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This week I was struck by a quote King got from Chicago return man Devin Hester, who lit up the Detroit Lions this weekend with an 82-yard punt return touchdown and numerous other long returns.
Hester told King he wants to be the first returner in the league to get voted into the Hall of Fame. I thought the comment was interesting for a couple reasons. First, it’s an acknowledgement on the part of Hester that he is known almost solely for his return work, as his play at wide receiver has been average, at best.
Second, it made me think about the increasing importance of special teams in today’s NFL. Kickers who can boot kickoffs through the end zone are vital, but less hard to find with kickoffs now back to the 35 yard line.
Return men who can break through crowds and bust long runs when the kickoff team starts five yards closer are all the more impressive.
As far as Hester goes, the return against Detroit was his 12th career punt return touchdown and 18th return touchdown overall. He’s got the punt return record and the overall punt and kick return record.
Teammate Brian Urlacher thinks the debate is ridiculous. He told “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000 that he thinks Hester is a first-ballot shoe-in for the Hall.
“He changes every football game he’s in,” Urlacher told listeners. “You can punt out of bounds or you get ready to give up a touchdown. That’s the bottom line. He changes everything you do.”
I’m not sure about the first ballot part of his argument. But it is getting harder and harder to argue against Hester potentially making it to Canton, Ohio eventually. I can think of few return men who come close to his numbers. Deion Sanders? Already in, though he’s known as much or more for his pure coverage skills on defense.
Brian Mitchell may be the most comparable player. He was not a dominant running back or receiver, but he scored on nine punts and four kickoffs throughout his 14 year career. Hester has already left those numbers behind.
Eric Metcalf is the guy whose punt return record went away when Hester broke it. Mitchell and Metcalf are not in the Hall. They are probably the best argument out there for keeping Hester out. But Hester statistically has left them in his dust.
The only true special teams player in the Hall right now is kicker Jan Stenerud. Others like George Blanda and Lou Groza kicked but also played other positions. With guys like Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson looming, there has long been debate about whether there is room in the Hall for more kickers. Ray Guy is the one punter who is often debated.
But what about return guys? When and where will there be a place in the Hall for one or more of them? And is Hester the guy? I was a skeptic for a long time, but he does constantly change games when teams are gutty – or stupid – enough to kick to him.
Is he the first to break through? It’s clearly on Hester’s mind. He told King: “I don’t know what it’s going to take for a returner to get voted in the Hall of Fame, but I’m going to make sure that it’ll be a hard decision to pass me up. There’s a first for everything: I want to be the first.”
I think he might.
Right now, I would put Eric Metcalf over Devin Hester for Hall of Fame because of Eric’s offensive stats, but Devin Hester isn’t far from Eric. I think Devin needs to extend the record to really persuade the Hall of Fame voters. If he reaches a number like 23 total return TDs, than voters will be intrigued. If he returns one more for a TD this year, via punt or kick return, he should get first team all pro over Joe McKnight, Patrick Peterson,etc, because he is good at both kick and punt returning. Most voters don’t like the idea of having special teams in the hall because they are not “full time players”. I don’t think special team shouldn’t be allowed to be voted in. I am almost the opposite. There is only one pure special teamer in and that is kicker Jan Stenerud, first ballot too. I think if any other special teamer deserves it, Devin Hester deserves it, but I also think Shane Lechler will have a good case when he retires.