Devin Hester is excited about Mike Martz's arrival as the Bears' new offensive coordinator, but said Thursday that he would like to go back to having a bigger kick-return role."I would love to get back in that situation with the return game," Hester told "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on WMVP-AM 1000. "But at the same time, I'm a team player so wherever y'all want me to go, I'm ready to do it."
Hester hasn't scored a touchdown on a kick or punt return since 2007 after running back 12 for TDs in 2006 and '07, including a kickoff return in Super Bowl XLI. He said becoming a full-time receiver has taken its toll.
"I know what I'm best at," Hester said. "The return game is my bread and butter, so if I had to cut back on receiving and go back to returns, that's something I would love to do."
Photo: Devin Hester hasn't return a kick for a touchdown since 2007. (Jose M. Osorio/Tribune)
Hester said he is feeling more comfortable in his new role as a wide
receiver, and said his chemistry with quarterback Jay Cutler improved
as the 2009 season progressed.
"Jay is kind of a quiet-type guy," Hester said. "You've really got to kind of pick his brain, pick at him to get him to open up to you. Toward the end of the year we bonded, got on the same page, and I'm hoping that continues throughout the rest of my career as well as his."
Hester is eager to see what the Bears can do under Martz's direction, although he cautioned that "it's not going to happen overnight" because the team will be learning a new system.
"We have a lot of quiet weapons on offense that are going to shock a lot of people," Hester said. "When you spread the type of guys that we have, when you spread them out across the field it's going to be real hard to stop us."
"Jay is kind of a quiet-type guy," Hester said. "You've really got to kind of pick his brain, pick at him to get him to open up to you. Toward the end of the year we bonded, got on the same page, and I'm hoping that continues throughout the rest of my career as well as his."
Hester is eager to see what the Bears can do under Martz's direction, although he cautioned that "it's not going to happen overnight" because the team will be learning a new system.
"We have a lot of quiet weapons on offense that are going to shock a lot of people," Hester said. "When you spread the type of guys that we have, when you spread them out across the field it's going to be real hard to stop us."
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Aside from the occasional pass play, this is what he should always have been doing. But alas, I fear that he has been ruined by the stupidity of the Bears. It's too late. The NFL games I watch indicate that you should be putting your fastest rookie out there to return kicks. They are more agile than other aging players on teams.
What I dont get is all the fools here that say trade Hester... WHY? Do you not know who is still picking the draft? If we had better scouts and a history of proven draft picks then I'd sure trade him. But look who is calling the shots?!! Just wait I'd say let the chips fall where they need to be. Once the 3 stooges are out then yes lets see what the new coach can do and yes trade the dead weight of the team.
LOL I bet Hester wasn't saying this during his contract negotiations...
IMO-
Hester should be traded for a 2nd 5th round draft picks.(WE COULD REALLY use the picks)
The receiving corp will better next year w/o him, and the Bears already have 2 or 3 very "capable" guys returning punts and kicks.
EXCELLENT time to trade Hester while he still has some value...
huh, hester is that scared about learning a new playbook??? wow...does he think his return-ability is still up to snuff??? since the WR experiment, he's got more return yards from sideline to sideline than end zone to end zone...HOWEVER, i do agree that the bears would be better to bring up a juaquin iglesias (and/or add a brandon marshall) and let hester get comfortable returning kicks '06 style...
So does this moron take a pay cut then?
I say let him go back to returning kickoffs. Hester can help bail out the team when he gets back to his "bread and butter." I would rather have DA at WR. Hester needs to get back in the PR/KR game. GO BEARS 2011!
He is just saying that because of the pro bowl. If Knox would have made it as a wide out he would be crying that he doesn't get enough long routes to run instead of possession plays! That is what I truly loved about Walter. He played hard, could block out the back field and he kept his yap shut!
The Bears have NO picks this April thanks to genius Angelo. TRADE Hester!!! You might be able to have some desperate team to give you a 2nd for him. He has lost his nerve on returns. Watch him....he loves to run for the sidelines. He got his big $$$$ now he is coasting into the sun set. TRADE THIS EINSTEIN.
