Man I wanted Cordarelle Patterson so bad. But I knew and I was right that Ireland would never spend a 1st round pick on a WR no matter how talented. Devin Hester though could help out if the contract is reasonable and the expectations not too high.
I think you were dead on about Patterson. And, I would definitely cut Thigpen. He is mediocre. Hester gives you at least another year or two. And likely won't be high priced as he hasn't been in high demand.
He did at Oregon State, though I don't think his return averages were as good as you'd expect. Still would LOVE for Miami to draft him.
If he's still a viable weapon, then get him. This team could use another scoring threat. I wouldn't break the bank on him,but if it's reasonable and he can help put points on the board, why not?
Ive seen nothing on hester as far as where he is or who he might visit. Not sure whats going on there. Also Blount.
One other reason it helps to have a premier kickoff returner, and even now Hester is likely still top 5 in the league...with the kickoffs coming from the 35 we get more touchbacks, but many of them are not kicks through the end zone, but rather the returner catching it 5-9 yds deep and taking a knee. If you have an average return man taking a knee assures you the 20 and he probably would not get past it if he brought it out, most of the time. Now if you have a Cordarrelle Patterson, Jacoby Jones, or a Devin Hester, you are more likely going to want him bringing out any kick he catches cleanly. You trust his instincts to know based on the trajectory and direction of the kick if he has a reasonable chance to do something with it. This is going to mean you should have more drives starting at the 30-40 or beyond. Also, with more touchbacks, coverage teams are not as sharp on kick coverage as they would be if every kick or most kicks were run back. They are used to running down the field, seeing the kick returner taking a knee or the ball out the back of the end zone most of the time, and then slow to a trot the last third of the distance they run. This gives the teams with a top return man an added advantage because their guy is going to be more often bringing the ball out of the end zone as compared to the teams with a middling return man. He's going to be testing those less than sharp coverage teams, at least less sharp than when 80% of all kickoffs were being returned. JMO.
@mrclean: that is a fair idea but the stats say something else. LOS represents average starting field position (line of scrimmage) following a kickoff. NFL ranking is in parentheses. Year / Chi Los / Mia Los 2013 / 27.92 (13) / 27.65 (18) 2012 / 30.70 (4) / 25.40 (25) 2011 / 26.87 (24) / 29.29 (7) I like Thigpen and given the chance he always played very good. Just remember how many times his returns even return tds were called back because of penalties? Hester won't be a upgrade because I think that he passed his prime. JMO
Average starting field position means nothing. If you want to prove something show his personal averages.
His results last year do not indicate that. In both KR and PR he exceeded his career averages per return.
So he visited. Apparently Arenas did too. They are signing Arenas. You think they may still want Hester too?
No thanks. As frustrating as Thigpen was last year, that is a gross amount for a return guy. I have no faith in Hester as a WR.
That might officially end the Dolphins' interest, if they had any to begin with. I'd like to sign him, but that price is high.
I don't think anyone is giving him 4m per. Trindon Holliday got what, 700k? Is Hester worth more than 5x Holliday against the cap? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
I'm very sure they have or had interest. I don't believe they or anyone else would pay anywhere close to $4 mil a year, but probably getting their ducks in a row for when his asking price eventually returns from the exosphere.
4 mil is nuts. I guess Hester is looking for one more big payday before he calls it quits, but he's never seemed like someone who's all that bright or aware. Maybe he'll take a more realistic contract later on, but he also strikes me as someone who'd retire before he took less than he thinks he's worth, realistic or not.
So what would you pay him? Will he come back to earth? This says he made $2.1 million last year, asking for between 3 and 4. I'd maybe give him what he made last year. http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/121296/falcons-bring-in-hester-for-visit
Thiggy making about 500k. On punt returns Hester was about 6 yds better per return. Better on kickoffs too.
Hester is just a better KR/PR than Thigpen. He's worth 2-2.5 M given we have the cap money. I'm tired of Thigpen and just think he is a mediocre talent who flashed a bit here and there but just does not have it overall. JMO.
Thigpen was consistently frustrating and average to below all last year...it's either Hester or a draft pick.
Read the other day that one of the rules changes the competition committee is looking at is moving kickoffs to the 40. If that one gets approved it reduces the value of a kick returner somewhat, I think. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
He would be smart to bring his price tag down before the draft. Teams will address this need in late rounds and he will lose serious bargaining power.
Apparently, he's a Falcon. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/20/falcons-sign-devin-hester/