Hester Holding Out

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jul 24, 2008 7:25PM

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