Devin they already ruined you, its too late to go back and the reciever thing won't work unlees they get a number 1 & 2 because you should have never been considered a wide out in the NFL, too short, can't go over a guy for the ball and not strong enough to take it away so if they got a 1& 2 out running people would work but you need the other guys to take the heat off
Hester you just sour Knox went to the Pro Bowl....he probably cant digest Martz new playbook either. Personaly always loved Hester, i live in Canes Country here in Ft. Lauderdale but to be honest we would be better off trading him. He is our 4th or 5th option at WR at best and Manning and Knox are doing a great job on KR running N to S not
E to W. Trade Hester while he has value
Dan
FINALLY Devin Hester you realized that being a KR/PR is going to get you in the HOF. This team needs you to be "Ridiculous" in a bad way Devin. Smart move Devin very smart I am glad you set pride aside and focus on be the baddest man to ever return a kick.
ya'll crazy dissing da bears and the players, wait until they get their mangement heads on and let our players play and get us someone that knows how to utilize our defense and knows how to playcall unlike lovie
Hester needs to shut his pie hole and play wherever the team wants him to. Martz may turn him into Jerry Rice...On another note, anyone know Hester's football IQ?
Wow on February 4, 2010 7:50 PM
For all of those slamming Hester wanting to do more returns...
While you are right about his contract being incentive based and Hester returning kicks being better for the team, I wouldn't be so quick to nominate him for sainthood. His receiving numbers are FAR from those needed for a top-notch receiver's salary based on those incentives. He's angling for a job he can handle and be paid at the highest level for THAT position. I guarantee that if he has his recieving load lightened he will ask for his contract to be re-done.
Hey Wow....
I almost forgot the University of Miami was in the ivy league..
Hester not knowing the playbook.....FACT
Hester only learning the Z receiver position....FACT
Hester getting a dumbed down version of the playbook...FACT
Ever notice how he only runs the wide reciever screen, the quick slant and the go route....FACT
For all of those slamming Hester wanting to do more returns over receiving and blaming him for his contract, You do realize his contract is incentive based right? Based on his receiving numbers. So in other words, he's a team player and he knows returning kicks will probably have more of an impact on his team winning than how many receptions he has.
One more thing for the fans AND media, unless you actually know Devin Hester or have had a conversation with him, quit calling him dumb. You all sound dumb calling a guy you don't know stupid because of the way he talks. Because that's the real reason you all are calling him that.
Good Idea... Knox, DA, Iglesias, and Bennett can represent 4 wr sets. Add Hester for a speed package or 5 wr sets.
Draft another WR behind the multiple Oline picks.
Cut R Davis now.
Trade Olsen for a draft pick he is average at best and never will be a game changer.
"I know what I am best at", said Hester. The trouble is the Head Coach doesn't know. Let the greatest return man in the game do what he knows is best. As for the writer who said teams will only kick out of bonds and away from Hester if he goes back to returning kicks......Well, field position is a plus too in football. Giving the bears the ball near mid-field do to a penalty for kicking out of bonds is just as good as a run.........You better re-think your blog message! Wow, I hope the Bears are not considering you for a coaching job!
To all you idiots applauding this statement, what you all don't realize is discord has arrived! Hester had decent stats as a wideout, particularly when you consider he missed three games. He still had over 700 yards with Cutler constantly forcing the ball to Olsen. If the bears were smart they would run 4 receiver sets with DA and DH on the outsides with Knox and Igelsias on the insides. Defenses would have difficulty handling that much speed and would spread out with Cutler having multiple options including Forte. If I were to move anyone it would be Olsen. Davis is a better blocker and the same skill set.
Why would the Bears do this? If he started scoring TD's again the opposition will just start pooch punting or kicking to the sidelines just like they did after he started his chain of scores.
When there's a pattern of consistency, the competition will just modify to keep it out of his hands.
Besides, even when Hester DOES get the ball now, all he does now is stutter step for the first second or two trying to plan his route, allowing the other team to close the gap and shut it down altogether.
