Chicago Bears’ return man extraordinaire Devin Hester is threatening to skip the entire 2008 NFL Season if he doesn’t receive a new contract from the team.
”I feel like I should have been one of the top guys rewarded after the two seasons I had,” he said. ”Now, I’m the last guy.
”I was not getting anywhere [in negotiations], and it was a big risk for me going out there and possibly being hurt. I couldn’t do that. It wasn’t a tough decision for me to make. Me and my agent agreed during OTAs [after he skipped some of the offseason program] for me to come back, and then they would start negotiating with it. That hasn’t been done yet, and we have to make a statement: We’re willing to do whatever it takes to get paid.”
However, as profootballtalk.com reported, the deadline for players under contract to report and earn a season of credit toward free agency is Aug. 5. Hester would jeopardize that by going beyond that date, but he sounded like he was willing to go to any length to be compensated.
”For me to be being paid as much as players on other teams who are sixth- and seventh-round picks who haven’t played a snap. …” Hester said. ”They’re getting paid the same amount as me after the two years I’ve had. I felt like it was time for a change. It isn’t fair.”
Wow, the Bears really need this right now, don’t they? A year ago they went through the same situation with linebacker Lance Briggs. Up until a few days ago, they had to re-negotiate with an upset Brian Urlacher. Now Hester.
Here’s the thing though: DEVIN HESTER IS THE BEARS OFFENSE. Without his kick returns or opposing teams kicking the ball out of bounds to avoid him taking one to the house, the Bears won’t start on the 40-yard line every time. Of course, they proved last year that even starting on the 40 doesn’t guarantee them points, but at least with Hester they have a shot. Even if Chicago is in the better position contract-wise, they’ve got to pay this kid what he’s worth or hope the defense can score points like it did in 2006.
