Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Devin Hester Under Armour Commercial

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

As I mentioned yesterday, the Chicago Bears had a busy offseason of taking care of their own players. Well, there’s one player they “forgot” and he didn’t show up for practice today as the Bears opened their training camp in Bourbonnais, Illinois. All-world, All-Pro kick returner/wide receiver Devin Hester is holding out because he’s unhappy with his contract. And the Bears are prepared to fine him $15,000/day for each day of training camp he misses.

Let’s look at both sides here. Bottom line, Devin really has no case. He’s under contract and if he doesn’t report, he’ll eventually go broke. But does he deserve more than the $445,000 he’s scheduled to make this season? Comparatively speaking, of course. He’s one of, if not the best, at what he does — a supreme playmaker and game breaker. I know it sounds cliche, but Devin Hester really is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Should the Bears “show him the money” as a result? Yeah, I think so. If they have anything left to give. I believe Devin should honor his contract, but when he surpassed all the expectations that were placed on him when he was drafted back in 2006, maybe it’s time for the team to recognize his importance by giving him a long-term deal in advance of his current contract’s expiration in two years. Apparently the Bears have tried negotiating, but (obviously) the two sides have not yet come to an agreement.

At any rate, the Collective Bargaining Agreement will come into play (it’s complicated), so expect Devin to show up for practice no later than August 5.

Source: Chicago Sun Times, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Devin Hester a No-Show at Bears Camp

Chicago Bears WR/KR/PR Devin Hester broke his own NFL record for most kick returns for a touchdown in a season by taking a 64-yarder to the house in a 33-25 win over New Orleans this afternoon, officially eliminating the Saints from the NFC playoff picture. Devin has two kickoff returns and four punt returns for touchdowns this season. He returned five kicks for scores last season as a rookie.

Devin’s 11 combined career return touchdowns are two shy of the NFL record held by Brian Mitchell. He is third on the all-time list, trailing Eric Metcalf and Dante Hall, who each have 12. His punt return in today’s game also tied the NFL single-season record, which is shared by Detroit’s Jack Christiansen (1951) and Denver’s Rick Upchurch (1976).

What’s even more amazing than Devin’s record-setting return was the Saints’ decision to kick the ball to him. Ultimately, it was the deciding factor in a game the Saints had to have to stay alive in the NFC Wild Card playoff race. It really left me scratching my head in disbelief. Chicago finished the season strong, but it was too little, too late.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Devin Hester Sets NFL Kick Return Record, Chicago Bears Close Season With Two Wins

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

The Dallas Cowboys placed a league-high 12 players on the NFC All-Star team. Among the players selected to the NFC squad was Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who died last month. Sean received the most votes at his position and was chosen as the starting free safety for the NFC team. A replacement will be announced at a later date. Eleven NFC players will participate in their first Pro Bowl, including Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson, who leads the NFC in rushing yards with 1,278.

Five of the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl players – running back Marion Barber, guard Leonard Davis, rookie kicker Nick Folk, safety Ken Hamlin and cornerback Terence Newman – are also first-time All-Stars. They join tackle Flozell Adams (fourth Pro Bowl), center Andre Gurode (second), wide receiver Terrell Owens (sixth), quarterback Tony Romo (second), linebacker DeMarcus Ware (second) and tight end Jason Witten (fourth) to equal the largest Dallas Pro Bowl contingent ever. Dallas also had 11 players named to the All-Star team in 1993 and 1994.

The starting quarterback for the NFC is nine-time All-Star Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers. Brett, also the leading vote-getter among fans, ties Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway, Dan Marino, Warren Moon and Norm Van Brocklin for the second-most Pro Bowl selections by a quarterback behind Johnny Unitas with 10. Joining Brett at QB are Dallas’ Tony Romo and Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck. Tony is the first Cowboys QB to be chosen for back-to-back Pro Bowls since Hall of Famer Troy Aikman (1992-97). Matt joins Dave Krieg as the only Seahawks quarterbacks to be named to three Pro Bowls.

