Howie Long on the Hall of Fame candidacy of Atlanta Falcons’ wide receiver and kick returner Devin Hester, who set a new NFL record for return touchdowns last week:
“It’s hard. Special teams players wait a long time. It’s almost like in baseball where relievers struggle to get into the Hall of Fame. It’s hard and you saw Ray Guy waited 23 years. Everybody slights special teams, but one of the first things Jimmy always talks about is special teams.”
There is no question that Devin Hester is the best kick returner of all time. Even Prime Time will tell you that. Neon Deion and Hester are close friends, and Sanders often refers to Hester as “my baby.”
On what it meant to break Deion Sanders’ record in Deion’s old stadium with him in attendance:
Devin Hester: “It meant a lot…My first year in the league, I never thought I could reach this record that Deion put out there. Just playing in the home that he was drafted at, that’s the first thing they said to me once I got [here] was what you think about breaking the record in Deion’s hometown? I know if Deion wanted me to break this record, it would be a great place to break it here. Like I said, I’m just happy to be a part of the Atlanta Falcons and I had to give it to him. I had to give that high step to him.”
Deion Sanders: “He’s been like a little brother to me and I love you, man. You’re a great kid, you deserve it. You’re the best ever. I tweeted that you’re the best ever before it happened and on the sideline I told you [that] you were going to do it tonight. He so humbly, he said, ‘Please be over there where I can find you because I want to bring you the ball.’ That’s what he said before he did it.”
For the time being, the best player comparison is Eric Metcalf, who was also much more influential on special teams than on offense or defense. Metcalf is not a Hall of Famer. So the key for Hester will be developing himself as a wide receiver. It’s not too late in his career. Devin Hester on what it means to be a part of the Falcons’ wide receiver corps:
“I’m happy man. I’m going to say it, I wasn’t happy the last three, four years in Chicago because things weren’t going the way I expected. I would always have a great camp, have all of the receivers saying and all of the coaches saying I had the best camp out of all the receivers, and then once the season start off, I’m not there. I have a quarterback now that he loves even the walk-ons and the coaches that know how to get the ball [and] make plays for me.”
The last three or four years? That’s the Jay Cutler era in Chicago. I guess that quote might say something substantial there.
Devin Hester on Deion Sanders:
“Everybody knows he’s the best cornerback. Everybody knows he’s the best cornerback in the NFL…He’s on top right now. If you talk about cornerbacks, you talk about Deion Sanders. If you talk about basketball players, you talk about Michael Jordan. Everybody has their own best thing but I told myself when guys labeled me that I was going to be only a punt returner or kickoff returner, I’m going to try to be the best.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2