Does Anyone Know If We Could Use The Franchise Tag on Hester?

[Slacker]

the kick-off stuff, for example. how many times did he take it out of the endzone 5 or 6 yards deep? so he runs it back to the 22 yard line, but why? that's a 27 yard return that doesn't help your team at all.

Seriously? You don't see value in him returning one to the 22 when he could have knelt and Bears get the ball on the 20? Lol, I gave you a good chunk of data and you can't take it from there? Here are all 40 of Hester's 2013 kick returns where the ball went at least 65 yards (goal line) and Hester chose to return it. It lists the depth the ball was received in the end zone, the distance the ball was returned, and the resulting field position. I have sorted by depth of kickoff.

-9 yds deep 23 yds returned 14 yard line
-9 yds deep 23 yds returned 14 yard line
-8 yds deep 76 yds returned opponent's 32 yard line
-8 yds deep 22 yds returned 14 yard line
-8 yds deep 28 yds returned 20 yard line
-8 yds deep 26 yds returned 18 yard line
-8 yds deep 18 yds returned 10 yard line
-7 yds deep 42 yds returned 35 yard line
-7 yds deep 21 yds returned 14 yard line
-7 yds deep 28 yds returned 21 yard line
-7 yds deep 57 yds returned 50 yard line
-7 yds deep 39 yds returned 32 yard line
-7 yds deep 26 yds returned 19 yard line
-6 yds deep 25 yds returned 19 yard line
-5 yds deep 32 yds returned 27 yard line
-5 yds deep 24 yds returned 19 yard line
-5 yds deep 28 yds returned 23 yard line
-5 yds deep 23 yds returned 18 yard line
-5 yds deep 23 yds returned 18 yard line
-5 yds deep 27 yds returned 22 yard line
-5 yds deep 20 yds returned 15 yard line
-4 yds deep 31 yds returned 27 yard line
-4 yds deep 21 yds returned 17 yard line
-4 yds deep 22 yds returned 18 yard line
-4 yds deep 39 yds returned 35 yard line
-4 yds deep 21 yds returned 17 yard line
-4 yds deep 27 yds returned 23 yard line
-4 yds deep 37 yds returned 33 yard line
-3 yds deep 80 yds returned opponent's 23 yard line
-3 yds deep 18 yds returned 15 yard line
-3 yds deep 24 yds returned 21 yard line
-3 yds deep 25 yds returned 22 yard line
-2 yds deep 28 yds returned 26 yard line
-2 yds deep 28 yds returned 26 yard line
-1 yds deep 14 yds returned 13 yard line
-1 yds deep 22 yds returned 21 yard line
-1 yds deep 36 yds returned 35 yard line
00 yds deep 31 yds returned 31 yard line
00 yds deep 20 yds returned 20 yard line
00 yds deep 29 yds returned 29 yard line

4 of his 5 biggest KR's came from at least 7 yards deep in the endzone.
And to answer your question he returned a kick from at least 5 yards deep 21 times, averaged over 30 yards per return, and the Bears averaged getting the ball past the 23 yard line.

 

[ZenBear34]

Seriously? You don't see value in him returning one to the 22 when he could have knelt and Bears get the ball on the 20? Lol, I gave you a good chunk of data and you can't take it from there? Here are all 40 of Hester's 2013 kick returns where the ball went at least 65 yards (goal line) and Hester chose to return it. It lists the depth the ball was received in the end zone, the distance the ball was returned, and the resulting field position. I have sorted by depth of kickoff.

