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Brilliant move. Game changer.

he was... a few year's ago anyway... but it gets Richard off the field and that's worth the signing.

js

Maybe he has some mojo left, maybe not. Regardless, anything is better than 25 fair catching everything. Richardson looked fine returning KO's - we needed a proven punt returner.

hester has arrived in a dream scenario . Championship quality playoff team set up to block for an explosive returner.
He's going to house one.

I dig it. Didn't know he was still in the league but Hester may have one last mojo in a bottle for us. Seems like a win win and he can at least give us better field position.

Stream Hawk wrote:I dig it. Didn't know he was still in the league but Hester may have one last mojo in a bottle for us. Seems like a win win and he can at least give us better field position.

No the guy is 34 years old, he will do a little more than call for a fair catch, I just hope he doesn't drop the ball. Remember folks, he got cut for a reason.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/p ... stDe99.htm

He didn't have some enormous drop in production, I am guessing Baltimore found a younger, cheaper alternative, can't say that I blame them, that said, Hester was still productive when they released him, so I'm not entirely sure that implying he can't play any longer is accurate.

For comparison..

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/p ... ckTy00.htm

He may be good at catching bubble screeens on third and long.

Hester has never gotten a ring in his hall of fame career. Now he has one more chance.
Motivation.

HumanCockroach wrote:http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HestDe99.htm

He didn't have some enormous drop in production, I am guessing Baltimore found a younger, cheaper alternative, can't say that I blame them, that said, Hester was still productive when they released him, so I'm not entirely sure that implying he can't play any longer is accurate.

For comparison..

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/p ... ckTy00.htm

It's the 5 fumbles that did him in. If he can hang on to the ball, he's solid. But given the fumbles and Pete's obsession about the ball, I'm a bit surprised he's the guy they brought in.

Oly wrote:
It's the 5 fumbles that did him in. If he can hang on to the ball, he's solid. But given the fumbles and Pete's obsession about the ball, I'm a bit surprised he's the guy they brought in.

5 fumbles doesn't constitute a particularly bad year for Devin. He's always been a high risk/high reward type of player.

Devin Hester years with 5 or more fumbles:

2006 - 8 (Pro Bowl)
2008 - 5
2011 - 5 (2nd team All Pro)
2013 - 5
2016 - 5

So it's not as though 5 fumbles all that unusual for him, nor that it meant he had a bad year.

I am actually a bit surprised that Pete picked him up with as much as he emphasizes ball security. I think it speaks to a) how much Pete wants a real threat on returns and b) how much we really don't want to expose Sherm unnecessarily.

It might be that part of it is to give a spark to an inconsistent Offense.
Good field position also makes it easier on the Defense when the Offense sputters.

c_hawkbob wrote:5 fumbles doesn't constitute a particularly bad year for Devin. He's always been a high risk/high reward type of player.

Devin Hester years with 5 or more fumbles:

2006 - 8 (Pro Bowl)
2008 - 5
2011 - 5 (2nd team All Pro)
2013 - 5
2016 - 5

So it's not as though 5 fumbles all that unusual for him, nor that it meant he had a bad year.

I am actually a bit surprised that Pete picked him up with as much as he emphasizes ball security. I think it speaks to a) how much Pete wants a real threat on returns and b) how much we really don't want to expose Sherm unnecessarily.

The thing is that the returns aren't what they used to be, but the risk is still there. I mean, his stats aren't bad, it's just that if he's not producing huge returns and TDs, the fumbles hurt more.

Anyone watching Sherman dropping punts in pre game last week shouldn't worry about Hesters ball security.
Its the alamo, there's no back door.
In a perfect world Lockette the rocket is our return guy and Hester is retired. But it just isn't the reality and with all the other problems we cannot afford to have basically no threat to shorten the field in the return game.
In the postseason we cant be getting Richardson and Sherman etc gassed and maybe banged up on returns.

Its double trouble for Seattle because Lock handled all the returns, not just punts.


This is a guy who is microwave in terms of walking in the door ready to roll. Its a ballsy brilliant gamble.
At least if we are going down there wont be any bullets left in the chamber.

I think if he is able to successfully secure fair catches, and make a couple of decent long returns, it will have been a good decision.

Pleasantly surprised.
Hester still has some in the tank, and I agree that his pursuit of a ring will help him get whatever 2nd wind he needs.

jshawaii22 wrote:he was... a few year's ago anyway... but it gets Richard off the field and that's worth the signing.

js

Off topic a little, but why was Sherman and not Richardson returning punts last Sunday?

Probably because he's practiced returning punts for over two years solidly, Richardson hasn't.

Hawktawk wrote:Anyone watching Sherman dropping punts in pre game last week shouldn't worry about Hesters ball security.
Its the alamo, there's no back door.
In a perfect world Lockette the rocket is our return guy and Hester is retired. But it just isn't the reality and with all the other problems we cannot afford to have basically no threat to shorten the field in the return game.
In the postseason we cant be getting Richardson and Sherman etc gassed and maybe banged up on returns.

Its double trouble for Seattle because Lock handled all the returns, not just punts.


This is a guy who is microwave in terms of walking in the door ready to roll. Its a ballsy brilliant gamble.
At least if we are going down there wont be any bullets left in the chamber.

Dangit....I always thought we were in the matrix.......Used to eat at the restaurant called Hooters too once in a while.