Hester is a great player, but, you have to question the value of a kick returner in today's NFL. He'd still help on punt returns. So, there's that. But, if he can't help you at WR or CB, I don't know how interested I would be in him.

 

if the price is right, would be an excellent move

 

Please sign him Hickey.

 

Each of the last two Super Bowls had a kickoff return for a TD.

 

If he can still play both KR and PR at a high level, I'm fine with paying him. Guess that would be goodbye Thiggy.
No way a 5th WR or 5th CB is more valuable than a very good returner.

 

He's a clear clear clear upgrade on Thigpen. The only red flag is the multiple concussions he's had the last few seasons. PFF's #6 overall returner last season. 8th Kick Return/7th Punt Return.

Thigpen after 1 solid year dropped all the way to 35th and is maddening at times with his decision making.

 

I wouldn't mind it. Would rather have Jacoby Ford because I think he offers more in the receiving game.

 

I've never understood why Hester has never been a receiving threat. Perhaps it was just the bears offense that stifled him, but he's as deadly as any player in the league out in space. The Bears should have just been dumping the ball off to him 10 times a game.

 

We had one against Washington.

 

Maybe if one considers it based on potential, but he has been a major disappointment in Oakland. Hester has done more as a receiver in his career than Ford has.

 

The best teams have good offenses,defenses, special teams and coaching. A dynamic returner can turn games around and swim momentum in a heartbeat. Desmond Howard's return in Green bays superbowl in the 90's was a huge swing of momentum and practically won it for them. If you can get him for about a mil, you make a space for him regardless because he'll make it worth it,

 

For a few years he was a decent slot receiver. He has 217 career receptions for 12.9 avg and 14 TDs. His best single season was 57 for 757 and 3 scores in 2009. Between 2008 and 2012 he started over half the time at WR.

 

Oh, for f**k's sake. Two games had kick returns for TDs in them? Really? That's your point? I have a lot of respect for your opinion, Clean... I think you're one the top posters here... but, you've been on a real asinine streak here in the last couple of days. Especially with this comment. It was ludicrous.

You must understand that since the NFL moved the kickoffs up, it has undermined kickoff returns tremendously. And, if you can't admit that, you're not nearly as astute as I thought you were.

 

1) Read the bolded part.
2) Don't get it? Go back to step 1.

 

Oh I'm sorry I forgot they changed football completely from the 90's.... That's sarcasm in case you are too dumb to comprehend it. That'd be my guess based on your response though... Returns are as common and game changing as they ever were. The 5 yards they pushed forward is meaningless with today's speed. Punts are still the same. I was simply pointing out an example in the biggest game. There was a return this last superbowl and there's been hundreds of special teams returns that have been game changing over the last few years. The part you bolded is irrelevant.

 

Asinine streak? Why is that? Because I disagreed or questioned you a little about Finnegan? I realize there is a higher pct of touchbacks now. Especially early in the season. That does somewhat reduce the threat of kickoff returners. Hester is still a major upgrade and he is much more dangerous on punt returns than kickoff returns anyway.

The returns in the Super Bowls were just an example of why it is still worthwhile to have the best legit threat back there that you can afford.

 

If that's true, then why is he unemployed?

I'm not saying that I'd be against picking him up at all, but a dynamic player like that usually doesn't struggle to find a home...even at his age. I take his statement, "I'd love to play for Miami," to really mean, "I'd love to play for anybody who would sign me!"

 

he didn't play receiver because he couldn't learn the play book (dumb)- hes a kr pr that its

 

Sign him if he's cheap. I mean, we need all the help we can get in terms of field position with our offense.

 

From 2010 to 2011 (when kickoffs were moved up to the 35 yard line), touchbacks went from 15% of all kickoffs to abut 45% of all kickoffs.

45 is a higher number than 15. Even dumb guys like me can understand that.

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/35597/kickoff-rule-change-has-big-effect-on-nfl

 

I don't want to muck up this thread with our Finnegan talk. ;)

If Hester had value at another position, I might agree with you. It could be valuable to get a vet returner like him (and a future Hall-of-Famer) at the right price, but, he's going to wind up taking a roster spot from a younger guy who might help you more on offense or defense. We run multiple WR sets. So do a lot of the offenses we're going to face. So, we're going to need the WRs on offense, and the DBs on defense in a passing league.

I'm not saying I'm 100% against signing the guy... however, I would need to really consider the trade-off if I were the GM.

 

Iy would seem to me that with less chances its more important than ever to have a return man who can capitalize on those chances.

 

I hate the rule change. If anything I'd have moved it 5 yds the other way. If they want to reduce impact of the collisions, keep the rule that the coverage team cannot get a running start like they did when the kickoffs were at the 30.
I'd like to find the pct of touchbacks for all 3 of the seasons so far since the the rule change. Have not been able to, though I did look. I am wondering if it's held steady all 3 seasons, or trending one way or the other.

It also seems to me that there are more touchbacks when the weather is warmer, and as the days get colder and conditions more inclement, that the pct of touchbacks go down. So as playoff time nears, having a good kickoff return man could pay more dividends than early in the season.

 

I suspect Hester would love to play for anyone at this point.

 

Going by these stats, touchbacks have stayed about the same from 2011-2013. Still close to 50/50.

Kickoff Touchback Percent

Another thing is... the NFL has actually discussed taking out kickoffs altogether and just having the offense start from the 20. If they wind up doing that, then a returner like Hester's value diminishes even further.

 

This team could use better field position, IMO. Someone should have sent Thigpen the memo about the number of touchbacks, because it seems like he was always bringing it out of the end zone only to fall short of the 20. I know that's my memory and it's probably a little jaded, but Thigpen seemed to have a rough year, and it hurt the team. Even if they signed a guy who was just content with taking a knee when the ball reaches the end zone, it would have been an upgrade.

 

Thiggy drove me nuts this year.

 

A shopping cart would be an upgrade over Thigpen.

I'm all for this signing if it means we no longer deal with Thigpen letting the ball roll 15 yards before considering taking it back (worse yet, backing up to the 7 yard line and fair-catching it)

Bring in the instincts, and get rid of mother-of-all-facepalms-Thigpen.

At least on PR. Not so much KR anymore.

 

Sign him. He can't be expensive. Our return game will increase dramatically. And honestly, using him to run a 9 while Wallace also runs a 9? (Assuming the our line can block) the middle would be so god damn open...

 

This, and then some...I must of called for his head a dozen times, returner has been in my plans every year and I've seen a bunch go right past us, this year is another year where it needs to be a priority...freakin do somethin about it will ya hickster, let us know you get it, thiggy isn't it.

 

Lol..

 

I'd rather have Tedd Ginn.


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Agreed, at least Ginn could contribute in the passing game too.

 

He's not available. But if we are wanting other teams players. I'll take Calvin Johnson. I'd rather him then Hester.


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Pretty sure Carolina cut him or his contract expired.

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And yet punts haven't changed and Hester returned more kicks and had a better average (except for 2010) then any other previous year. Every position in football is important and if you have the chance to greatly improve that position for cheap then it'd be insane not to.

 

He signed a three year deal with Arizona days ago


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