What do Lance Briggs, Alex Brown, Desmond Clark, Robbie Gould, Tommie Harris, and Brian Urlacher all have in common? That’s right! The Chicago Bears have showed them all the money this offseason. Well, now they are showing it to Devin Hester too.
ESPN reports that Hester agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $30 million. His original rookie contract was slated to end after the 2009 season, and he would have only earned $445,000. $15 million of his contract is guaranteed. Also, the last year of his deal, which would be in 2013, includes a $10 million roster bonus if he becomes a standout wide receiver by fulfilling several incentives.
Hester showed his anger towards Bears’ management by holding out of training camp for a whopping two days. The Bears had reportedly talked with him about certain terms of a potential deal all offseason, but, he still held out. In fact, it shocked GM Jerry Angelo.
“[His agent] floated it out there, but I didn’t really take it serious because, as I say, we are still talking, we’re still in the process, there’s no closure,” Angelo told reporters Wednesday. “Usually when you say, ‘Hey, it’s over, take it or leave it, we’re out of money,’ you might get a reaction like that. But as you’re continuing on in negotiations as we have been, it is surprising.”
There is no doubt Hester outplayed his original contract. With only two seasons under his belt, he has already amassed 11 total return touchdowns, which is just two away from Brian Mitchell’s all-time record. Hester has also cemented himself as one of the best return men ever. Almost every team in the NFL would rather give the Bears’ dismal offense great field position than have Hester possibly take it to the house. That’s how much of an impact he has.
Before Hester’s brief holdout, Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith had a chance to speak with Hester before camp and tried to convince him to come.”I don’t have any idea how long it will be. We would like to get him out here as soon as possible,” Smith said. “I know he would like to be out here. He realizes how important this work is, especially this early work with him becoming a full-time receiver.”
Most might say the hold out is what got Hester his new deal, but I don’t. In fact, I think it t was the fact he eventually showed up. His agent Eugene Parker might not have liked that he went to training camp, but it looks like it did pay off for Hester in the end.
Look at it this way. The Bears extended both Tommie Harris and Brian Urlacher’s contracts. Why did they do it sooner rather than later? Because all those guys showed up at mandatory OTA camps. Heck, last season, Lance Briggs was thinking about holding out of training camp but never did. He got his reward and shocked the world by resigning with the Bears. Hmm, I see a pattern. By Hester being at camp, you knew a payday was in the near future.
