Devin Hester is the most exciting Bears player since Sayers

Roman don't forget that Devin has the heart that Gault didn't have. That guy would rather run out of bounds and not go across the middle because he had no heart. Walter Payton is why I became a BEARS' fan. CBS was doing a feature on him in 1977 and he was running in slow motion to the song NOBODY DOES IT BETTER. I sat there transfixed and TOTALLY amazed at this guy flying over and through people. I was 13 year-olds and I had never admired anyone before or since. I went out there and tried to do the things I had seen Walter do. I have arthritis everywhere on my person because of that. If Devin Hester converts a 12 or 13 year old who never watched the sport then he's just as amazing. But at 42 that guy makes me want to have my own son who is 13 years old,now,become a fan. Like my step-father before me I watch the games but I still remember what made me LOVE football. Maybe Hester will do that to some kid. I'm pretty sure he will. I'm still waiting for my son to come around.GO BEARS!!!!!

I always liked Dennis Gentry. He wasn't used that much but he always gave the team a spark.

Roman, Hester is a very exciting player. Butkus was exciting to me because you never knew when his next devastating hit was going to come. Hester is like a huge pyrotechnic shell, you just hope it does what it supposed to and not fall over and maim the spectators. I love watching him and I'll accept the risks of that occasional misfire. He's got to be getting into the heads of all the BEARS opponents from here on out. That can only help to divert the energies of coachs gameplanning for the BEARS. I like our chances in the playoffs because of him. Momentum is everything in the playoffs and he can swing a game in just 12 seconds.
Enjoy the competition not just the results. This year for me is a success because of all the different ways in which the BEARS have won. No matter how it ends, I'm gonna remember it well.

Hester is a very exciting player to watch, but you can't compare him to sweetness. Everytime Payton touched the ball I used to get chills, Hester does give you that same tingle, but you knew Walter was going to get the rock 25-30 times a game and do something you have never seen before. He was the best running back, receiver and quarterback on the team for some time. Just a special player with a special heart. I don't want to bust Hester's bubble but we have seen this movie before. Recall a couple seasons ago the Dante Hall phenomenon, before him it was Desmond Howard, Vai Sikahema, the list is quite long. It's what he does after they stop kicking to him that will make him great.

Roman, Hester is the most excitement that the Bears have had since Williams' overtime return on Thanksgiving Day.

Hester is a special player. He has the rare gift of unreal speed and explosion. Dante Hall and Howard did not have the speed that Hester does. Teams cannot afford to kick away from him on kickoffs without giving up great field position in return. Hester needs to have the ball in his hands more. He needs to be used for a handful of plays on offense. The ball doesn't even have to go to him. He could be a perfect decoy to get BB and Moose open for huge gains. He has the gifts and explosion that scare opposing defenses and give def. cordinateers nightmares. Imagine him on a reverse of hitch and go pattern. He reaches full speed in 3 steps!! I hope Lovie is bluffing and waiting for the playoffs to unleash Devin on opposing defenses. If he is not and the Bears end up losing early, he will probably be run out of town. Angelo, like most fans, says that Hester being on offense should be a "no-brainer". Let's hope that we will see Devin working his magic on offense come playoff time. He is the game-changer that Rex and Co. sure could use.

That Davis William's TD was very exciting. But weren't we in the middle of our usual crappy seasons back then? 1980? I liked Dennis"pinky"Gentry too. Did he ever score any TDs? I know his team mates really like him. I really can't remember if he ever scored. Sometimes when I think of special teams I think about the Green Bay game when we blocked the kick or something like that and the little Packer-dude with the glasses ran it in. Gosh, that's when I really learned to hate the Pack. When was that? Guy name began with an M. OH, the memories.CUE the scratched needle. GO BEARS!!!!

Sayers was the best, but there was a back named Willie Galimore who could cut on a dime. Sayers and Hester seem to be able to make the one correct cut and turn on the after burners. Galimore seemed to judge exactly when to cut and make the defender fall on their butt trying to match his cut.

