Hester: 'I'm In A Relationship Where I'm Happy Now'
By Dan Durkin-
(CBS) Seeing Devin Hester wearing No. 17 in a red-and-black Falcons jersey is going to be tough for many Bears fans to see. Especially given how productive he's been not only as a kick and punt returner, ranking fifth in both statistical categories to start the season, but how the Falcons have found a way to utilize him on offense.
With tight end Tony Gonzalez retiring, the Falcons have leaned more on their slot receiver to operate over the middle of the field. Harry Douglas was the starter in this role, but a foot injury has sidelined him, forcing Hester into action.
And he's responded. Hester was on the field for 43 offensive snaps last week and is third on the Falcons in both targets and receptions.
Bears fans can take some solace knowing he can't break the return record this Sunday, as he already did that against former Bears/current Bucs coach Lovie Smith in Week 3.
During an interview after breaking the NFL record, Hester voiced displeasure about his final few years with the Bears.
"You know what, I'm going to say it, man," Hester said. "I wasn't happy the last three, four years in Chicago, because things wasn't going the way I expect. I would always have a great camp, have all the receivers saying and coaches saying I had the best camp out of all the receivers. And once the season start off, I'm not there."
Talking to Chicago reporters in a conference call Wednesday morning, the 31-year-old Hester reiterated that belief, saying he feels renewed in Atlanta and equating the situation he now finds himself in to a personal relationship.
"Sometimes things are meant for a new start, a fresh start," Hester said. "Kind of like a relationship. Sometimes you might be fortunate when the relationship is not meant (to be) and you just move on. That's the situation I'm now in. I'm in a relationship where I'm happy now."
Keeping the relationship theme going, Hester is anxious to suit up against his former team, which he still regards as family.
"It's going to be fun, kind of exciting," Hester said. "So used to going against these guys in practice. It'll be the first time for me against them live. Been around these guys for a long time, so it's kind of like playing against your brother."
Hester also acknowledged that he was bothered that the Bears didn't offer him a contract last offseason. He took a three-year, $9-million deal with Atlanta after Chicago focused its efforts in free agency on defense.
"Chicago didn't offer me anything," Hester said. "They didn't offer me no contract. They didn't call me or nothing. They didn't call me, period, pretty much. I didn't hear from Chicago. They didn't say they were going to re-sign me. All I know is that they were going to go in a different direction.
"It bothers every player that's been around in this league and has played football. If you've been with a team for over six, seven, eight years, if you've been there for a long time, it bothers you when your contract is up and the team doesn't even come to offer you anything. So it bothered me, but at the same time everything happens for a reason. I believe in God and like I said, everything happens for a reason."
Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @djdurkin.