Starting at running back for the NFC is AD, who seeks to become the first rookie to lead the NFC in rushing since Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (1989). He is joined by Dallas’ Marion Barber and two-time Philadelphia Eagles All-Star Brian Westbrook, who has an NFL-best 1,896 yards from scrimmage. I kind of scratched my head at Marion’s selection, but he is the first Cowboys RB to be chosen since the 2000 Pro Bowl (Emmitt Smith) and Brian is the sixth Eagles running back with multiple All-Star selections. Filling out the backfield is Minnesota fullback Tony Richardson, who makes his third Pro Bowl appearance (Kansas City, 2004-05) and first for the NFC.

Along with Dallas’ TO, now chosen as an All-Star with three teams (San Francisco, Philadelphia), the NFC’s other starting wide receiver is Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, who played in the 2006 Pro Bowl. Rounding out the position are a pair of Pro Bowl veterans in seven-time All-Star Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams and three-time All-Star Donald Driver of Green Bay.

The starting tight end for the NFC is Jason Witten, making his fourth consecutive appearance in Hawaii. He is joined by Washington’s Chris Cooley, who deservedly will make his Pro Bowl debut.

Minnesota’s Steve Hutchinson will make his fifth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl and start at guard along with the Cowboys’ Leonard Davis. Philadelphia’s Shawn Andrews was named an All-Star for the second year in a row and fills out the position.

Starting at center is Dallas’ Andre Gurode, joined by Minnesota’s Matt Birk, a six-time Pro Bowl selection.

The starting tackles are Seattle’s Walter Jones, an eight-time All-Star, and the Cowboys’ Flozell Adams. Washington’s Chris Samuels, making his fifth Pro Bowl appearance, is the NFC’s third tackle.

A pair of two-time All-Stars will start at defensive end for the NFC in Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman and Seattle’s Patrick Kerney. New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, making his second trip to Hawaii, also was chosen to represent the NFC.

Two Vikings will start on the interior defensive line in three-time All-Star Kevin Williams and two-time Pro Bowl selection Pat Williams. These two combine to make the Vikings the best in the league against the run. Chicago’s Tommie Harris was chosen for the third time in his career.

Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu makes his third Pro Bowl trip and will start at inside linebacker. He will be joined at the position by rookie Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. The outside linebackers are Chicago’s Lance Briggs (third Pro Bowl), Seattle’s Julian Peterson (fourth) and Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware. Julian and DeMarcus were chosen as the starters.

All three cornerbacks on the NFC team are Pro Bowl newcomers. Green Bay’s Al Harris and Seattle’s Marcus Trufant will start with Dallas’ Terence Newman coming off the bench.

At free safety, the late Sean Taylor was selected as the starter. Dallas’ Ken Hamlin also was chosen at free safety and four-time All-Star Darren Sharper of the Minnesota Vikings will be the starting strong safety.

Two Bears are among the quartet of players who will handle special teams duties for the NFC. For the second consecutive year, Chicago’s Devin Hester will be the return specialist and Brandon Ayanbadejo will be the coverage specialist. Dallas’ rookie Nick Folk is the kicker and San Francisco punter Andy Lee was selected for the first time in his career.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Dallas Cowboys Lead NFL With 12 All-Stars, 11 First-Time Selections For NFC

Kicking the ball to Devin Hester is a bad idea. And the Denver Broncos wish they had at least two plays back because Devin returned both a punt and kickoff for scores as the Chicago Bears came from two touchdowns back in the 4th quarter to beat Denver 37-34 in OT this afternoon. After the game, Devin said:

“I take it personal when a team says they are going to kick it to us. They feel like they are kicking it to us because they feel we’re not good. We’re trying to make it to the playoffs. This is one step to get us in the hunt.”

Devin’s day — he returned five punts for 81 yards and five kickoffs for 151 more in tying his own mark with five returns for touchdowns in one season. If I’m playing the Bears, here’s one good piece of advice: Don’t kick the ball to Devin Hester.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Football 101: Don’t Kick to Devin Hester