Hester signs four-year extension, joins teammates in training camp

BOURBONNAIS - A much wealthier and healthier Devin Hester joined his teammates on the field Sunday afternoon for the first time in training camp.

Just hours earlier Hester agreed to a four-year contract extension that contains $15 million in guaranteed money and could be worth up to $40 million if he reaches pass-catching incentives and at least $30 million otherwise.

According to ESPN.com, the final year of the deal (2013) includes a $10 million roster bonus if Hester reaches performance levels of a No. 1 receiver over the course of the deal. Hester's base pay for this season is $445,000.

Troubled by the slow pace of negotiations, Hester staged a two-day holdout at the start of training camp but reported early Friday morning, although he didn't practice.

He and the Bears cited a hamstring "injury" as the reason for the two-time Pro Bowl return specialist's inactivity. That "injury" healed miraculously about the same time the paper work on the new deal was completed.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo credited Hester with sparking the new deal even as he was skipping the first two days of camp.

"I told Jerry it was a tough situation for me," Hester said after Sunday's practice. "Every day it's killing me not to be out here. I said it's so important for me to be out here because I know I'm losing a lot, (with) all reps that I'm missing.

"So can we figure out a way to come up with a deal and get it going and let's play ball?"

Hester took reps Sunday with the No. 1 offense, which is where the Bears see him this season. He thrilled the largest crowd of camp when he sprinted past cornerback Charles Tillman to catch up to a Rex Grossman toss deep down the right sideline in a 7-on-7 drill.

Hester admitted months ago that he already was distracted by talk of an extension on a contract that had two years left but that he had clearly outperformed. Sunday he was a man with no financial worries.

"It's so much relief," he said. "I'm happy I can come out and just play ball. I don't have to worry about any contract now. Now we're going to move forward from there."

In just two seasons, Hester already has 11 kick-return touchdowns (7 punts, 4 kickoffs), just 2 shy of the NFL career record established by Brian Mitchell over 14 seasons. Hester led the NFC with a 15.5-yard punt-return average and 4 touchdowns last season, and he also caught 20 passes for 299 yards as a part-time receiver.

But this season Hester and the Bears expect that he will become a major player in the passing game. His potential to become an elite receiver on top of being the league's premier return specialist complicated negotiations.

Had a contract impasse kept Hester off the practice field for any length of time, that transition from part-time receiver to go-to guy would have been jeopardized. But now the project is back on track.

"We have a lot of big plans for him," coach Lovie Smith said. "He's come a long way. Now it's about him making plays because he knows what he's doing."

But that learning process will be ongoing for Hester, who was drafted in the second round out of the University of Miami as more of an athlete/return specialist than a player with a true position. As a rookie he was tried at cornerback, where he sought to emulate his mentor, Deion Sanders.

Smith was instrumental in convincing Hester to switch his unique big-play ability to the offensive side, where he could have a greater impact on the game.

"We've been waiting for this," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "We need to get him back out there and go. He needs to get reps."

Though still raw at the receiver spot with a limited grasp of the playbook, Hester flashed great potential as a pass catcher last season by utilizing his immense physical gifts.

He caught 11 of his 20 passes in the final four games as opposing corners often allowed him a big cushion at the line of scrimmage out of respect for his rare speed.

"He's always going to have that big-play ability," Bears quarterback Kyle Orton said. "But corners in this league are good, so he has to be able to run good routes also, and he's really put in the work in the playbook and route-running wise."

Ten-year veteran tight end Desmond Clark sees great things in Hester's future.

"You see what he's done in the return game?" Clark said. "He could do that for our offense also."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/303">Blog: Hester strikes it rich <span class="date">[07/27/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=223744">Some draft picks excelling, some lagging </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>