Devin Hester Is Available
July 26th, 2016
UPDATE: 11:41 a.m. – With Adam Humphries as the No. 1 kick returner entering training camp, and the Kenny Bell Mob pumped up to have their catchless crusader claim the No. 3 receiving role, it’s no wonder Joe is stimulated by the Falcons’ release of Devin Hester this morning.
Once upon a time, ex-Bears head coach Lovie Smith insisted Hester was a No. 1 receiver for Chicago. Lovie was dead wrong, as Bears fans know too well.
But Dirk Koetter, as Falcons’ offensive coordinator, figured out how to use Hester. In 2014, Hester caught 38 balls for 504 yards and two touchdowns as a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver, in addition to flashing his Hall of Fame returner skills.
Last year, Hester was hurt at 33 years old and went to injured reserve for complicated foot-toe/turf-toe surgery. He missed the offseason, and now he’s on the street. He turns 34 in November.
So should Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter fly Hester to Tampa immediately for a chat and a medical consultation? Absolutely. Why not? It can’t hurt to get a deep understanding of Hester’s body and desire. Hester potentially could be a great Band-Aid for the Bucs at two thin positions.
UPDATE: Per NFL Network, Hester has no plans to retire.
July 26th, 2016 at 11:24 am
Can he go back in time?
July 26th, 2016 at 11:24 am
This sounds like a fantasy football gm type move. Plus the dude stiffed us 2 years ago.
July 26th, 2016 at 11:46 am
I think we can all agree that Devin Hester is probably STILL better than Adam Humphries. I like the idea of bringing another veteran on the team to boost our WR depth and mentor our next GREAT kick returner!
“Let’s make Tampa Great again!”
July 26th, 2016 at 11:49 am
Get him here, why the hell not? Can’t have enough bodies in camp competing for roles. 1 yr. deal and let him compete despite his age he is a competitor I’ll take him over Dye or any of those guys even if it would be a 1 yr. deal.
July 26th, 2016 at 12:15 pm
They signed a nobody since he had a ring why not a sombody who’s still a whole lot better at everything than lil ol ‘Rudy’Humphries?
July 26th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
The only big thing that concerns me is why that toe injury has taken so long to heal..and is it almost at 90 percent good..
Other than that..why not!!??
July 26th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
No need to fly him anywhere, He lives in Orlando, Own’s a multi million dollar home.
July 26th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Bring him in to compete. It’s 2 years too late but if he can be an upgrade, why not?
July 26th, 2016 at 1:10 pm
We have mentors and bridge players at every spot except returner… I imagine the worst that can happen is he would impart his HOF returner wisdom on one of our youngens…
I agree OneLove.
“Lets make Tampa GREAT again.”
July 26th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Thanks but no thanks. We finally have some depth on this team and roster spots are at a premium. Hester has only scored 2 return TD’s since 2012 but has given up 7 fumbles. Arguably a HOF specialist but there is just no room on this roster for KR/PR 4 years past his prime, and that a good thing.
July 26th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
Speaking of Lovie (not his boy)….. say what??????????????
Also, hester better do more than return kicks..otherwise hes taking up a roster spot.
July 26th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Hester would definitely be an upgrade over Humphreys. He is getting older though and has had a history of injuries. It may not be a bad idea to let him compete in training camp for a starting roll. I still think there is potential for kenny bell to be a starting kick returner/slot reciever
July 26th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Dewey : he didn’t stiff us lovie didn’t want him or pay. He wanted to come here and said it. Lovie instead went through 5 kick returners that year and all sucked. While Hester ran one back in us that year.
Sign to friendly contract he can play still if healthy
July 26th, 2016 at 3:07 pm
The NFL is doing everything they can to make kickoffs obsolete, so investing a roster spot in a kick returner (or investing a premium draft pick in a kicker) is ludicrous.
Just put the #3 RB and #5 WR back there and let them take a knee, if the football even stays in play.
July 26th, 2016 at 3:24 pm
Joe’s you guys bust on fans all the time who yearn for the Bucs to sign the most recently cut over the hill guy just because they recognize the name. This article reeks of that to me
Hester will not be playing in 2016. You can bookmark this comment
July 26th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Devin Hester has some of the worst hands ive ever seen from a NFL reciever…..pure bricks. That dude can freaking run though!!!! Sign him up please.
July 26th, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Hester cannot hurt this team. If he can be signed for little as salary goes..Why not? I betcha he would return quite a few punts and kickoffs for more yards than we..have been getting.
July 26th, 2016 at 6:13 pm
I think the return game has been ignored by every front office/coaching staff this franchise has ever had. Either that or they have just been awful in that area.
July 27th, 2016 at 1:32 am
Would rather not. He’s washed up.
July 27th, 2016 at 8:05 am
He’s worth kicking the tires on. fly him down and see what kind of shape he’s in. What do we have to loose from it?? Plz tell me, he would be signed at veteran minimum. If he can still run, he’s still a threat. Simple as that. As everyone’s fav coach use to say. And it was Koetter who got the most out of him on offense and knew how to use him. I mean really guys? Humphries??…yawn.
July 27th, 2016 at 8:08 am
What was said on that pic above wit Hester talking with Lovie…
“Sorry coach u know I love ya and I hate u emberess u like that on TNF but that’s what happens when u don’t sign me cause u thought I was over the hill. Still think that now?? Lol