Devin Hester, a Hall of Famer?

[outofplace]

Ray Guy is in, and there's a much greater distance between Hester and the next-best return man than there is/was between Guy and the next-best punter.

I'm not sure we can ever really know that. Most of the great returners were too valuable at their other positions to do it full time.

This is a really good point. But Hester is the best who has ever done it, clearly, and I think that should get him in eventually. He is a game-changer.

Hester is the best who wasn't good enough at an every-down position for the team to stop using him on kick returns.

Doesn't matter. That's why he'll have to wait quite a while, but the Hall is for people who could change games, and he has done that. And not just the TDs, but setting his team up with good field position on hundreds of occasions.

Actually, it does matter. He's great at what he does, but what he does is not as important as a guy who plays every down.

No one said it did. It is important, whether you acknowledge it or not. Ray Guy is in, so Hester should have a shot too.

No, if there was a punter comparable to Guy, that would be relevant. Hester plays a different role, and he only got to play it so long because he wasn't good enough to be a starter at cornerback or receiver.

 

[BDC99]

No, if there was a punter comparable to Guy, that would be relevant. Hester plays a different role, and he only got to play it so long because he wasn't good enough to be a starter at cornerback or receiver.

I don't even know what the first part means. Guy was that far ahead of every other punter who has played in the NFL? Anyway, you don't think Hester deserves to be in the Hall. Duly noted. I disagree.

 

[outofplace]

No, if there was a punter comparable to Guy, that would be relevant. Hester plays a different role, and he only got to play it so long because he wasn't good enough to be a starter at cornerback or receiver.

I don't even know what the first part means. Guy was that far ahead of every other punter who has played in the NFL? Anyway, you don't think Hester deserves to be in the Hall. Duly noted. I disagree.

The first part means that Guy making it into the Hall of Fame would be a great argument for another punter. Kick returner is a very different role.

 

[BDC99]

No, if there was a punter comparable to Guy, that would be relevant. Hester plays a different role, and he only got to play it so long because he wasn't good enough to be a starter at cornerback or receiver.

I don't even know what the first part means. Guy was that far ahead of every other punter who has played in the NFL? Anyway, you don't think Hester deserves to be in the Hall. Duly noted. I disagree.

The first part means that Guy making it into the Hall of Fame would be a great argument for another punter. Kick returner is a very different role.

How so. Just because most kick returners do other things? Doesn't matter. They're pretty similar to me. Though a kick returner like Hester can impact the game more than any punter.

 

[outofplace]

No, if there was a punter comparable to Guy, that would be relevant. Hester plays a different role, and he only got to play it so long because he wasn't good enough to be a starter at cornerback or receiver.

I don't even know what the first part means. Guy was that far ahead of every other punter who has played in the NFL? Anyway, you don't think Hester deserves to be in the Hall. Duly noted. I disagree.

The first part means that Guy making it into the Hall of Fame would be a great argument for another punter. Kick returner is a very different role.

How so. Just because most kick returners do other things? Doesn't matter. They're pretty similar to me. Though a kick returner like Hester can impact the game more than any punter.

I mean kick returner and punter are very different roles. That is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Guy getting in really shouldn't be much of a factor for Hester.

And yes, we definitely disagree. The guy failed in attempts at taking on larger roles at two positions in the NFL. That is the main reason he has been able to do this for so long. His longevity comes from failure at wide receiver and cornerback. That should count against him.

 

[BDC99]

I mean kick returner and punter are very different roles. That is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Guy getting in really shouldn't be much of a factor for Hester.

And yes, we definitely disagree. The guy failed in attempts at taking on larger roles at two positions in the NFL. That is the main reason he has been able to do this for so long. His longevity comes from failure at wide receiver and cornerback. That should count against him.

Well, they are the same in that they are specialized positions that have smaller impacts on the game, and yes it will be held against him. Which is why it will take a while if he does get in.

And there is a list here of all of his returns, a fair number of which did indeed play a significant role in the outcome.

http://www.csnchicago.com/bears/devin-hesters-ridiculous-career-hall-fame-worthy

 

[cjericho]

Say what you will about Devin Hester. He's never made headlines for:

- Beating his wife.
- Beating his kids.
- Beating his dog.
- Shooting a gun.
- Illegally owning a gun.
- Drunk driving.
- Drunk anything.
- PEDs.
- Pot.
- Drugs of any sort.
- 10 kids by 12 women.

Is he a candidate for MENSA? Probably not. But I'll take him.

It takes 12 women to have 10 kids?

 

[Dick Whitman]

This is an honest question, oop: Do you think a guy like Barry Sanders or Chris Johnson, given the chance to return kicks exclusively, would be better at it than Hester?

 

[cjericho]

Bary Sanders definitely would be better, He may be a little slower in open field but he just made more people miss. He may not have as many TDs as Hester but he would be better.

 

[BDC99]

Bary Sanders definitely would be better, He may be a little slower in open field but he just made more people miss. He may not have as many TDs as Hester but he would be better.

I don't know. Sanders had tremendous instincts, so probably. But Hester's instincts and vision on those particular plays are what make him so good at it. I assume Sanders' would translate, but not so sure. And Johnson is just fast. You have to be quick to be a good return man.

 

[outofplace]

This is an honest question, oop: Do you think a guy like Barry Sanders or Chris Johnson, given the chance to return kicks exclusively, would be better at it than Hester?

In any circumstances, if you give me a choice of having Sanders or Hester carrying a football, I choose Sanders. I'm not as sure about Johnson.

But would they be better at returning kicks than Hester is at playing receiver? Without question.

 

[Della9250]

I think Guy was a finalist seven times. I'm not sure what year he went to the Veteran's committee.

This was the first time that Guy was a seniors nominee. He was a regular finalist in 2008, 2007, 2002, 1999, 1997, 1995 and the first time was 1992, which was his second year eligible to be nominated.