First off, I want to thank the Bears brass for releasing one of the most electrifying football player for much of the last decade during the off-season. Being a Packer fan, my love for Devin Hester was non-existent, but, that was when the Packers faced him twice a year… now that he’s in the NFC South, I can just sit back and enjoy his work.
Last night, Hester put his permanent mark on the NFL, and may have punched his ticket to Canton when he retires. #17 for the Atlanta Falcons returned a punt 60 yards in the 2nd quarter of last night game against the Buccaneers to move ahead of Deion Sanders for the most return touchdowns in NFL history, with 20.
Hester also scored a TD in the 2nd quarter (on a reverse), and forced a fumble in the 1st quarter, which goes to prove that he is more than a return artist, something that the Bears were unable to tap into, or grasp.
Chicago had a chance to re-sign Hester for a mere $3.5 million, about the same amount of most backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Instead they put all of their “eggs” and cash into Jay Cutler’s basket in the form of $126.7 million over 7 years, with $54 million guaranteed.
(Hester’s deal in Atlanta is 3 years $9 million /$250,000 signing bonus / $3.5 guaranteed)
Congratulations Devin on last night’s accomplishment, we’ll see you in the “Hall.”
Green Bay fans will always remember him