forums

Hester done. Straight to HOF

Ray Guy is the gold standard of punters, to the point in which he is always listed as the all-time punter on **** near every all-time team. Yet, it took him DECADES to get in. Art Monk, Chris Carter, elite guys at glamour positions had to wait. Is it possible that Devin Hester gets in? Yes, but it may take DECADES like it took Guy, and there can be some consideration that the gap between Devin and the other elite returners is smaller than the one between Guy and his peers. We've seen someone like Devin Hester before, his name was Gale Sayers, the only difference is that fate ended Gale's career earlier than anyone could have anticipated. That, and Gale didn't get to specialize in returning kicks.
 
Advertisement
crimson_cane said:
USNAVYCANE said:
OldhamA said:
USNAVYCANE said:
I'm james Jackson brother said:
How you figure??
Click to expand...

Of the 303 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there isn't even one who spent his career primarily as a return man. If Brain Mitchell Can't get in no way Hester makes it.
Click to expand...

He made the All-decade team of the 2000s. He's got a shot:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_2000s_All-Decade_Team
Click to expand...

True one of the things in his favor is that he changed the way people view return men, and the HoF voters seem to like guys who can do that (even if they don't got the stats to back it up.)
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? If not Mitchell, then not Hester? Mitchell has nothing on Hester.
Click to expand...

Hester has half the return yards on punts and kick off returns with 5 more TD. I wouldnt say he has nothing on Hester. Hester has a higher average though.
 
Hester had the WOW factor that no other return man has ever had. Period. There has never been a return man inducted into the HOF because no return man was nearly as dangerous as Devin Hester.
 
Canedude08 said:
Ray Guy is the gold standard of punters, to the point in which he is always listed as the all-time punter on **** near every all-time team. Yet, it took him DECADES to get in. Art Monk, Chris Carter, elite guys at glamour positions had to wait. Is it possible that Devin Hester gets in? Yes, but it may take DECADES like it took Guy, and there can be some consideration that the gap between Devin and the other elite returners is smaller than the one between Guy and his peers. We've seen someone like Devin Hester before, his name was Gale Sayers, the only difference is that fate ended Gale's career earlier than anyone could have anticipated. That, and Gale didn't get to specialize in returning kicks.
Click to expand...

Hester broke the all-time record in less than 3 seasons. How much time would Gale have needed?
 
Advertisement
Great returner but very doubtful. Memories fade. Nobody is going to be voting with 2006 mindset, with Hester a dominant legend.

Since it will take decades before he's considered there will be many more awesome returners, like the rookie with Kansas City. Hester has to fade 20 years or so with nobody breaking his records and nobody considered superior to him. That's a longshot, since the world loves recency.

Two things stand out to me: Darn shame Hester didn't enter the league early, like at age 21 after entering college at normal age and then leaving after three years. Young legs are gold for runners and returners. He could have set the touchdown return record way out there with two extra NFL years in his prime. Secondly, he was an underrated receiver in the middle to later years of his career. Even in his first season with the Falcons he was clever and dangerous. Underutilized in that role, especially the one stupid season deep in his career in which the Bears restricted him to return man only. He was at least as effective at receiver as return man at that point.

Extending his career could actually hurt Hester toward the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately those images stick, especially if he's in a high profile playoff game and looks sad. Lately he looks sad more often than not. They don't hurt ultra legends like Willie Mays when he's stumbling around in center field as a Met but Hester isn't in that category.

Still capable of a nice return but everything has to unfold perfectly for him. He doesn't create anymore. He's got the plant followed by the hitch step in the opposite direction. Not much else.
 
Advertisement
Advertisement
Back
Top