Don't believe me? Take a look at 'em. What he needs to do is just turn on the gas and figure it out as he goes along, rather than working out a mental playbook after he catches it.
Knox turns it on, but lacks the experience of being able to hold the ball well and how to move with it. That'll hopefully change in the new season. And while we're at it, why not give Manning it more often? He's made some incredible progress up the field on returns after coming back from injury.
Hester didn't mind playing WR when he demanded to be paid like a top WR. That is the only reason the Bears attempted to turn him into a WR, because Hester thought he could do both and wanted to get paid. He is the one that forced the Bears hand here.
He should return to full time kick return duty and the Bears shouldn't have a problem finding a decent #3 to replace him.
Hey, if the Head Coach can't make the right decision then the player has to. Way to go Devin.
This coaching staff thought it was a good idea to take the best kick returner of all time and make him into a full time receiver! And now that player wants to return to showing the world that he truly is the best...let's not drag our feet on this...LET HESTER RETURN KICKS!!! Manning and Knox are fine, but Hester was mind-blowing! This regime has made some tremendously poor decisions, let's not have this be another.
He had trouble learning Ron Turner's basic offense and now Martz is coming in with his complicated offense. This is a nice way of him saying he is too dumb to learn it so let me go back to kick returns
to me, Hester's willingness to go back to returns is by far the best thing that I've heard in the off season. We do have explosive returners now, but wouldn't it be nice to be by far the best in the league with it and go for 10 special teams TDs.
Now that would make an impact.
Yeah for another team. Dont get me wrong I love Hester. I was sitting above the endzone when he ran the ball in for the go ahead TD in Arizona in '06. The most exciting play in recent Bears history by far. But face it, the Bears are deep in that position. Paying him 4 million a year just run back kicks when you have 2 others that are more than capable. Trade him for a second rounder and use the money for what we do need O-line, D-line and a safety.
Bears' Hester would like bigger kick-return role
DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! They should NEVER have changed his "role" in the first place. You don't mess with success. The "experiment" to make him a #1 (or #2 or #3) receiver has had as its primary effect to totally eliminate Hester as the threat to "go to the house" on every kick he returns. I can never understand why they thought it was a better idea to let him take hits over the middle than to run for touchdowns on special teams. I guess it's why they fired almost their entire coaching staff, and have made 7-9 their average record.
There's no reason to do this. We have great kick returners already - several of them, besides Hester. Returners *always* get worse over time. It's a young man's game. Keep Hester returning punts like now, and he'll keep getting better at WR. Hester did a pretty good job as a WR last year, he just needs some more time.
I said it when they moved him to "receiver". It was a very bad decision. He didn't (nor will he ever) develop into a #1 or even a #2. Lovie (or whoever made the decision) was completely out of his freaking mind to take arguably the greatest return man ever and try to make him a #1 WR. Hester isn't a bright fella (as seen by his confusion with Ron Turner's playbook when he got on the field) so let him do what he does best when he doesn't have to think - RETURN PUNTS & KICKS! We all know how much of an advantage he gave the Bears on Special Teams when this was his job. The Special Teams was more of an offense than our offense was back then. Please Bears, move Hester back to his natural position!
This is the smartest thing Ive heard in 2009-2010. I have to admit I thought Hester was going to be a wonderful wide receiver because of his speed and quickness. But this experiment failed. Sure Daniel Manning and Johnny Knox are great return men, but Hester, in only his first 2 seasons,was the best.EVER. The bears need to right the wrong.Put Devin back in special teams were he is almost unstoppable
So what happened? Did Martz already tell Hester he was going to be the nuber 3 reciever on the team and be put in the slot? In an interview this week, Martz refered to Knox and DA as the main recievers and mentioned putting Hester in the slot, guess Lovie's idiotic experiment to ruin the greatest return man in the game is an epic fail.
This is the FIRST THING the Bears should do. The Bears haven't made the playoffs since making Hester a wide receiver. The field position he gives you is invaluable.
Point of clarification, however -- Hester has scored on at least two returns since 2007 that were called back because of penalties. It's not like he's forgotten what he's doing back there.