You know,I wish the NFL could release whole games that the old-timers played. Nowadays you can get whole seasons on tape and disc and all you can get from the older players is their high-lights. I'd like to see some of the players I missed. I'm serious,but it's funny how some people talk about the bygone players like they were in Greek mythology. "THOR had the best arm and he could throw his mighty hammer and strike down Achilles", " he ran like Zephyr or something like that. It'll be good for when I'm 70 talking about the 85 BEARS and having tape(if they still have it) and showing my grand-peeps what those players were like. I won't be surprised if they only saw mere mortals. Just a thought ,GO bEARS!!

Hester is a great talent. I am going to hold off on putting him in Hall of Fame players status today though. Let's see how good he is year two. Let's see how many more plays he can make before we put him with the likes of Payton and Sayers. Cassius M. Williams

I think it depends on what a person's liking.Do you like speed and jukes, or do you like head jarring hits,or even bomb passes and a ton of passing yards? Me personnally like the way payton played.He had speed, heart and not to mention the meanest shoulder and stiff arm of all time.How many times we see sweetness lower the boom on a db or lb trying to push him out of bounds.How many players ate artificial turf cuz payton stiff armed their faces to the turf.I almost forgot the way he seemingly could leap from the 3 yard line over 2 guys for a td.Besides payton,i give the fridge a honorable mention as a rb.Come on, how many of you guys felt like HELL YEA PLOW THAT S??T IN .It was great watching a big fat guy running the rock.I was too young to remember sayers and all i saw was highlights so i can't talk about what i don't know.

Ok it Is like this Devin Hester Rookie of the year He plays special teams like no other but just ok at defence and i hope lovie isn't too dumb to try him in offence as a rb ,wr ,or te I just hope this kid wont get a big head that is the last thing we need

Willie Gallimore was a great running back who had Sayers' moves but not his speed. He and a teammate (tight end) had their careers cut short in an auto accident. I am old enough to remember him. It had quite an impact on the Bears at the time.

I was old enough to enjoy the ridiculousness of Gale Sayers, not only on kickoffs but on every handoff. I felt that every time Sayers got the ball, the fan was prepared for something magical to occur.
Now it's Hester and kickoffs.
And as far as Bear lore goes, let's not forget Red Grange. Missed his career, but c'mon, with a nickname like his, 1920's Bear fan had to rank him as exciting as Sayers and Hester.
Can we say that this phenomena of greatness appears to be an 'every forty years' thing?

Well, Hester as exciting as sayers? I can't overlook walter, he was an original as as good as they come. Sayers was sort of an original too, we hadn't seen anything like him before or since. Sayers and Walter were exciting running backs too, not just a returner like Hester. I think it just points out how few above average offensive players the bears have had in the last 40 years, lets see, 2. And now they have a really fast guy who doesn't have a position and the coaches can't even be bothered to get him on the field on offense??? I don't think hester can really be all of that, if his own coaches can't be bothered to draw up a play or two for him on offense. Lovie just does what lovie does, no matter what everyone else on the planet can see and would do. It is the same kind of arrogance that got the bears beat by carolina in the playoffs. Tell me hester can't be as good a receiver as davis or gage.

Why put Hester in at Receiver? If he got hurt you guys would say that was a dumb move. The guy doesn't even wear lower padding because it restricts him from moving fast. We already have speed in the receiver spot. If he got out there and got blasted like some players love to do then you'd be sorry. If being a receiver meant just running up and down the field we'd be great already. It involves timing and precise route running. If he was gonna be a decoy that's about all you could expect. But if they thru an interception while he was out there he'd be free game for anyone to lay a vicious like on. You guys were saying that Vasher should be on offense last year after he ran back that missed FG for a TD. Why down coaches if they are trying to protect their assets. If we lost him to injury because he got hurt on offense then you guys would have something to cry about. Every announcer worth his salt says it's a bad idea. Fans always overdo something until there is nothing left to do. Have you ever heard of fatigue? Most rookies only play 11 or 12 games good because that's what they're used to playing in college. Leave him where he is and concentrate on shoring up the offense we already have.

