Devin Hester cut by the Bears?

[JDM]

What about kickers & punters? Do they belong in the HOF?

Meh, you can make an argument, but there is a reason it is extremely rare for them to make it. It is hard to be impactful enough to be deserving. I am not trying to minimize the importance of special teams, but when you play another position and are a joke at it, I don't care how good of a returner you are. If Devin Hester makes the Hall of Fame something is severely broken.

 

[USCDoom]

If the bears want to put him in theirs, that's cool, but probably not deserved. He was absolutely dynamic and fun to watch. But the idea that he belongs in canton is nuts.

I know it is hard to wrap your minds around the idea, but Hester will go to the HoF. The reason he goes is because no one has returned kicks better than he did, and he single handedly changed the outcomes of games based upon his play or opponents unwillingness to kick to him. In fact, I would argue that he has exemplified the importance of ST more than any player.

If you don't agree with my opinion, so be it. But he is going.

Again Agreed JMD. Team can do anything they want and they really dont even need a Reason why. Canton though? No Way.


Lets look at the Career of Hester Minus Returns
06 - Zilch
07 - 20 Catches, 299 Yards - 7 Rushes, -10 Yards. 2 TDs
08 - 51 Catches, 665 yards - 6 Rushes, 61 Yards. 3 TDs
09 - 57 Catches, 757 Yards - 6 Rushes, -1 Yards. 3 TDs
10 - 40 Catches, 475 yards - 7 Rushes, 30 Yards. 4 TDs
11 - 26 Catches, 369 yards - 1 Rush, -6 Yards. 1 TD
12 - 23 Catches, 242 Yards - 3 Rushes, 6 Yards. 1 TD
Totals
217 Catches for 2,807 Yards and 14 TDs in 6 Seasons.

Return Stats
06 - 47 PRs for 600 Yards and 3 TDs - 20 KRs for 528 Yards and 2 TDs - 8 Fumbles
07 - 42 PRs for 641 Yards and 4 TDs - 43 KRs for 934 Yards and 2 TDs - 7 Fumbles
08 - 32 PRs for 198 Yards and 0 TDs - 31 KRs for 679 Yards and 0 TDs - 5 Fumbles
09 - 24 PRs for 187 Yards and 0 TDs - 7 KRs for 156 Yards and 0 TDs - 3 Fumbles
10 - 33 PRs for 564 Yards and 3 TDs - 12 KRs for 427 Yards and 0 TDs - No Fumbes
11 - 28 PRs for 454 Yards and 2 TDs - 33 KRs for 727 Yards and 1 TD - 5 Fumbles
12 - 40 PRs for 331 Yards and 0 TDs - 24 KRs for 621 Yards and 0 TDs - 1 Fumble

That is HALL OF FAME MATERIAL!??!?!?!

Since 2007 Hester has
18 TOTAL TDs
That is an average of 3 TDs a Year...

How the Hell is that Hall of Fame Material?

 

[USCDoom]

What about kickers & punters? Do they belong in the HOF?

Not if a Guy like Charles Haley is not in.

Kickers should be allowed in after all the real football players Get In. IMO Punters deserve to be in before Kickers.

 

[ugafan6612]

He isn't HOF

 

[packerzrule]

4 returns minimum this year.

Maybe at K Mart after his Christmas shopping

 

[BritishDolfan]

Meh, you can make an argument, but there is a reason it is extremely rare for them to make it.

Surely then if it's even rarer for pure kick returners to make it (since there aren't any, compared to one kicker and no punters yet (although in a few years I would imagine Morten Andersen and Vinatieri will have joined Stenarud, plus maybe Ray Guy)) that isn't a problem. Hester is one if not the best KR / PR of all time, so he should have a chance to get in. I doubt he'll make it myself somehow.

 

[broncosmitty]

I'm cool with Hester getting in, if Jason Hanson already is. Otherwise I'd think its ridiculous.

 

[nebearsfan70]

If Hester plays for your team, response: "Hell yeah he goes to the HoF"

Since he doesn't, response: "No ST player should be in the HoF. If he goes, it is a joke"


OMG, Skinner was right.

