NFL: Hester shouldn't be starting for Chicago Bears

The greatest kick returner ever will never be more than the mediocre receiver he is today.

Before you even try and get pissed off, this is not a slam Devin Hester post. Let’s be clear to those who don’t understand the concept of listening being a skill. I love Devin Hester. I have no problem watching both his college and NFL touchdowns over and over like I’m listening to Tupac’s All Eyez On Me album. He ranks right up there with MJ, Ryno & Stu Grimson as one of the best Chicago athletes to wear #23. Relax, I’m kidding about the former Blackhawks enforcer. He is one of my favorite Bears ever, but he has been miscast as a starting wide receiver ever since the Bears gave him a 4 year $40 million deal in ’08 with $22 million in new money.

I won’t even touch Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo touting him as a future #1 in the Steve Smith mold, because that is still one of the most ludicrous things I’ve ever heard. I feel for Hester because he shouldn’t have the burden of playing a position that he was never meant to play. And with a team that is about to enter their last best chance to win a Super Bowl (I base that on the age of the team’s best defensive players), he shouldn’t have to excel at said position.

The Chicago Bears have forced the issue with Hester ever since they paid him like a #1 receiver. The Bears should enter this Falcons game with Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox starting and getting the majority of the snaps in two receiver sets. Why? Because Roy Williams apparently retired after the ’07 season, and Cuts has confidence that Earl the Pearl will be where he is supposed to be, when he’s supposed to be there. As game breaking as Hester can be, if real life was a Madden video game, his offensive awareness would be around a 27. Hester was born to run like Forrest Gump was. Leave it at that.

In the assistant general manager’s offense, the receiver has to be exactly where Martz wants him on a given play. Hester doesn’t have the feel, or let’s be honest, football smarts to be counted on in this complex scheme. Like I’ve been preaching forever, he should be a specialty player along the lines of Eric Metcalf, Brian Mitchell and Deion Sanders in his Dallas years. Give the guy 10-12 plays to remember, and let his ungodly athletic ability take over.

The Bears never knew how to handle the Hester contract, and felt compelled to make him what he’s not. Jay Cutler needs to have confidence in the people he’s throwing to. I’d bet my arm that he’s already mentally done with Roy Williams. Holy shit, even Dane Sanzenbacher has 6?s trust. Devin Hester is the perfect role guy for the Bears offense. It’s just a shame that they are justifying his starting spot because of the money they paid him.