Chicagoist: Hester Holding Out

Thunderbelly

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:36:58 -0600

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.

matty

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:33:48 -0600

Hey wow iam posting on chicagoist from my blackberry!

fed up

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:54:01 -0600

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.

tc3

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:44:53 -0600

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.

formula27

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:03:09 -0600

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?

GL

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:48:12 -0600

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).

ktr

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:16:55 -0600

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.

ThisGuy

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:57:47 -0600

Add a +1 to the Colts love in these comments. The Manning NFL Dynasty continues in '08!

Shannon

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:57:02 -0600

that car puts the fug in fugly. do any NFL players spend their money on stuff that's not outrageously tacky and overpriced?

archie manning

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:52:51 -0600

Damn, I need to get my Honda Accord pimped out with some Louis V trim. That is what you call PLAYAAA.

matty

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:50:58 -0600

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.

Thunderbelly

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:50:28 -0600

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.

PumaConcolor

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:50:11 -0600

pre-nup, too!

PumaConcolor

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:47:18 -0600

What kind of girls is Hester dating? Come on, if you ain't no punk, holla "We want pre-nump!"

dopplerd

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:41:50 -0600

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?

DROOO

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:41:26 -0600

i do love that photo cuz after that impressive return, it was colts all day baby!

heyrocc

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:34:39 -0600

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!!!