Falcons release Hester (Hester happy to get away from Meg Ryan)

[SCP]

Falcons have released Hester. No I don't want him on Panthers. If he doesn't play another down, is he a Hall of Famer? 

Yes or No

[The Huddler]

Yes

 

best return man of all time

[PandaPancake]

Where's our resident Falcons fan to tell us if this is a surprise or not

[panthers55]

The problem is that with the exception of Ray Guy there are no strictly special teamers in the Hall of Fame. Most guys in the Hall of Fame as great punt returners also starred as a receiver or other position. So if he gets in he will only be the second to get in a special teamer. So it is likely an uphill battle and he won't be a lock at all.

[Chaos]

Where's the "come on Gettleman, sign this guy!!" post?  And no, this is not it. 

[SCP]

[chknwing]

lol who do the falcunts have that is better than hester?

[Cary Kollins]

No way Hester should be in the Hall over someone like Steve Smith.

 

[Cary Kollins]

1 minute ago, chknwing said:

lol who do the falcunts have that is better than hester?

 

future allpro muhamad sanu

[Zaximus]

If you was the best ever at your position in the NFL, you should be in the HoF.  

[KSpan]

11 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

The problem is that with the exception of Ray Guy there are no strictly special teamers in the Hall of Fame. Most guys in the Hall of Fame as great punt returners also starred as a receiver or other position. So if he gets in he will only be the second to get in a special teamer. So it is likely an uphill battle and he won't be a lock at all.

Guy is the only punter, but there are 3 kickers (Blanda, Groza, Stenerud) in as well. The bigger hurdles might be that there are no returners and/or no modern-era STers, and with the de-emphasis on punt and kick returning he'll probably get passed over by the time he's eligible even though he's arguably the best returner and definitely the best return specialist.

[Cary Kollins]

Just now, Zaximus said:

If you was the best ever at your position in the NFL, you should be in the HoF.  

 

that was my initial thought, but then again, he was only a kick returner because he sucked as a WR

 

If Steve Smith only returned kicks, he'd probably be Devin Hester.

[jumpman910]

1 minute ago, Zaximus said:

If you was the best ever at your position in the NFL, you should be in the HoF.  

Pretty Much

[Zaximus]

Just now, Cary Kollins said:

 

that was my initial thought, but then again, he was only a kick returner because he sucked as a WR

 

If Steve Smith only returned kicks, he'd probably be Devin Hester.

Maybe, maybe not, all we can go on is the facts.   The NFL is a team game, I don't think it's fair to downplay his importance, especially when he could (and often did ) change the game in one play.   Field position is pretty big and when you have a guy like Hester that always got you great position and big plays, you can't downplay that.