Thread: Should he stay or go: Devin Hester

As just a returner I'd say yes as wr no.

Henry, I think the new ST coach will energize #23 & he will have a rebound year returning kicks. The WR part is tricky. Trestman says he will design an offense that plays to his players strengths. The question is can he do that for Hester as a WR? I think Trestman is smart enough to know by the end of training camp if Hester is a capable WR. He may watch his tape & know.

My feeling is Hester should stay as a returner & 4th or 5th WR.

Originally Posted by BearJim

Trestman says he will design an offense that plays to his players strengths. The question is can he do that for Hester as a WR?

The question is, does Hester have a strength to design for as a WR? I don't think he does. I would be ok with him sticking around as a returner only but at a much cheaper price. He should rarely, if ever, snif the field as a receiver.

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

I'm trying to get a pulse of the board. I think we can all agree that if he stays, he must restructure his contract. However, I'm just asking to see if anyone thinks he's worth being a wr and/or pr/kr. Personally, I do.

I don't know why he has to agree to restructure his deal. He's only getting $2.1 mil including his workout bonus. The minimum you can pay him is $840k in salary and with that workout bonus he's at $1.1 mil so all we save is $1 mil and I doubt he'd agree to that kind of a reduction anyway. If we release him he'll get at least $2 mil somewhere else.

What they decide to do with him has to be based on whether or not we can use him effectively on offense and if he'll get his return game back in order again. What he makes is way down on the list because if he can give us a few big plays on offense and some TD returns he's worth that $2.1 mil. If we can't get value for him in a trade I would just release him. Let him get his record as he earned it so far......as a Bear.

Originally Posted by soulman

I don't know why he has to agree to restructure his deal. He's only getting $2.1 mil including his workout bonus. The minimum you can pay him is $840k in salary and with that workout bonus he's at $1.1 mil so all we save is $1 mil and I doubt he'd agree to that kind of a reduction anyway. If we release him he'll get at least $2 mil somewhere else.

What they decide to do with him has to be based on whether or not we can use him effectively on offense and if he'll get his return game back in order again. What he makes is way down on the list because if he can give us a few big plays on offense and some TD returns he's worth that $2.1 mil. If we can't get value for him in a trade I would just release him. Let him get his record as he earned it so far......as a Bear.

Thanks for the numbers, Soul. I thought he was in line to get more than that next year.

I look forward to our new coaches evaluating the existing talent objectively, and determining who is worth keeping and who needs to go. Hester is just one of the players I'm really curious to see what the coaches think about him. I'm really really curious what they will do with the oline players. We've had offensive coaches that didn't know their butts from a hole in the ground. And Lovie knew even less about the offense. Hopefully the new crew can find something to build around - and maybe Hester isn't as bad as we think.

But if he is, then he'll be gone.

Originally Posted by Papa Bear

Thanks for the numbers, Soul. I thought he was in line to get more than that next year.

The $5mil bonus that was built into his deal would only be earned if he ended up as a top WR. It's a non-issue now. 2013 is the last year in his current deal and I would prefer we keep him and take a shot at getting some big plays from him. You know he wants that record and I'd like to see him get it as a Bear.