 

[JDM]

If Hester plays for your team, response: "Hell yeah he goes to the HoF"

Since he doesn't, response: "No ST player should be in the HoF. If he goes, it is a joke"


OMG, Skinner was right.

No, because I'm not a complete homer and am willing to at least attempt to be objective. Calling Hester a hall of famer is as homeriffic as a lions fan the year they went 0-16 betting the house they would go 19-0. No rational fan of the team would even consider doing the same.

 

[JohnnyFootball10]

Allen Rossum, Tamarick Vanover, Deion Sanders, Herschel Walker, Mel Gray, Desmond Howard, Brian Mitchell & Gale Sayers. Those are some of the best kick returners ever.
Is Devin Hester Great? YES
However, any of the guys you see listed above, that are in the HoF, did much more than return kicks.

Oh, Tim Brown could qualify before he got old.

It's a tough gig, but being a position player that is that one dimensional hurts his chances IMO.
Even though, he could go down as the Best Ever one day. They will just replace that Aaron Hernandez picture with the one of Hester after returning the opening KO of the Super Bowl, against the Colts.
A picture and a memory, but no bronze.

 

[JDM]

If he had 30 return TDs and was as awful a position player as he is he would be undeserving.

 

[Stomp]

If Hester makes the hall of fame it becomes literally meaningless.

 

[Stomp]

Not if a Guy like Charles Haley is not in.

Hall of fame not hall of slightly above average lol

 

[SoCalWizFan]

I see your point about Swann if you are stating that he possibly should not be in the HOF. However - one huge advantage he has over Hester is his SB history. He has many rings & great SB performances compared to Hester - who at this time - has only one appearance, one great return & no SB wins.

 

[Lonewate44]

I know it is hard to wrap your minds around the idea, but Hester will go to the HoF. The reason he goes is because no one has returned kicks better than he did, and he single handedly changed the outcomes of games based upon his play or opponents unwillingness to kick to him. In fact, I would argue that he has exemplified the importance of ST more than any player.

If you don't agree with my opinion, so be it. But he is going.

I doubt he is going....and.....so you know... a guy Named Brian Mitchell former Redskin, Eagle and Giant pretty mch made a long career as a special teamer and returner..He had some TD returns as well, but look it up...I believe he has More ALL Puropse yards then everyone NOT named Jerry Rice and he only trailed him by 216yards.......so...if any returner is to get in...it would be Brian Mitchell...who did is a lot longer, and more effectively....

 

[JDM]

Miles and miles and miles above Hester. It's not even close to a comparison.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

I think that people completely underestimate how difficult it is to get into the HOF. There are very few slots available. During a typical year perhaps only 3-4 modern day players get in.

That is why it is difficult for someone like Hester. It doesn't mean that he is or wasn't a great player. However - when his time comes he will have to take a place in line beyond the can't miss types like Brady, Manning, Peterson, Bailey, etc, etc - not to mention the many players who will earn this right over the next 5-10 seasons. And again - winning a SB or two is almost a prerequisite if you don't have mind blowing stats (that would have to go beyond kick/punt returns unless he goes off the charts during the remainder of his career).

It is not as much of easy thing as many here seem to portray. Therefore - I think that Hester has to accomplish quite a bit more before he even sniffs the HOF.

 

[Stevein2012]

I can't see Devin Hester getting into the HoF at all. He'll be completely forgotten about 5 years after he retires.

 

[nebearsfan70]

Gale Sayers career rushing stats:

4956 yards rushing
39 TDs

Hardly stellar compared to RBs today... But would any of you dare say he doesn't belong in the HoF? I am not comparing Sayers to Hester by any means, but the HoF is full of players who just don't have the stats on their side. Someone stating that a player does or does not make the HoF based upon stats alone doesn't know football.

Maybe you guys are right and Hester does not make the HoF. Doesn't change the price of rice in China, so who cares. All I'm saying is that he is the best return man in NFL history, including Mitchell. If Hester doesn't deserve to get in, then no ST player does.

 

[JDM]

You can't compare stats from different eras. Gale Sayers was a great as a RB. Hester is not the undisputed GOAT KR you make him out to be. Not by a long shot.