Bob Costas last night during halftime of the Sunday Night game!
"In Chicago today, as the Bears routed the Lions, Devin Hester did what he does better than anyone ever has -- he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown. This was Hester's 17th career kick return for a score, punt and kickoff runbacks combined. Make it 18 if you throw in a 108-yard reversal-of-fortunes return of a missed field goal; 19 if we're counting postseason, as Hester sliced through the Colts on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI, after which, Tony Dungy, a very smart man, reminded himself of that fact and didn't kick to him again.
Which brings up this question: Why does anyone ever kick to Hester? And why would anyone ever turn their back or leave their seat when someone does?
Here is one of the most electrifying performers in NFL history, who hasn't just followed, but, in his specialty, has gone beyond the likes of Travis Williams; Billy “White Shoes” Johnson; the still active Josh Cribbs; Brian Mitchell, who held the record until Hester zoomed past him; and even Hester's revered Bears predecessor, a player for the ages named Gale Sayers.
Now some of those players, most certainly including Sayers, did other things better than Hester, who doubles as a wide receiver. But when it comes to running back kicks, he's the best the League has ever seen. And at 29 and in good health, he's likely to put more distance between himself and everyone else on the list.
Which raises another question, can you make the Hall of Fame essentially as a special teams player?
Jan Stenurud is the only pure kicker in the Hall. There's no pure punter there, Ray Guy's many proponents notwithstanding. If there is to be a Hester candidacy, whatever he's done as a receiver is incidental. He'd make it for stuff like this (video of kick returns), and when somebody's the best the game has ever seen at what they do, really, how can you keep him out?"
"In Chicago today, as the Bears routed the Lions, Devin Hester did what he does better than anyone ever has -- he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown. This was Hester's 17th career kick return for a score, punt and kickoff runbacks combined. Make it 18 if you throw in a 108-yard reversal-of-fortunes return of a missed field goal; 19 if we're counting postseason, as Hester sliced through the Colts on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI, after which, Tony Dungy, a very smart man, reminded himself of that fact and didn't kick to him again.
Which brings up this question: Why does anyone ever kick to Hester? And why would anyone ever turn their back or leave their seat when someone does?
Here is one of the most electrifying performers in NFL history, who hasn't just followed, but, in his specialty, has gone beyond the likes of Travis Williams; Billy “White Shoes” Johnson; the still active Josh Cribbs; Brian Mitchell, who held the record until Hester zoomed past him; and even Hester's revered Bears predecessor, a player for the ages named Gale Sayers.
Now some of those players, most certainly including Sayers, did other things better than Hester, who doubles as a wide receiver. But when it comes to running back kicks, he's the best the League has ever seen. And at 29 and in good health, he's likely to put more distance between himself and everyone else on the list.
Which raises another question, can you make the Hall of Fame essentially as a special teams player?
Jan Stenurud is the only pure kicker in the Hall. There's no pure punter there, Ray Guy's many proponents notwithstanding. If there is to be a Hester candidacy, whatever he's done as a receiver is incidental. He'd make it for stuff like this (video of kick returns), and when somebody's the best the game has ever seen at what they do, really, how can you keep him out?"
The K-Line approves!
