Bears KR Hester holding out

[IE]

(TICKER) ?Devin Hester, the dynamic kick and punt returner of the Chicago Bears, was a no-show on the first day of training camp Wednesday.

Hester?s decision not to report to training camp comes after the Bears settled contracts with perennial Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and first-round pick Chris Williams in the last two days.

Hester, who has been seeking a new contract the entire offseason, has two years remaining on the four-year, $2.86 million deal he signed after being selected in the 2006 draft. He is scheduled to make $445,000 this season and $530,000 in 2009.

An argument can definitely be made that Hester already has outperformed his contract. The speedster has 11 return touchdowns in two seasons, good for fourth-most in league history. He also brought back a missed field goal 108 yards for a touchdown during his rookie season.

Last season, Hester also had two touchdowns on offense when he made 20 catches for 299 yards. His 14 TDs the last two seasons is tops on the Bears. Hester is expected to see an increased role at wide receiver this season.

 

[IntenseOperator]

(TICKER) ?Devin Hester, the dynamic kick and punt returner of the Chicago Bears, was a no-show on the first day of training camp Wednesday.

Hester?s decision not to report to training camp comes after the Bears settled contracts with perennial Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and first-round pick Chris Williams in the last two days.

Hester, who has been seeking a new contract the entire offseason, has two years remaining on the four-year, $2.86 million deal he signed after being selected in the 2006 draft. He is scheduled to make $445,000 this season and $530,000 in 2009.

An argument can definitely be made that Hester already has outperformed his contract. The speedster has 11 return touchdowns in two seasons, good for fourth-most in league history. He also brought back a missed field goal 108 yards for a touchdown during his rookie season.

Last season, Hester also had two touchdowns on offense when he made 20 catches for 299 yards. His 14 TDs the last two seasons is tops on the Bears. Hester is expected to see an increased role at wide receiver this season.

the new buzz word of NFL players and their attorneys :jerkit:

He's a horrible wide out right now (maybe much later he'll improve). Dense as all hell. He'd be nothing if they didn't make this cornerback out of Miami U a return man.

 

[Dice34]

But the reality is, is that he is something and something special, if hes not getting it on returns the handicapped O is starting on the 40....

Bears would be smart to pay him now, just in case, he does grasp the concept of being a wideout, I'm sure the contract will be laced with WR incentives.

 

[IE]

he would be on my roster.........

 

[Dice34]

ouch....just read hes looking for a deal in the neighborhood of 6 years 45 million....ok put down the bong for a min Devin.....i could see 6 year 24 million with wr bonuses....but $7.5 mil a year, not crappening

 

[IE]

HESTER NEEDS TO REPORT BY AUGUST 5


One of the (rare) moments during which we gained some actual credibility in league circles came in 2005, when we explained that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook risked losing his ability to become an unrestricted free agent if he didn?t report to training camp by a specific date in August of that year.

By all indications, Westbrook?s agent didn?t know. And Westbrook eventually showed up.

Though the Collective Bargaining Agreement has been revised since Westbrook?s holdout, the provision in question still applies, and Bears receiver Devin Hester is the first guy who could lose a year?s credit toward free agency because of it.

Under Article XVIII, Section 1(b) of the CBA, ?a player shall not receive an Accrued Season for any League Year in which the player is under contract to a Club and in which he failed to report to such Club at least thirty days prior to the first regular season game of that season.?

Since the 2008 regular season begins on September 4, Hester (a rookie in 2006) needs to show up by the close of business on August 5. Otherwise, he?ll not accrue a third NFL season in 2008. Four seasons are necessary to become eligible for unrestricted free agency.

Under the current CBA, however, it?s a distinction without a difference. Even with four accrued seasons after 2009, Hester would still be a restricted free agent, since six seasons of service are necessary to qualify for unrestricted free agency in the uncapped year of 2010.

But if new CBA is finalized before 2010 and if the four-season requirement for unrestricted free agency remains, Hester would be a restricted free agent in 2010, because he would have only three accrued seasons.

Bottom line? Look for Hester?s holdout to last no longer than August 5. Until then, he?ll be subject to fines of more than $15,000 per day, and he might have to repay 25 percent of his signing bonus allocation applicable to the 2008 season.

 

[IntenseOperator]

But the reality is, is that he is something and something special, if hes not getting it on returns the handicapped O is starting on the 40....

Bears would be smart to pay him now, just in case, he does grasp the concept of being a wideout, I'm sure the contract will be laced with WR incentives.

Very true Dice!

 

[BigFatLooza]

ouch....just read hes looking for a deal in the neighborhood of 6 years 45 million....ok put down the bong for a min Devin.....i could see 6 year 24 million with wr bonuses....but $7.5 mil a year, not crappening

WOW. :mj07: Who is the actual greedy bastard? I mean, is it the athletes themselves or is it the devil on their shoulder (I think we call them 'sports agents') whispering how great they are and how underpaid they are....:mj07:

 

[rusty]

Bottom line hes under contract.So sick of athletes holding out while under contract.Fulfill your obligation then talk.