Bears' Devin Hester Will Play Slot and 'Return' to Returning Kicks

Last week, Chicago Bears kick returner turned wide out claimed that he wanted to go back to returning kicks and punts. He claimed that they were his "bread and butter" and was even willing to risk giving up offensive snaps to ensure that he would be fresh to do just that.

It seems as though newly hired offensive coordinator Mike Martz agrees with Hester.

"It would be very difficult for him to play every snap on offense and still play effectively on special teams," Martz Said.

To remedy this problem, Martz envisions Hester playing the slot in his high-powered passing attack to lighten his load when the Bears have the football.

Hester would be playing the role of Az-Zahir Hakim in Martz's offense. Hakim was the slot guy for the St. Louis Rams during the "Greatst Show on Turf" days, but never caught more than 53 passes.

Let it also be noted that Hester only eclipsed that many passes in 2009, and he was Jay Cutler's number one target for two full seasons and a gadget player on offense in 2007.

Hester can still be a force in Martz's offense, just the same as Hakim made some big catches for the Rams in the early 2000s, but he still needs to remain the primary kick and punt returner.

It's hard to argue with the Bears on wanting to get the ball in their most dangerous playmaker's hands, but they went about it in the wrong way.

The move to offense was a good start, but things went south when they took away what he did best, and that is returning the ball. They know it, he knows it, you and I know it.

Hester was able to muster only 8 receiving touchdowns as a wide receiver, but nearly eclipsed that mark with only his kick returns in his first two seasons in the league. He has seven kickoff returns for touchdowns, and has taken back four punts.

Not to forget he took back the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI forcing the Colts, who ultimately won the game, to kick away from him. He gave the Bears good field postion when he touched the ball and when he didn't.

He is a gamebreaker back there, whether it be on kickoff return, or punt return. He can take the ball the distance everytime, and in two years has turned himself into the greatest kick returner of all time. (Sorry Josh Cribbs, I mean Pay Da Man)