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Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - Devin Hester, who has electrified the NFL with 11 punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first two seasons, skipped the Chicago Bears' first training camp practice Wednesday in a holdout.
Hester, a two-time Pro Bowler, was placed on the Bears' Reserve/Did Not Report list.
"I'm not coming," Hester told the Chicago Tribune in a phone interview. "I have to make a statement. I showed by going to (organized team activities) that I was a team player. But then, I just felt like they weren't taking it seriously that I wanted to get a new deal."
Hester, who also played wide receiver last season, has two years remaining on his initial deal. He was the Bears' second-round draft pick in 2006.
In addition to his four kickoff returns and seven punt returns for touchdowns over two seasons, he also returned a missed field goal 108 yards for a TD and took the opening kickoff of the 2007 Super Bowl 92 yards for a score.
As a receiver last season, trying to learn the nuances of the position, he had 20 catches, with an 81-yard TD.
"I can't go out and play this year making US$445,000. Come on, man," Hester said.
The Bears have given new deals this off-season to Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, Desmond Clark and Alex Brown. And on Wednesday they signed this year's first-round pick, tackle Chris Williams of Vanderbilt, to a five-year deal reportedly worth $16 million.
General manager Jerry Angelo said after practice Wednesday he was surprised and disappointed that Hester was a no-show.
"Unexpected. We thought Devin was going to be here. As you know, we've been negotiating with Devin for a while and we are continually negotiating with him as well. So I really don't know why he isn't here today," Angelo said.
Angelo said he'd talked a few days ago to Eugene Parker, Hester's agent.
"He floated it out there, but I didn't really take it serious because, as I say, we are still talking, we're still in the process, there's no closure. Usually when you say, 'Hey, it's over, take it or leave it, we're out of money,' you might get a reaction like that. But as you're continuing on in negotiations as we have been, it is surprising."
Parker could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Angelo said the Bears didn't necessarily have a pecking order this off-season for getting new contracts done with players.
"We did tell Devin we were going to address his situation and we have," Angelo said. "That's where it is. The timing of it maybe wasn't satisfactory to him, but again, those things just kind of run their course."
Hester wasn't the only player missing the first day of drills on a warm but comfortable afternoon at Olivet Nazarene University.
Star centre Olin Kreutz (Achilles' tendon) and newly acquired running back Kevin Jones (knee) were placed on the physically unable to perform list, while defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek (calf) and guard Chester Adams (stomach) were put on the non-football injury list.
But it was the absence of the speedy No. 23 that created a buzz on the first day of a camp that will feature an open competition for the starting quarterback's job between Grossman and Kyle Orton.
Grossman won a coin flip at a meeting Wednesday and worked with the first team on the first day. And now they will alternate with the first unit each practice, with Orton getting that opportunity on Thursday.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
Thats a joke. Hester should be making like 2 mil a year. Bears franchise is a fucking mess. I think Lovie Smith needs to be fired and a rebuilding mode started.
Every single day I come up with a different person who is/reason that is responsible for this clusterfuck of a team, and I can't make it make sense with any one person.
I'm starting to lean towards fire everybody, sell the team to new owners, start completely fresh.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
My favorite part is:
Grossman won a coin flip at a meeting Wednesday and worked with the first team on the first day. And now they will alternate with the first unit each practice, with Orton getting that opportunity on Thursday
Oh yeah, that will instill leadership into the QB position. "I'm here because I won the coin flip, remember guys..?
Why the fuck didn't they draft a QB in the second or 3rd round?? (or did they?)
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
The Patriots made a minor interesting move over the weekend, signing recently released RB Lamont Jordan formerly with the Raiders. He's had a rough last 2 seasons, but had a very good first season in Oakland. So much so he fooled me into thinking he was the next big thing and had me draft him in the first round of my fantasy draft the next season. Something I could never recover from, and finished near the bottom, but that's another story.
Of course it's not a given he even makes the team as he joins a crowded backfield that includes Maroney, Sammy Morris, K. Faulk, and Heath Evans. All those guys except for Evans have had their fair share of injuries though, so some added depth never hurts.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
Yeah, thats an interesting acquisition. I think he should be given a fair chance at the starting position though, as Maroney isn't really suited in that role in my opinion.
You're a Raider fan, right James? What happened to Jordan the last 2 years? Was it just a case of him playing for a hapless team, no offense. Kind of like what Randy Moss went through.
Maroney showed flashes towards the end of last season. They leaned on him more heavily down the stretch, until the Super Bowl of course when they reverted back to the passing game despite the fact that Brady got knocked on his ass repeatedly (sorry it still hurts). He was more effective his rookie year when he split time with Corey Dillon so it's still not clear whether he can be a #1 back in the NFL. Last season, Sammy Morris was the more productive back before he got injured and went on IR. But again, Maroney has a lot of talent and showed that late in the season. Lots of teams have gone the route of having 2 to 3 good RB's and rotating them, keeping them fresh. I think it's a good, under the radar signing.
