Bears GM: Devin Hester to 'compete' for returner job

I didn't see teams kicking away from him last year. Avg yards on punts was an underwhelming 21st with only 5 player that qualified did worse, kick returns wasn't bad at 10th.The guy looked much slower. Being a year older with a lousy attitude, I don't see much promise. I don't know how the number work out but if we can save a million or two and use that money somewhere else, so be it.


The guy wants to retire , then he wants a fresh start somewhere else. The dude doesn't want to be in Chicago. It's best he isn't in the locker room.

Eric Weems is better than Devin Hester. At least last year and I would bet next year too. He should be competing for his job.

With any luck, he returns a kick for TD in preseason and we can trade him. Our only other shot at a trade is to KC, and honestly I think Toub knows he doesn't have it anymore.

It's good to see this article, thanks.
Regardless of who they put at KR/PR, they need to improve the blocking as well. Last year was just turrible.

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Originally Posted by Jimmors

Good grief, im glad Emery is in charge of this team instead of any of you guys, cutting him now is about the DUMBEST move we could make regarding this situation.

He is entering the last year of his contract, next offseason he will be a FA, and he's only making something like 1.8M in base salary i think, which isnt unreasonable. Devin's future is up to Devin, he can either decide to quit and retire, or decide he wants to play, even if that means returning to a K/PR role only, because he is no longer going to be a WR pet project of Lovie's, Trestman will not use him in a WR in a major way. So...if Devin decides he still wants to play, then he will put all his effort into playing because either 1)he will want a new contract in 2014, whether thats here or elsewhere, and players typically perform best in the last year of their contract for this reason, or 2)he will retire in 2014, and will still put in effort this year so he can go out on top, so to speak. Im pretty sure he wants to break Deion's return record at least.

But cutting him? That gives us nothing. Its not like we cant make up for his absence, its just a dumb move to make considering that there is more to gain by keeping him this year. And regardless of what you think of his attitude or intelligence, he is still one of the best returners in the game, and even if he isnt returning kicks for TDs like he used to, he is still a threat, and teams have to adjust their gameplan for him, much like Peppers. Pepp might not always get the sacks, but just having him there forces the other team to gameplan for him, and you cant underestimate the value of players such as that.

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Sorry that's not entirely accurate. Or at least it hasn't been accurate for a while. After about the first 1/3rd of the season last year, no one was afraid of kicking to him at all. And with good reason. His follies as a WR are also well documented. He doesn't exactly make defenses worry there either. On top of that, he's now 30 and seems to have developed a shit attitude that makes you question just how much heart he has in it even purely for ST returns.

We may be able to pry a 5th or so out of someone in trade for him. Before you sneer at that, consider that having an extra 5th to trade up with in the 2nd may be the difference between being able to draft Barrett Jones or not. Or Jeffery the year before. And trading or releasing Hester does net $2.1 million in cap savings too which isn't insignificant. Why do we want to keep TWO "wideouts" on the roster (Hester & Weems) who are both pure STers only??? Pick ONE and ONE ONLY.

I'm not at all saying "cut him now!" (thats for Davis) but Hester shouldn't be guaranteed a spot on this team. If no trade materializes and he gets his shit together mentally, I agree he's probably worth keeping for a shot at the return record. I'd take the trade in a heartbeat though and I wouldn't hesitate to cut him for cap space otherwise.

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Originally Posted by MPBears68

Sorry that's not entirely accurate. Or at least it hasn't been accurate for a while. After about the first 1/3rd of the season last year, no one was afraid of kicking to him at all. And with good reason. His follies as a WR are also well documented. He doesn't exactly make defenses worry there either. On top of that, he's now 30 and seems to have developed a shit attitude that makes you question just how much heart he has in it even purely for ST returns.

We may be able to pry a 5th or so out of someone in trade for him. Before you sneer at that, consider that having an extra 5th to trade up with in the 2nd may be the difference between being able to draft Barrett Jones or not. Or Jeffery the year before. And trading or releasing Hester does net $2.1 million in cap savings too which isn't insignificant. Why do we want to keep TWO "wideouts" on the roster (Hester & Weems) who are both pure STers only??? Pick ONE and ONE ONLY.

I'm not at all saying "cut him now!" (thats for Davis) but Hester shouldn't be guaranteed a spot on this team. If no trade materializes and he gets his shit together mentally, I agree he's probably worth keeping for a shot at the return record. I'd take the trade in a heartbeat though and I wouldn't hesitate to cut him for cap space otherwise.

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Problem is that 1.Nobody is going to trade for him, especially since he only has 1 year left on his current deal...anyone that wants him THAT bad would just wait until next year when he is a FA, and 2.People here arent talking about trading for him, they just want to straight up cut him, which will get us NOTHING in return.

Like i said, his future is in his own hands...either he is going to man up this year, or he will quit...either way is fine, but cutting him is just stupid.

I hope he demands a trade so we can add another player to the roster.

Good, just another sign that the Lovie Buddy system/dog house, is over and done with.

Either way is fine? If he quits than that's a waste of money no matter of much that is. He is paid as an elite special teamer that isnt playing at an elite level. If you cut him now you eliminate risk and cut your losses. There is also a chance that he will bring a negative attitude/vibe to the locker room, which we don't want on out football team, let alone with the transition they're making. Maybe he plays well , maybe he quits? It's a gamble that is not a very smart business decision and that's assuming he still can play well.

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Originally Posted by AmericanPitBull

I doubt he can return to a form worth keeping. Freeing up some cap room would be ideal and i'm sure we can find someone to avg more yards than he did last year. He WAS great at returning for quite a while, but it's time to move on.

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we have been through players before that lost heart like Tommie Harris. When a player expresses at any time a lapse in commitment to play and win why have that attitude effect others? Why keep that lost investment? Why let others know on the team this is tolerated? Looks like the Harris cancer has spread cause the last regime said it is acceptable. Hopefully the new one has different ideas. Best case scenario we can get a draft pick from a team that thinks all is needed is a change of scenery. Either way he shouldn't remain on the roster

Agreed. If this were the Patriots his ass would be gone.