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http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/huddleup/2008/07/bears-camp-day.html

3:31 p.m.: Devin Hester is indeed holding out, according to a source. Time apparently has run out for the team to strike a deal with the NFL's most dynamic return man. Hester has sought a new deal this entire off-season. Hester is signed through 2009 but for money more typically paid a receiver. Each day of his holdout will cost him about $15,000.....

3 p.m.: Practice is about to start and there is no sign of Devin Hester. Could the receiver be holding out? He is looking for a new contract.

And from ESPN...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3502200

Bears' Hester misses practice, is listed as holdout

Devin Hester was a no-show for the Bears opening practice and is now listed as a holdout.

Talks on a contract extension ran out of time and the team is expected to fine him $15,000 a day.

The problem is figuring his value as a receiver as the Bears think he could be a No. 1 receiver. Hester, a two-time Pro Bowler, is scheduled to make $445,000.

Nice.

Faaaaaantastic!!!

The exclamation points and caps are hurting my eyes!

But seriously, I'm not worried. Hester is actually the ONLY Bear that I would accept a holdout from. He seemed to be the only one with a pulse last year.

Hester is the last Bear that needs to be holding out. He needs the most work at WR to be able to make the impact that most fans want to see. At the same time, with the way Angelo resigns his players, I don't see this lasting very long.

angelo sign this man to a 10 year deal

You can't pay a guy mega bucks just to be a return man, even if he is the best return man in history. All the opposing team needs to do is kick it out of bounds and he's pretty much neutralized. Hester needs to prove that he can at least be a serviceable receiver before getting a big pay day, so his hold out is a pretty foolish one, ICLO.

Cliff Levingston wrote:You can't pay a guy mega bucks just to be a return man, even if he is the best return man in history. All the opposing team needs to do is kick it out of bounds and he's pretty much neutralized. Hester needs to prove that he can at least be a serviceable receiver before getting a big pay day, so his hold out is a pretty foolish one, ICLO.

agreed but we need to keep hester
give him a 2 year 6 mill contract 2mil guarnteed with incentives for performance at reciever

WTH he doesnt make enough to hold out . 15 grand a day over the course of lets say 3 weeks who is advising this fool

Cliff Levingston wrote:You can't pay a guy mega bucks just to be a return man, even if he is the best return man in history. All the opposing team needs to do is kick it out of bounds and he's pretty much neutralized. Hester needs to prove that he can at least be a serviceable receiver before getting a big pay day, so his hold out is a pretty foolish one, ICLO.

While I totally agree with you on that point of view CL, but if we are going to be without DH this year, not only are the Bears not making the playoffs, they'll be lucky to win more than 5 games. 2ndaries are going to be wishing Grossy to throw deep while the defense up front are going to contain the run. And while Devin isn't always a threat on offense, he still opens up things for the remainder of our viable options. I'm really hoping this is settled asap! I really think the Bears can turn it around compared to last year. If it means we have to trade away Urlacher to keep Devin, I'm ALL for it!

Cliff Levingston wrote:You can't pay a guy mega bucks just to be a return man, even if he is the best return man in history. All the opposing team needs to do is kick it out of bounds and he's pretty much neutralized. Hester needs to prove that he can at least be a serviceable receiver before getting a big pay day, so his hold out is a pretty foolish one, ICLO.

But then again doesn't make him that much more valuable? Field Position starting from the 40 yard line every time? That would be the best in football by far and with this offense, we need it...

chitownsports4ever wrote:WTH he doesnt make enough to hold out . 15 grand a day over the course of lets say 3 weeks who is advising this fool

Probably the same guy who signed him up with UA and handles the rest of his endorsements. The guy makes more off the field than on.

Jerry Angelo said on SportsNite that both Hester and the Bears were in the middle of contract negations, so he was surprised he did not show up today. Devin don't you need to play wide receiver this year?

Not good.

I'm usually pro-management in these situations but Hester has outplayed his contract big-time. He should be the highest paid special teams player in the league and should be given incentives a-plenty for his time/performance at WR.

He needs as many snaps as possible in camp at WR. GIT-R-DONE, Angelo !

I think the most telling sign of this whole thing is on ESPN News

Breaking News - Chicago Bears CB(!!) Devin Hester is holding out from camp.

Uhhh...

imo: Pay the man. Incentives laden, give him a chance. Just try to get him in camp.

Devin Hester said he intends to hold out of training camp until the Bears grant him a new deal. "I'm not coming,'' he said. "I have to make a statement."

What a bright fellow.

Chewie wrote:Not good.

I'm usually pro-management in these situations but Hester has outplayed his contract big-time. He should be the highest paid special teams player in the league and should be given incentives a-plenty for his time/performance at WR.

He needs as many snaps as possible in camp at WR. GIT-R-DONE, Angelo !

If not mistaken ANY special teams incentives no matter how out there automatically falls into the "likely to be earned category " and counts against the cap even if he doesnt make them .Lets say if he scores 30 touchdowns he gets 15 million well that 15 million counts against the cap .

Now the Bears want to make him the highest paid special teams player in the league but he wants to get paid like a receiver but the one thing the Bears dont like are holdouts .

It doesnt help when Hester is talking about how he puts people in the Seats like the Bears didnt have sellouts before he came wth is up with that .I Believe he should get paid but I also believe he needs to Reps more than anyone else on the team right now.If he holds out , gets paid, and comes in late dropping balls it wont be pretty .

The best offensive player on the team should get more than $445,000 a year.

Without Hester, we would probably have the worst record in the league.

I like this quote :

"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.''

What ?!?

Rodanlee wrote:

Cliff Levingston wrote:You can't pay a guy mega bucks just to be a return man, even if he is the best return man in history. All the opposing team needs to do is kick it out of bounds and he's pretty much neutralized. Hester needs to prove that he can at least be a serviceable receiver before getting a big pay day, so his hold out is a pretty foolish one, ICLO.

But then again doesn't make him that much more valuable? Field Position starting from the 40 yard line every time? That would be the best in football by far and with this offense, we need it...

Rodanlee has a point there, Cliff. Automatic 40yd line field position is invaluable. Well...it should be. Unfortunately, we have an offense that can rarely take advantage of that but, hey, that's not Hester's fault.