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When most of the Bears hit the practice field for the first time on Wednesday, one player was very noticeably absent. Kick return extraordinaire Devin Hester was nowhere to be found in Bourbonnais. He's decided to hold out of training camp until he gets a new contract. He's entering the third season of a four-year deal he signed after being drafted in '06.
"I can't go out and play this year making $445,000. Come on, man," Hester said in a phone interview. Notice how he said "play" and not "work," yet he's complaining about only earning in the mid-six figure range. Boo freakin' hoo, Devin.
Sure, we understand he's underpaid as far as NFL stars goes. So do the Bears' management. While the team is receptive to re-working Hester's deal, there is a disagreement on how his pay should be determined. Hester wants to be paid superstar wide-receiver bucks while the team wants to simply make him the highest paid special teams player in the league. Of course, if he were a smarter man he'd do everything he can this season to prove he can become a star receiver and then demand wideout money.
"You should pay me like I'm one of a kind," Hester said. "It's like dating a girl. When you find somebody who is real special, you're going to do whatever it takes to keep her. You might cut back on what you're giving your mom to give to her. And that's how I feel they should treat me."
While the team and Hester continue to disagree on his worth, he'll be racking up $15,000 a day in fines. Deal or no deal, he'd better get himself into camp fast because filling up his Louis Vuitton Impalas alone could send him to the poor house without his paycheck.
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
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bears might want to keep the only offensive weapon they have. All their QB's suck and no running back so you might want to fork over the dough...just a thought? Go Colts!!!
i do love that photo cuz after that impressive return, it was colts all day baby!
I am usually not one to fall on the side of over payed athletes in contract disputes, but when I saw the amount Hester was being paid I thought it was a joke. His entire career could be over in a split second due to injury the way he returns the ball.
I'm not much of a Bears fan but I was jumping up and down like a crazy watching him return the opening kick in the Super Bowl. He should be making at least as much as one of the hack QBs on the team.
Quick question from a non sports fanatic: This site lists his salary as 1.2 million not $445,000. What gives?
What kind of girls is Hester dating? Come on, if you ain't no punk, holla "We want pre-nump!"
pre-nup, too!
Don't hate the player hate the game. Until NFL players are given guaranteed money a la the MLB players, this trend of holding out will never end. NFL its all about the upfront money, because your contract is not guaranteed.
Devin signed a decent deal for a rookie. Now two years later he has proven he is worth way more than his rookie contract. He doesnt want to play one more snap even in training camp, because if he has a career ending injury he doesnt make even a dime of that $450K. So I see his beef.
However no way he gets top wideout money. He becomes the highest paid special teams player, and in the neighborhood of the 20-25th top wideout money IMO.
Doppelrd the $1.2 Million in his second year is probably his $450K salary, and $800K carried over guaranteed money from the previous year due to salary cap implications.
I hate it when people complain about how much athletes make. Look, different industries get different amounts of money. The NFL brings in billions of dollars thanks to the players - it is only fair that they are paid accordingly.
Or perhaps it would be better if the money went to the executives?
Further a lot of these guys only play for a few years. Making a few mill over a lifetime is hardly overly indulgent.
Damn, I need to get my Honda Accord pimped out with some Louis V trim. That is what you call PLAYAAA.
that car puts the fug in fugly.
do any NFL players spend their money on stuff that's not outrageously tacky and overpriced?
Add a +1 to the Colts love in these comments. The Manning NFL Dynasty continues in '08!
dopplerd, i'm guessing last year's salary took into account signing bonus money (pro-rated over the life of the contract) and whatever incentive money he got (pro bowl, # of td's, etc).
his base salary is $445,000 for the coming year, $530 for 2009.
The Bears need to pay him. And they need to stop openly referring to him as their #1 wideout if they don't want to pay him like one.
They took care of every other schlub on that team over the preseason. Gould is now the highest paid kicker in the league despite his limited range, signing in May to a 5-year, $15.5 million deal (including $4.25 million signing bonus).
It's the Bears fault. They resigned Urlacher when he was already under contract because he bitched and moaned. They resigned Briggs even after all his cry eye crap. So why shouldn't Hester hold out for more?
The other aspect to consider is this: Hester had insane return numbers the last two years, but he has no shot of repeating that success this year when teams will refuse to kick to him. I think every team in the NFL would much rather kick the ball out of bounds and roll the dice that Orton or Rexy aren't going to put together a 60-yard TD drive. So it stands to reason that Hester negotiates now, rather than after the season when his return numbers have a drop off (through no fault of his own).
Also, the concept of a guy who couldn't figure out how to play wideout in college somehow becoming a #1 WR in the NFL is laughable.
Hes not a #1 reciever and no one is going to kick to him. Yes he deserves more money but I wouldnt give him #1 reciever money until he shows he can do it. He has two years left on his contract and wants to get an extension now before the Bears get a chance to see what he can do as a wideout I wouldnt pay to much, he is the best return man in the game no doubt but he has done nothing as a wideout the last 2 years.
Hey wow iam posting on chicagoist from my blackberry!
20 catches in his first year as a wideout is hardly nothing. Also if teams do kick out of bounds to avoid him, his return numbers will be low, but our average starting field position will be ridiculous. This would be directly attributed to Hester even if he doesnt return many kicks. Pay him the most ever for a special teamer, and in the range of the 20-25 best wideout.