I love watching Hester run, and I have only seen Sayers in clips, but Walter was the reason I became a Bears fan (about the same time Mr. Donald did) and is the reason I am still one to this day. His running style was all about guts and passion, putting his head down and creaming guys to get extra yards. And for what? Most of the time he did that he was playing for a bad team! He was such a competitor, and I look at some of the talented players that are in the league and wonder what they would be like if they had half as much heart as Payton did. Still the best.

C'mon guys. Hester is exciting, but to put him in the same class as Sayers or Payton? Hester's scored 6 touchdowns. Nice but not on the same page with "Sweetness". When an overweight defensive lineman with a moniker like "Refridgerator attempts to pick Hester up and throw him across the goal line in the Super Bowl then we can start to make comparisons.

Let's not over do it? It has certaily been the most electrifying performance we have ever seen in one season for a return specialist, for the Bears or anyone. But Hester is still just a rookie. Let's see how he does over the long haul.

William, if he shouldn't play offense because we are afraid of him getting hurt then what is your take on him playing defense then? He is going to see some contact there for sure.

My stance on him on offense is we should use him with a limited amount of plays...but not until the playoffs when its really needed. To do it now only exposes the Bears hand too early.

The reason he was in on D is because we were short handed. Believe me that was a last resort. They crossed their fingers every time he was in on a tackle. All the announcers who made great comments consistently said that they wouldn't put him in on D either. In the post season I'm all for it-in a limited basis as well. But the people who are saying do it now or you're stupid are the ones that's keeping up the hype.

Hester is a phenomenal talent, one of the most dangerous players in the league right now, a candidate for ROY and the biggest X-Factor, either conference, any team, heading into the playoffs. That said, it is WAY too premature to call this anything but a magical season for the kid. Hopefully this is the start of something good, and I have every reason to think it will be, but we Bears' fans need to keep perspective and not depend on DH come the playoffs. The meat is in our Defense and Running Backs - DH is the gravy that adds the flavor and makes the meal complete.

William,
I'm not saying do it now. I think that in the playoffs is a good time to throw him in there and run certain plays for him. Most recievers don't have pads on there legs either. Just look at Berrian. He is a weapon that could exploit the other teams D and in the playoffs you want to do everything to gain the advantage over your opponent. I think that he could be that advantage. The D would almost certainly shift alot of personnel over to the side Devin's on which would free up our recievers for a big-play. All he would have to learn would simple plays like screens or reverses. Plus you can get hurt playing anywhere on the field. He has the talent that could jumpstart Rex and the O.

If Hester doesn't find a way into a few offensive plays this year then Lovie Smith has to go down as the most stubborn coach ever. Reggie Bush opens up the New Orleans offense because the defense has to account for him. They fake a reverse to him about 10 times a game and he swings out to the flat another 10 times. Using Hester that way would be wonderful even if he only touched the ball once or twice per game. I guarantee that Grossman will have more time if Hester lines up in the slot and goes in motion with Grossman in the shot gun. The defense will be jumping around trying to figure out where he's at.

Sweetness! " Nobody does it better" video great memories. God bless him! Loved D. Gentry! Hester is going to make is mark with the Bears ( as if he already hasn't) Go Devin! Listen to Deion! Stay good and Stay healthy. Go Florida Boys!

