I started thinking today about Devin Hester. As a Packer fan, he’s part of my nemesis to the south, the Chicago Bears. The trouble is, I like the fact that the Bears have made Hester a wide receiver. If I like this (and I’ve already admitted that the Bears are my nemesis) then it probably means I think it’s not a good idea.

Don’t get me wrong: Hester’s talent as a return man is unbeaten. But like so many awesome return men, he wanted to be a wide receiver. As I say this, I’m thinking of the Packers own Desmond Howard, who was a Super Bowl MVP because he could return like nobody’s business. But as soon as he got that MVP award, he wanted to become a wide receiver. And he never had the success in that position like he did as a special teams player.

Good return men can win games. So why are the return guys never happy to stay in that position?

Part of it surely is that the position is tough on guys. He uses them up quickly. But was a guy like Hester used up? He seemed like he was first starting to dominate. When the Bears made him a wide receiver, he never had the showing one would expect with someone that has Hester’s speed in the return game. One source recently said “Devin Hester led the team’s wide receivers with 51 catches, 665 yards and three touchdowns – modest totals, all” for the 2008 season. And therein lies the rub. A great return man becomes a modest wide receiver.

Should Hester continue as a wide receiver? As a Packer fan, I say yes.

Image: Zuma Press

Image details: 2007 ESPY Awards - Arrivals served by picapp.com

The annual 2008 ESPY Awards will air live on ESPN on Sunday, July 20th at 9 pm est / 8 pm cst, and keeping with their tradition of including outdoor sports and motorsports within their equation, NASCAR will be represented with nominees in three separate categories this year.

Every year, the ESPY’s select from a pool of nominees for their racing-specific athlete category for “Best Driver“. A NASCAR driver has won this award in 9 of the 15 years, and 4 of the last 5. The most recent winners of this award were Jeff Gordon in 2007 and Tony Stewart in 2006. Representing NASCAR this year are 2006 and 2007 Sprint Cup Series champion, Jimmie Johnson (whom has never won the award), current Sprint Cup points leader, Kyle Busch, and Dario Franchitti (though Franchitti was nominated for his win in the 2007 Indianapolis 500 and for winning the IndyCar Series championship last season). They will compete against Lewis Hamilton, Tony Schumacher, and Scott Dixon.

Kyle Busch’s surge to 7 wins this season in the Sprint Cup Series and 14 altogether in NASCAR’s top-three series has also earned him a nomination as the “Breakthrough Athlete of the Year“, but he’s going to be looking at some pretty stout competition in this category, particularly as he goes against Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings. Also nominated for this award are Stephen Curry (basketball) and Ana Ivanovic (tennis). Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears won the award last year.

Much to his own surprise, Jamie McMurray is up for an award himself. He’s been nominated for the “Best Finish” award for his 0.05 second victory over Kyle Busch in the 2007 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. He will be up against Western Kentucky’s 3-point buzzer shot to advance over Drake University in the NCAA Tournament; the San Antonio Spurs’ victory over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals in double overtime; and the Pittsburgh Penguins triple overtime win against the Detroit Redwings in Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

Additionally, IRL star, Danica Patrick, is nominated for the awards of “Best Moment” and “Best Female Athlete.”

Go here for a complete list of the 2008 ESPY Nominees and go to ESPN.com for listing information on the event itself.