew24 about not selling low, though. If we can't get a 3rd rounder for him, I would keep him another season & force him to perform in his contract year. I feel that we have enough veteran leadership on the team to keep him from becoming a distraction.

[RedBulls23]

Man, it's kind of annoying how weak minded Hester is. Does he constantly have to be told that he's really great and be coddled like a little child for him to even just try? That is just pitiful.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Man, it's kind of annoying how weak minded Hester is. Does he constantly have to be told that he's really great and be coddled like a little child for him to even just try? That is just pitiful.

Agreed.

My message to Devin Hester...........

[MalikJoakim24]

Hester's going to be a cancer, we need to trade him or cut him. Tired of him acting like a lil biatch

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Cooler heads prevail in Devin Hester saga?

When we last heard from Chicago Bears returner/receiver Devin Hester, he had backed off his threat to retire but was still suggesting he might benefit from a fresh start with another franchise. Tuesday, Hester used a post on his Instagram account to imply he has had a change of heart.

The post read: "For all my Bears fan #yes. I'm a bear 4 life.# Beardown!!!!!

(For those wondering, Hester verified this Instagram via Twitter in January.)

So what exactly does it mean that Hester is a "bear 4 life?" At this point, all we can say is that Hester expects to play for the Bears in 2013. Update: Many of you are wondering if Hester is saying he will be a "bear 4 life" even though he plans to move on to another team. I don't think that's the case, but I guess I should acknowledge that possibility. My understanding is that the Bears have plans for him in 2013 and don't want him to move on.

Entering this week, Hester had one year remaining on the contract extension he signed in 2008. It called for a $1.857 million base salary, a $250,000 workout bonus and a cap figure of $2.940 million. The Bears could lower that cap number a bit through either a reduction of that base salary or a contract extension, but as of Tuesday evening I've not confirmed that Hester has a new deal.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... ester-saga

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to trade wide receiver Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks, sources confirmed to ESPN.

The trade is expected to include the Seahawks' 2013 first-round draft choice being sent to the Vikings, sources told ESPN.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/90401 ... ks-sources

If the Vikings can get a 1st rounder for a return man that has a long injury history & well-documented migraines, shouldn't we be able to get a 2nd or at least 3rd round pick for Hester?

[Jake0890]

Harvin is on a completely different level than Hester. Harvin was considered MVP material early last season.

On the same note, Anquan Boldin just got traded for a 6th rounder. If that's the scale, Hester can't be traded for anything.

[karch34]

Harvin is considered a #1 WR who is also a solid return man. Hester is a formerly elite return man who could maybe be a #3 WR. Good point on Boldin getting only a 6th, but some of that might be tied to his contract which is more than Hester.

Personally I'm sick of the drama and would do a cartwheel for a 3rd rounder. I'd accept a 4th or 5th just to free up cap space.

[CalilLove89]

I have a weird feeling we are going to keep Hester.