-9 yds deep 23 yds returned 14 yard line
-9 yds deep 23 yds returned 14 yard line
-8 yds deep 76 yds returned opponent's 32 yard line
-8 yds deep 22 yds returned 14 yard line
-8 yds deep 28 yds returned 20 yard line
-8 yds deep 26 yds returned 18 yard line
-8 yds deep 18 yds returned 10 yard line
-7 yds deep 42 yds returned 35 yard line
-7 yds deep 21 yds returned 14 yard line
-7 yds deep 28 yds returned 21 yard line
-7 yds deep 57 yds returned 50 yard line
-7 yds deep 39 yds returned 32 yard line
-7 yds deep 26 yds returned 19 yard line
-6 yds deep 25 yds returned 19 yard line
-5 yds deep 32 yds returned 27 yard line
-5 yds deep 24 yds returned 19 yard line
-5 yds deep 28 yds returned 23 yard line
-5 yds deep 23 yds returned 18 yard line
-5 yds deep 23 yds returned 18 yard line
-5 yds deep 27 yds returned 22 yard line
-5 yds deep 20 yds returned 15 yard line
-4 yds deep 31 yds returned 27 yard line
-4 yds deep 21 yds returned 17 yard line
-4 yds deep 22 yds returned 18 yard line
-4 yds deep 39 yds returned 35 yard line
-4 yds deep 21 yds returned 17 yard line
-4 yds deep 27 yds returned 23 yard line
-4 yds deep 37 yds returned 33 yard line
-3 yds deep 80 yds returned opponent's 23 yard line
-3 yds deep 18 yds returned 15 yard line
-3 yds deep 24 yds returned 21 yard line
-3 yds deep 25 yds returned 22 yard line
-2 yds deep 28 yds returned 26 yard line
-2 yds deep 28 yds returned 26 yard line
-1 yds deep 14 yds returned 13 yard line
-1 yds deep 22 yds returned 21 yard line
-1 yds deep 36 yds returned 35 yard line
00 yds deep 31 yds returned 31 yard line
00 yds deep 20 yds returned 20 yard line
00 yds deep 29 yds returned 29 yard line

4 of his 5 biggest KR's came from at least 7 yards deep in the endzone.

so from 8 yards or deeper he had one long return, 4 returns at the 15 or less, one at the 20 and one at the 18. that is poor decision making. 6 of 7 choices netter a touchback or less.

from 5-7 yards, 3 yielded good returns, 7 less then a touchback, 4 were between 1 and 7 yards of a touchback.

which is exactly what i'm saying. a guy isn't a good hitter because he swings at every single pitch and hits a few home runs.

like i said, hester is still a good return man, but he's clearly lost a step, and he's obviously not going to get better with age. if he wants to return for $1 mil or so, then great. the days of needing to invest heavily in a return man are over. we have an actual NFL offense. that money would be far better spent on defense.

 

[RacerX]

He is in obvious decline, let's be honest. Some posters want him around to break a record in a Bears' uniform, fine. I could not care less if he ever does or does not break a record or what jersey he is wearing, time for new blood IMO.

 

[Slacker]

so from 8 yards or deeper he had one long return, 4 returns at the 15 or less, one at the 20 and one at the 18. that is poor decision making. 6 of 7 choices netter a touchback or less.

from 5-7 yards, 3 yielded good returns, 7 less then a touchback, 4 were between 1 and 7 yards of a touchback.

which is exactly what i'm saying. a guy isn't a good hitter because he swings at every single pitch and hits a few home runs.

like i said, hester is still a good return man, but he's clearly lost a step, and he's obviously not going to get better with age. if he wants to return for $1 mil or so, then great. the days of needing to invest heavily in a return man are over. we have an actual NFL offense. that money would be far better spent on defense.

Lol, what do you have against Hester?
From 8-9 deep yards he netted 18 yards more than if he had knelt, or over 2.5 yards per return.
From 5-7 deep yards he netted 52 yards more than if he had knelt, or 3.7 yards per return.
Those are bad decisions?
You realize there were roughly 30 touchbacks that weren't run out of the endzone?
You think Chicago wins the first Viking game without Hester's KR's?

 

[Geordie Bear]

I want him to break the official record while wearing a Chicago Bears uniform. Twenty years from now, it will be very important that classic NFL films show him in a Bears uniform returning the record-breaking kickoff/punt for a TD.

If the TD return from the Superbowl was counted, he would already have the record & I wouldn't care where he played next season.

Hi guys,
I'm new to this site...

I'd also have loved him to have broken the record in our colors but unfortunately it doesn't seem like that'll happen. ProFootballFocus rated him as the 6th best KR in the NFL last year. If he was cheap enough i'd keep him just to return but that depends on if we sign another FA who can return (I'd cut Bush and sign another RB so it would depend if the they can return well enough).

If he does go we can at least be thankful for him giving us some amazing moments...

Cheers
Geordie Bear

 

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Some posters want him around to break a record in a Bears' uniform, fine. I could not care less if he ever does or does not break a record or what jersey he is wearing, time for new blood IMO.

If I cuff a young chick as my mistress, I'm not giving her away to another guy right when she's on the verge of finally being what I envisioned her to be....Especially after I've invested time, money & effort into her.

 

[discplayer]

Why would he sign for that amount of money here when Lovie needs a returner?

and will clearly overpay for Devin's actual worth, which was the case here during his and Angelo's tenure (T. Harris anyone?)!