Hey Blake how many games has Berrian missed due to injuries these past two years? How many knee injuries has he had? He never plays tough.After he came back from the rib injury he got clocked right off the bat and you didn't see him for the rest of the game. He doesn't play like an all around WR because he is all speed. If it wasn't for the speed and seperation he barely catch passes. He doesn't scrap with the DBs for INTs. He's the main person the BEARS are going to on Rex's INTs. He doesn't armor-up because he only cares about running past someone and doesn't anticipate contact. He is a soft player who remind me too much of Gault. Speed to burn but played soft. Moose wears them and in all actuality he's hurt less than all the rest. Moose doesn't have the speed but he does everything else you want your receiver to do. Experience is not wasted by this guy. I also think that it's OK to do something extra with Hester for the post season. I keep saying that people won't shut up about it until we use it in the regular season. Football is best executed with the element of surprise. Why show it or even hint that you're gonna do it before hand. Don't waste it on the regular season. Come out in the post season and watch them scramble to adjust. If we do it now they can practice it a little. Some people want the BEARS to come out and say that's what they are gonna do. Who said during 85 that we are gonna put Fridge in the back-field. No one, and he came out and blew EVERYONE away. All I'm saying is just wait to see if it will happen. Don't force anything on someone like so many fans like to do. Name one player on D who doesn't wear padding on their legs? Walter used to wear the biggest thigh pads besides Earl Campbell and look at how much contact those guys intiated. When you armor-up all the way you're ready to go to war. ARMOR-UP & GO BEARS!!!

You know what,Frank, every time I read your blog I get the urge to get something to eat. I just can't remember how to make gravy. HHMMM.. I think I'll make---Any way, if we play N.O. in a playoff game put him in early. If we play Dallas wait until we REALLY need him. Roy Williams would destroy him if he got his hands on him. If he got hurt who would we put in for PRs and KRs? After him a sandwich- Oh I"m sorry- (SEE Frank) After him all the rest are just blase'.

Hester is a speedster and has done well so far. I remember a certain coach for the Packers. (Lomardi) who use to have someone wear number 40 Bear jersey during practice against the defense and kick coverage teams. You can't get any more respect than that. Sayers still is the greatest Bear offensive threat in their history. Go Bears!!!

I respectfully disagree... You sound like you were also to young to remember Payton (maybe not), who was not only the greatest bear but the most exciting. The only NFL player that is even comparable to Payton's excitement on the field was Barry Sanders, in my opinion. The two most exciting players ever in the modern game! How quickly we forget! Devin Hester has provided some great memories for the 06' season but is yet to provide years of excitement created from a sustained career. Right now he is only a returner and needs to improve as a DB. If the media and Bears Staff don't keep Hester in check mentally he will have the pumpkin (BIG) head. You can already see it with his antics before he catches the ball as of late... SECURE THE BALL! The media has made Hester the most exciting, not to take anything away from his amazing hitoric accomplishments THIS SEASON!

I say that Devin Hester is what Dennis Gentry was to the 85' Bears. The only difference is that Gentry, played running back, wide receiver, kick/punt returner, and even through a few times.

Devin Hester has to do something really good. After that last game, he has been dry. That is because kickers are afraid to kick to him

Roman responds: After three fumbles, I'd kick it directly to him.

Hester has had the greatest return season ever in NFL history, and whenever you talk about the NFL and its entire history, thats is an amazing accomplishment. It's not fair to compare him to Gault, or anyone else for that matter, as Gault was one of the fastest men not only in football but in the entire world, so no one has that type of pure speed. Hester is a much better return man though, both vision and lateral movement are as important as speed when you have a great return man. To put Hester's season in perspective, if a record stands for 20 years in the NFL, then thats an amazing record. However Ken Houston's record that he broke for return TDs has stood for 35 years before he broke it! That tells you how difficult that record was to break. He also broke Gale Sayers punt return yardage record that stood for over 50 years! It really is an amazing thing we have witnessed this year watching him as a return man. Really these records he set this year could stand for 50 years or even more from here on out, thats how difficult it is to do what he did. Obviously he's not in the class of Payton or Sayers, not even close, but as a return specialist we have witnessed a special talent that you may not see again in your lifetime.

why and how do you have all of them stats so quick so fast. do you know you are my favorite person on the bears. write back and i hope u win the superbowl.

Here is the scoop. Devin (is from the word devine or godly). Hester comes from the biblical hebraic word hester meaning hidden.
HTherefore Hester is Divinely Hidden, which explains why people can't catch him.