Devin Hester returns the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI

I was shocked when I read Vaughn McClure’s post in the Chicago Tribune’s Huddle Up blog today.  “Chicago Bears Devin Hester willing to give up punt returns, just not immediately” read the headline.  Could it be?  Is the Ridiculous One, the incomparable Devin Hester ready to step down? 

“I think a return man simply has to be a return man,” Hester said. “There’s really no other position he should go out and play. A return man is a totally different ball game from trying to be a return man and starting receiver, or the starting cornerback, or a starting safety. I don’t think it’s going to work. That’s why you never really see it last that long in the NFL. You can’t do it.  But with me right now, I feel like at punt returns there are going to be opportunities where we’re going to need big returns,” he continued. “With all the success we’ve had at the return game, it would be real crazy to just give it up now. Plus I’m looking to break this record. In the back of my mind, I’ve got to get this record before I give (punt returns) up.”

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