Truth & Rumors > NFL

Hester's holdout surprises Bears

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The tranquil start to Bears training camp disappeared faster than a Devin Hester touchdown return today when the Bears special teams ace refused to show up for the opening practice in a contract holdout. Hester did not report to camp on Tuesday night before midnight as players were required to do and missed team meetings this morning, but he officially became a contract holdout with the start of practice at 3 p.m.

Chicago Sun Times

Devin Hester, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Devin Hester, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
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July 24, 2008  07:35 AM ET

Hester needs to get paid more, but how much? I think he should get paid around 2.5 Mil this year and how well he does at WR should determine what his pay looks like.

Right now, I would look at the 7yrs-21 Mil range.....Because he is one dimensional....He is by far the best, but still......he has to get 40+ receptions this season.

July 24, 2008  07:43 AM ET

A player holding out is a surprise?

These days it's only a surprise if NOBODY holds out.

July 24, 2008  07:49 AM ET

lord a excellent return man and average at best WR. when will these guys learn. it's not like they were any good last year only primadonnas on losing teams hold out for more money. pay these guys based on their win loss records or something. but come on the bears holding out those guys should be so embarrased by what they failed to acheive last year they all should have been in camp early.

July 24, 2008  07:52 AM ET

If I was a Bear, and had Rex "I'm a Grossman" as QB, I'd holdout too for lots of money. I holdout until they got a real QB...

July 24, 2008  08:04 AM ET

vaughn9.. he pretty much WAS their offense 2 years ago and he didn't even play offense. No way a guy of that caliber should playing for less than half a million dollars.

July 24, 2008  08:47 AM ET

Why would it be a surprise...it is the sign of the times...

July 24, 2008  08:57 AM ET

The Bears organization needs to pay Hester more money. Give him an incentive laden contract - He is their legitimate #1 WR. I think a 5 million/2 year raise is in line. Then in 2 years if he IS the next Steve Smith, then pay him top dollar receiver money. He has definitely earned more money and should be making more than that some guy who holds the ball for the kicker in practice.

If you were in a job for two years at minimum wage and you excelled to the point where your role was expanded exponentially, wouldn't you be demanding a raise? That being that, I wish he wouldn't have held out of camp, do you think he has been listening to Neon Deion much? Either way, his slow learning *** needs time with the playbook now that Moose isn't their to get him into the right position.

July 24, 2008  09:29 AM ET

he knows he'll get his money...he knows he isnt going anywhere...why does he have to do it??

everyones getting paid...he KNOWS he's in line for big big money...

plus the difficult thing is...play out your contract cause ur not our returner anymore...ur a wide receiver now....so now ur on a whole different pay bracket now...so instead of being paid Josh cribbs money or w/e....he probably wants T.O. money.

July 24, 2008  09:39 AM ET

If you are going to give Urlacher a raise for no good reason, why not give one to a player who actually does something? Hester is the best chance the Bears have at winning any games.

July 24, 2008  09:49 AM ET

Here we go again...

July 24, 2008  10:07 AM ET

chicago should pay him right away.........give him a small 2/3 yr contract & a huge signing bonus....call it 'back-pay'

July 24, 2008  10:11 AM ET

I agree with America's Legend about waiting to see how he does as wide receiver, but I wouldn't sign him to a 7 year deal, nor do I think he would want a deal that long. I would give him the benefit of the doubt and tell him we'll sign you to a 1 or 2 year contract, and depending on his production, bump him up after that period. Kind of like a Probationary period that any normal Joe would get at a regular job.

Simply put, anyone who signs a deal for that long should fire their agent. All the Bears need is another Urlacher situation with Hester in the next 3 to 4 years.

July 24, 2008  10:19 AM ET

Ravens need to sign Hester

July 24, 2008  10:22 AM ET

He's worthy.....I say pay the man!

July 24, 2008  10:29 AM ET

let him go to another team, DA BEARS are terrible and they suck, they need alot of work.

July 24, 2008  10:31 AM ET

Why even bother signing a contract anymore! All of these guys should get one year deals since none of them are men enough to sign a contract in good faith anymore. He had one good year...big deal! Congrats on that...let's see you follow it up! Once you've done that, you're in the last year of the 3 year contract that you supposedly signed in good faith and will be able to negotiate an extended contract for the money that you actually deserve. If you're a one-year wonder, well, too bad so sad, maybe the Bears will be able to drop their ticket prices (yeah, right, like that will happen)!

July 24, 2008  10:43 AM ET

ohquitwhining - you are an idiot! He is in the third year of his contract. Two great amazing years where he has broken records and won games single-handedly. He followed up his outstanding rookie year with another outstanding sophomore year. He did not sign a three year contract and he is not in the last year of his contract. Where do you get your information from. He has also been moved to a #1 receiver type role and outperformed every expectation. He has done everything he has been asked to do (besides this years camp) and has excelled at it. Give the man a raise.

NYY25-13 - How do they need a lot of work. They are two years removed from the superbowl and now their defense is healthy. They have a better line, better RB tandem and IMO better core of receivers than last year. Not to mention one of the strongest TE combinations in the league. Our QB's are mediocre and are good backups, but that is the only area I think we need immediate improvement from and even they have been good-great at some point in their career. Get your head out of your own team's ***.

July 24, 2008  10:50 AM ET

unlike that grant in green bay ,,,,hester DESERVES to get paid more,,,,,,,,but if they dont wanna pay u more till yo last season or when yo contract is over then deall wit it n play ,,,,,olayers n teams made commitment when they sign a contract,,,,,they should honor that

 
July 24, 2008  10:52 AM ET

He probably figured that since they were making him a WR, he didn't need to show up until the Bears had a QB

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